ter of the two went to Altona; the destination of the other
was Copenhagen. I had intended to travel in the former; but a merchant
of Reikjavik had already engaged the only berth,--for there rarely is
more than one in such a small vessel,--and I deemed myself lucky to
obtain the one in the other ship. Herr Bernhoft thought, indeed, that
the vessel might be too bad for such a long journey, and proposed to
examine it, and report on its condition. But as I had quite determined
to go to Denmark, I requested him to waive the examination, and agree
with the captain about my passage. If, as I anticipated, he found the
vessel too wretched, his warnings might have shaken my resolution, and I
wished to avoid that contingency.

We heard, soon, that a young Danish girl, who had been in service in
Iceland, wished to return by the same vessel. She had been suffering so
much from home-sickness, that she was determined, under any
circumstances, to see her beloved fatherland again. If, thought I to
myself, the home-sickness is powerful enough to make this girl
indifferent to the danger, longing must take its place in my breast and
effect the same result.

Our sloop bore the consolatory name of Haabet (hope), and belonged to the
merchant Fromm, in Copenhagen.

Our departure had been fixed for the 26th of July, and after that day I
scarcely dared to leave my house, being in constant expectation of a
summons on board. Violent storms unfortunately prevented our departure,
and I was not called till the 29th of July, when I had to bid farewell to
Iceland.

This was comparatively easy. Although I had seen many wonderful views,
many new and interesting natural phenomena, I yet longed for my
accustomed fields, in which we do not find magnificent and overpowering
scenes, but lovelier and more cheerful ones. The separation from Herr
Knudson and the family of Bernhoft was more difficult. I owed all the
kindness I had experienced in the island, every good advice and useful
assistance in my travels, only to them. My gratitude to these kind and
good people will not easily fade from my heart.

At noon I was already on board, and had leisure to admire all the gay
flags and streamers with which the French frigate anchoring here had been
decked, to celebrate the anniversary of the July revolution.

I endeavoured to turn my attention as much as possible to exterior
objects, and not to look at our ship, for all that I had involuntarily
see