180 HERE JON STEFANSSON^ PH.D., ON ICELAND : 



region in which, lie the British Isles. There is reason, in fact, to 

 suppose, that a great rift passes through the earth's crust 

 connecting Iceland with .^Etna and ranging through the volcanic 

 districts of the west of Scotland, the north of Ii^eland, and the 

 Auvergne region of central France. A few years ago it was 

 observed, that the earthquake which passed through Devonshire 

 and the coast of Ireland, was simultaneous with an eruption of 

 TEtna, and (if my memory is correct) was felt in the Auvergne 

 region. It is satisfactory to know that the great eruptions of 

 lava which during Miocene times desolated the region lying along 

 the coast of Scotland and that of Ireland have cooled down and 

 ceased to flow, while the volcanic activity only survives at the 

 extremities of the great rift, Iceland in the north and Sicily in 

 the south. 



While thanking Dr. Stefansson for his communication, I may 

 mention that he is the author of an elaborate work on Iceland,^ 

 The Saga Steds of Iceland, beautifully illustrated, and that he 

 is at present engaged on a dictionary of the English and Icelandic 

 languages. [Applause.] 



Mr. Martin Rouse. — I should like to say a few words. I 

 remember reading in a standard work on geology, that at the 

 close of the eighteenth or the beginning of the nineteenth 

 century, ashes were carried from Iceland to Scotland and 

 overspi^ead Sutherland with fine dust which overlaid the fields,^ 

 and that year was known as " the year of the ashes." 



I should like to say that I agree with Professor Hull in what 

 he said just now as to Iceland being a safety-valve for us. 



I think it is very beautiful to see how the Icelanders have 

 clung to their native island in the midnt of their evil times. I 

 think their love of the Holy Bible and their knowledge of Christ 

 which has spread amongst them, have had much to do with the 

 maintenance of their patriotism, side by side with their literaiy 

 culture and the i-emerabrance of the songs and compositions of 

 their native authors. [Hear, hear.] 



A Member. — Would the lecturer kindly tell us to what race the- 

 Icelanders belong, where they come from, and what their 

 language is ? 



Dr. Stefansson. — The Icelanders are Norwegians ; but it is an 

 interesting fact that many of the early settlers came fi-om the 

 British Isles. 



