385 
in Iceland respecting the Gave-fowl. 
guns, under British colours, and commanded by one John Gil¬ 
pin, but probably owned by Baron Hompesch, who was also on 
board, appeared at Thorshavn, the capital of the Faeroes, which 
her crew almost entirely plundered, ending by carrying off a 
certain Peter Hansen, whom they forced to pilot them to Ice¬ 
land. Arrived at Reykjavik, July 24th, 1808, they repeated 
their outrages, and before they finally quitted the island paid a 
visit to the Geirfuglasker, where they remained a whole day, 
killing many birds and treading down their eggs and young. 
After this they sailed away, August 8th, and deposited Hansen 
again in the Fseroes. On February 7th, 1810, at the solicitation 
of Sir Joseph Banks, an order in council was set forth by the 
British Government, exempting the northern possessions of the 
Danish Crown from any molestation on the part of English 
cruisers, and permitting the inhabitants of the same to trade 
with either London or Leith, though not with the mother- 
country. The Court of Copenhagen met this act of common 
humanity by issuing decrees, strictly prohibiting, on pain of 
death, all intercourse with the British*. The consequence was, 
that the unfortunate Fseroese were nearly reduced to a state of 
starvation; and in 1813, as a last resource, their Governor, 
Major Lobner, determined to send a vessel to Iceland to obtain 
some necessaries. This vessel, the schooner ' Faeroe/ of twelve 
guns, he placed in charge of Hansen, as one already acquainted 
with the coast. When they came off Cape Reykjanes, they were 
becalmed; and a boat being lowered, a party went off to one of 
the skerries, on which, as their Captain expected, they found 
abundance of birds, and among them many Great Auks. They 
killed all they could, and loading the boat quite full, yet left 
many dead ones on the rock, intending to return for them; but 
the wind springing up, Hansen made sail for Reykjavik, where, 
about a week later, they arrived on the 29th of July, having- 
then on board among their victims no less than twenty-four 
Gare-fowls, besides others which were already salted down. One 
of these birds is said to have been given to the Bishop (Vidalin), 
and by him sent to a friend in England. Mr. Wolley conversed 
* Journal of a Tour in Iceland in the Summer of 1809. By William 
Jackson Hooker, F.L.S. &c. ? 2nd ed. London, 1813, vol. ii. pp. 5/ etseqq. 
