ICELAND. 



645 



l*Hial who plundered their property, committing frequent 

 JT" V ~"""' murders, and carrying off the inhabitants. " These 

 events," says Dr Holland, " which concurred with the 

 causes before described, in depressing the spirit of the 

 people, and destroying the strength and prosperity of 

 . the country, are recorded in the annals of Iceland with 

 an affecting and almost painful simplicity. No attempts 

 are made to excite a sentiment of commiseration, be- 

 yond what humanity would of itself yield to the recital 

 of such complicated evils. We are told that whole fa- 

 milies were extinguished, and districts depopulated, by 

 the virulence of the disease ; that the learned, the pious, 

 the wealthy, and the powerful, all dropt into a common 

 grave ; that the labours of industry ceased ; that genius 

 and literature disappeared ; and that the wretched rem- 

 nant of the Icelanders, scarcely themselves saved from 

 destruction, sunk into a state of apathy, superstition, 

 and ignorance. In pursuing his melancholy narrative, 

 the historian sometime* looks back to the former cele- 

 brity and splendour of his country ; but he goes no far- 

 ther ; and all beyond is left to the feelings and imagi- 

 nation of the reader." 



But the decline of literature, and of the national cha- 

 racter of the Icelander*, may be traced to more remote 

 cause*. Europe began to emerge from darkness and 

 barbarity, and the continental nations gradually rose 

 into equality in learning. The poets and hi-tori ms of 

 Iceland were therefore received with less distinction. 

 The errors, superstitions, and tyranny of the church of 

 Rome, broke in upon the pure and peaceful worship of 

 Iceland about the end of the 12th century. The levy- 

 ing of Peter's pence, and raising money by indulgences, 

 were not warded off by the poverty of the people, who 

 were oppremtd even by the native bishop*. Prom the 

 13th to the ! 6th century, tiie annals of Iceland present 

 noth'iif iif ir.trrert ; l;>-mg filled with records only of 

 the depression of all mental exertion, and of physical 

 ( -I ! ' ' *. 



The reformation of religion, and the introduction of 

 printing, by the establishment of a pre*s at Hoolum 

 about the year 1 530, seemed to be the dawn of renewed 

 life to Iceland. 



The reformation was not effected without violence. 

 John Areson, bishop of Hoolum, was the most strenu- 

 ou* and violent oppover of the introduction of the Lu- 

 theran doctrine*. He assembled a body of armed men, 

 and marching southward, attacked and seised Einarson, 

 tmhop of Skalholt He wa* arrerted himself, however, 

 the following year, by the order of Christian 1 1 1. in whose 

 continental dominions the reformed religion had been 

 adapted. Are*on, and his two natural sons, were be- 

 headed at Skalholt; and in 155 1 the new doctrine* 

 were legally established and universally received. The 

 school" were re-established ; but so great had been the 

 depremion of learning, that it wa* found difficult at 

 first to procure men of sufficient knowledge to superin- 



Now that science began to illuminate the rest of Eu- 

 rope, we cannot expect to find the former condition of 

 Iceland restored, nor even the progress of knowledge 

 keening pace with that of other countries. The phy- 

 sical evils to which Iceland is exposed operated with 

 greater rffect than before ; and though we can enume- 

 rate several eminent individuals whose writings are 

 creditable and useful, yet their literary fame has sel- 

 dom stepped beyond their native i-land. 



To the ceal of Thorlakson, bishop of Hoolnm, who 

 inhered many useful work* into the world from the 

 Icelandic prt'w superintended by himself, the people 

 indebted for the first translation of the Bible into 



their own language. It first appeared in 158k The 

 friend of Thorlakson, Amgrim Jonas, published twen- 

 ty-six different works in divinity, history, jurispru- 

 dence, and philology, all of which exhibited very ex- 

 tensive acquirements. Another eminent historical wri- 

 ter was Biorn de Skardsaa, who published Annals of 

 Iceland from the year 1400 to 164-5, and several other 

 works. 



The 1 7th century is destitute of any important events. 

 At its commencement piratical incursions of the French, 

 English, and Algerines, were not unfrequent. Of the 

 latter, a large body landed on various parts of the south- 

 ern coast, and on the Westman islands ; and besides 

 plundering their effects, murdered nearly fifty of the 

 inhabitants, and carried 400 of both sexes into capti- 

 vity. This happened in the year 1627 ; and nine years 

 afterward?, when the kin? of Denmark had paid a ran- 

 som, only thirty-seven survivors were found. This 

 century also disgraces Iceland by the superstitious enor- 

 mities which were practised. A belief in necromancy 

 was so prevalent, and held in such horror, that, within 

 the period of sixty years, twenty persons perished in 

 the flames. 



The commencement of the 18th century was marked 

 liy the destruction of 16,000 persons by the small-pox. 

 From 1753 to 175Q, the seasons were so inclement, that 

 famine carried off 10,000 people, besides vast numbers 

 of cattle. In 1783, the most terrible volcanic eruption 

 on record broke out from the neighbourhood of the 

 mountain of Skaptaa, and for more than a year shower- 

 ed ashes on the island, and enveloped it in a thick cloud 

 of smoke. Cattle, sheep, and horses were destroyed, 

 and a famine ensued. The small pox again appeared ; 

 and in a few years above 1 1 ,000 people perished. 



Notwithstanding the calamities incident to their si- 

 tuation, the Icelanders have still preserved literature 

 from decline. In later times we have the names of 

 Torfzus, Arnas Magmrus, and Finnur Jonson, who 

 have greatly adorned the modem literature of their 

 country. Arnas Magnarus was the son of an obscure 

 priest, and by his talents he raised himself in id'!*!-. 

 when only thirty-one years of age, to he situation of 

 professor of philosophy in the university of Copenha- 

 gen ; and soon afterwards he was appointed professor 

 of northern antiquities. He made a splendid collection 

 of books and manuscripts in the Icelandic language, 

 which wa* almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1728. 

 His pupil and friend Finnur Jonson has eminently con- 

 tributed to preserve the literary character of his coun- 

 try. He was made bishop of Skalholt in 1 ?.".!, and 

 devoted a long life to the improvement and happiness 

 of his countrymen. His Ecclesiastical History of Ice- 

 land is an admirable work, though somewhat minute 

 in its detaiU ; and presents a degree of patient and ac- 

 curate research which has seldom been equalled. The 

 well known exertions of Professor Thorkelin, in behalf 

 of Iceland, are happily yet continued ; but the state of 

 war in which Europe has so long been immersed, has 

 brought Iceland into a state of suffering from which 

 she cannot soon be relieved. 



In the present times, individuals are not wanting, 

 who exhibit, though less successfully, all the zeal of 

 their ancestors in the pursuit of learning. Their ac- 

 quirements are such as would grace any society ; and 

 when the remoteness of their situation and the multi- 

 tude of their privations are considered, the picture 

 which Iceland presents at the commencement of the 

 19th century, is truly worthy of admiration. The 

 school is not now so flourishing as it used to be ; but 

 education is systematically carried on amongst all ranks; 



Attacks of 

 foreigner*. 



Ravages of 

 the small- 

 pox. 



Modern au- 

 thor*. 



