66 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
as I was, I responded very gallantly by drinking to 
the beaux yeux of the Countess. Then somebody 
else drank success to Great Britain, and I see it was 
followed by really a very learned discourse by Lord D., 
in honour of the ancient Icelanders; during wdiich 
he alluded to their discovery of America, and Columbus 1 
visit. Then came a couple of speeches in Icelandic, 
after which the Bishop, in a magnificent Latin oration 
of some twenty minutes, a second time proposes my 
health; to which, utterly at my wits’ end, I had the 
audacity to reply in the same language. As it is fit 
so great an effort of oratory should not perish, I send 
you some of its choicest specimens :— 
“ Viri illustres,” I began, “ insolitus ut sum at pub¬ 
licum loquendum ego propero respondere ad compli- 
mentum quod recte reverendus prelaticus mihi fecit, in 
proponendo meam salutem: et supplico vos credere 
quod multum gratificatus et flattificatus sum honore tarn 
distincto. 
“ Bibere, viri illustres, res est, quoe in omnibus terris, 
‘ domum venit ad hominum negotia et pectora: 1 1 (1) 
1 As the happiness of these quotations seemed to produce a very 
pleasing effect on my auditors, I subjoin a translation of them for the 
benefit of the unlearned :— 
