47 
5- Voyage to Iceland (1772). 
Being disappointed in regard to this second voyage of circumnaviga- 
tion, Banks, accompanied by Solander, set out on a scientific expedition 
to Iceland* in a vessel specially built for them, at a cost of £100 a month. 
They sailed on the 12th July, 1772, and on the way Banks carried 
out the intention he had formed to visit Staffa, to which he was the 
first to draw the attention of scientific men, sending a complete descrip- 
tion, with drawings and measurements, to Thomas Pennant, who 
inserted it in his “ Tour to the Highlands of Scotland.” They spent 
a month in Iceland, exploring Mount Hecla, the geysers, and other 
remarkable features of the island. Banks made copious observations, 
which Dr. Troil, one of the party, and afterwards Archbishop of Upsala, 
included in his interesting accountf of the island, without, however, 
according to Barrow, doing full justice to the exertions of Banks 
and his companions, whom he dismisses with a too vague and 
general eulogium. Banks also afterwards placed his MS. journal at 
the disposal of Mr. (after Sir) William Hooker, whom he had advised 
to visit the island for scientific purposes, and who made copious use of 
it, with due acknowledgment, in his “ Tour in Iceland.” 
Banks always continued to take a keen interest in fh(‘ Icelanders, 
and his humanity 
was of signal service to these j)oor creatures ; for when, some years afterwards, 
tliey were in a state of famine, the benev'olence and powerful interest of this kind- 
hearted man brought about the adoption of measures which absolutely saved the 
inhabitants from starvation. We were at war with Denmark, and had captured 
the Danish ships, and no provisions could be received into Iceland. Claussen, 
a merchant, was sent to England to implore the granting of licenses for ships to 
enter the island, and through the active interv'ention of Sir Joseph, who, as a 
Privy Councillor, was an honorary member of the Board of Trade, the indulgence 
was granted. t 
The following notes by Suttor supplement the above account: — 
Disappointed in this (Cook’s 2nd Voyage) e.\{>edition, Mr. Banks was prompted 
to engage in some other re.search, and accordingly determined on a voyage to Iceland 
and the western islands of Scotland, partly for the purpose of scientific observations. 
• Hooker, op. cU., x.xviii. 
t See p. 216. 
J Barrow, toe. cU., p. 29. See also a full account in Weld, ii, 109, which includes a very interesting 
letter by G. R. Porter of the Board of Trade, detailing Banks’ noble action. 
