At page 371. of Vol. iii. I addressed a Query as to the best mode of
reaching Iceland. I have since ascertained that the principal
communication with Iceland is from Copenhagen; whence during the season
sail a monthly packet, sundry trading-vessels, and sometimes a Danish
frigate. Danish vessels also call at Hull and Liverpool to load with
salt for Iceland. The Norwegian trade thither has ceased since 1814, and
it has now scarcely any intercourse except with Denmark. A few dirty
smacks of fifty or sixty tons, from the Thames and another place or two,
resort there to fish, they do not go into port. There is no further mode
of reaching that interesting and remarkable island, except per yacht, or
by one of the steam-excursions which are occasionally advertised in _The
Times_. The Danish steamers mentioned in Murray's _Guide-book_ have
discontinued running.
Murray gives but little respecting, Iceland, but that little is good.
The best book on it that I have met with is, _An Historical and
Descriptive Account of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faröe Islands, with
Illustrations of their Natural History_, by James Nicol: Oliver and
Boyd, Edinburgh, 1844. It embodies the substance of all the best
information in small space. The last published English visit to Iceland
seems to be that of Barrow in 1835 but a much more recent account has
been published in German by that enterprising lady Ida Pfeiffer, of a
voyage she made there. An interesting statement of the diseases and
sanatory condition of Iceland is found in the _British and Foreign
Medico-Chirurgical Review_ for 1850, vol v., being a notice of a work
entitled, _Island undersögt fra lægevidenskabeligt Synspunct_, by Dr.
Schleisner, Fellow of the Royal Medical Society of Copenhagen, who went
to Iceland purposely to examine into its medical condition.
Of works on Norway, Murray's _Hand-book_ is the best, and contains a
list of books on Scandinavia published up to 1848. Besides these, there
are the following:--
1. _Scandinavian Sketches; or, a Tour in Norway._ By Lieutenant Breton,
R.N.
2. Wittich's _Visit to the Western Coast of Norway_: London, 1848.
Contains accurate physical descriptions of the country.
3. Forester's _Norway in 1848 and 1849_: London, 1850. Conveys to the
mind an excellent and very complete picture of Norwegian scenery,
travelling, manners and customs, &c., and gives much valuable
information. The plates are very truthful and characteristic.