"About six o'clock in the evening we reached the church and parsonage of Saurbæ, on the northern shore of the Hvolsfiord, where we were made cordially welcome by the incumbent, an aged man of seventy-four. To whatever part of this surprisin island the traveller may turn, he is sure to meet with some phenomenon or other, either of a physical or moral nature. Here, at a small farm capable only of affording pasture to a few sheep and cattle, and with a stipend of about thirty rix dollars per annum, I was not a little astonished to find a man who had read more of his Hebrew Bible than hundreds of the more opulent clergy in Great Britain. Nor is it less surprising, that he had already gained his sixtieth year ere he entertained any idea of studying the original language of the Old Testament. He was induced to commence this study with the view of satisfying his own mind in regard to the true sense of Scripture, being convinced, that this was the only way in which he could determine whether the translation given in the Icelandic, or that contained in the Danish Bible, was the most consonant to the original. Having, through the kindness of Bishop Vidalin, been provided with a small Hebrew Grammer, the excellent large-lettered edition of the Hebrew Bible by Opitius, and Simonis' Hebrew Lexicon, he applied with ardor to his task, and was able in a short time to read the historical books with ease. The Psalms next claimed his attention; and he is now able, with the assistance of the lexicon, to resolve even the most intricate parts of the Hebrew text to his own satisfaction and edification. He has also written out beautiful alphabets of the Syriac and Arabic languages, and composed a pretty extensive glossary in Latin, English, French, and Germau. As he hears with diffi culty, it was impossible for me to converse much with him; but he soon took occasion to express his happiness at the supply of Bibles that had been sent to his countrymen, and rejoiced to hear of the progress of true religion in different parts of the world. un "Having taken leave of the Bishop, and the rest of the public authorities in Reykiavik, from all of whom I had experienced the kindest and most wearied attentions during my stay in Iceland, I embarked, on the 20th of August, on board a Danish vessel, bound for Copenhagen. As we stood out from Reykiavik, and the land began to recede from my view, I was conscious of strong feelings of regret, which not even the anticipations necessarily connected with my return to the continent of Europe were able fully to repress. I was leaving an island, distinguished by its natural phenomena from every other spot on the surface of the globe, where I had been furnished with frequent opportunities of contemplating and admiring some of the more sublime displays of the wisdom and power of God in the operations of nature. But what principally attached me to Iceland, was the exhibition of moral worth, and the strong features of superior intellectual abilities, which had so often attracted my notice during the period of my intercourse with its inhabitants. My thoughts were also directed to the effects which were likely to result from my visit. I had circulated extensively among them that blessed Book, which is able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ; which alone contains an authenticated, complete, and most satisfactory revelation of the character, purposes, and will of the Supreme Ruler of the universe; and directs the guilty sons of Adam to the only possible way in which they can obtain true and lasting felicity, And while I reflected on the responsibility which attaches to the situation of such as are favored with this revelation, and the aggravated guilt and condemnation of those who receive not the truth in the love of it that they may be saved, my earnest prayer for the Icelanders was, that they might have grace communicated to them from above, to enable them suitably to improve the inestimable privilege which had been conferred upon them." THE PASTIME OF LEARNING, with Sketches of Rural Scenes. Boston; Cotton and Barnard, pp. 260. May-day is close at hand, and all our fair readers are doubtless anticipating the Maying-the early walk-the bright morning-the beautiful flowers, fresh gathered and fragrant; but the namesand the qualities of the plants-would it not be a gratification to know these? The "Pastime of Learning" very opportunely comes to our aid this season; and we hope all our young friends will improve it. It is a pleasant and useful work, designed not so much to give a knowledge of Botany, as a taste for that delightful study. It was written by a lady, a mother we presume, and she deserves much commendation for this successful effort to improve and refine the minds and hearts of the young. The volume is handsomely execated, and contains four plates of colored flowers and leaves; it is worthy to be called the Wreath of Spring. MONTHLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. The Spirit of the Annuals for 1831. Philadelphia, E. Littell, 12mo. pp. 467. Lives of Remarkable Youth of both Sexes. Philadelphia, E. Littell, 12mo. Pp. 222. The Shortest Way to end Disputes about Religion. By the Rev. Robt. Manning. Boston, Wm. Smith, pp. 292. Thoughts on Penitentiaries and Prison Discipline. By M. Carey. Philadelphia, pp. 76. An Enquiry into the Nature and Design of Music. Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon. Studies and Stories. By Mary Lovechild. Babcock. Boston: Carter, Hendee & Spiritual Mirror. Newburyport: Charles Whipple. The Duty and Progress in the Christian Calling: a New Year's Sermon. By S. F. Dimmick. Newburyport: Charles Whipple. WORKS IN PRESS. Travels in Malta and Sicily. With a Descriptive Sketch of Gibraltar, in 1827. By Rev. Andrew Bigelow, author of Leaves from a Journal, or Sketches of Rambles in North Britain and Ireland,' 1 vol. 8vo. With plates. Arithmetic and Algebraic Problems and Formulæ. Translated from the last German Edition of Meier Hirsch, and adapted to the Use of American Students. In 1 vol. 12mo. By F. J. Grund, author of A Treatise on Plane and Solid Geometry.' Sarah and her Cousins, or, Goodness better than Knowledge. By the author of The Sandfords, or Home Scenes.' Scientific Tracts, designed for Instruction and Entertainment, and adapted to Schools, Lyceums and Families. Conducted by Josiah Holbrook and others. ERRATA. Page 98, line 22, for "fairies wrapping themselves in flowers" read "furies wrapping themselves in flames.' Page 105, line 15, for "Condemns not" read "Consumes not." Page 125, line 2 from the bottom, for "olla podriga" read" olla podrida.” |