Page images
PDF
EPUB

ninth announces the design of sending an ambassador to his British Majesty to conclude peace: the tenth contains something relative to the duties and rights of British subjects living in Iceland: the eleventh states that none but Icelanders are qualified to fill public employments: the twelfth shews that Mr. Jorgensen intends continuing in his office until a regular constitution is established: the thirteenth again declares the confiscation of Danish property, which, by the fourteenth, the Amptmend are enjoined to execute: by the fifteenth we learn that some civil officers, in order to secure themselves against the displeasure of the king, their master, had expressed a wish that they might be compelled to exercise their public functions: the sixteenth article has for its object the upholding of the new governor by forbidding all irreverence towards his person: in the seventeenth and last it is observed that the laws and regulations shall remain as before until the new constitution is established, except that it is permitted *

* This exception does not at all meet the approbation of Count Tramp, who observes, "that it is very favorable for malefactors and suspicious persons." But the

for every Icelander to proceed from place to place, and to trade wherever and in whatever manner he pleases, without having passports from Amptmend or other authorities; and it is decreed that all sentences and acts of condemnation must be signed by Mr. Jorgensen, before they can be put in execution.

The Icelandic colors ordained by this proclamation, containing the representation

Etatsroed goes farther, and says that, "the permission granted to ramble without a passport along the country is a circumstance unheard of in other places, and affords very good opportunity to robbers, murderers, troops of thieves, and criminals of all sorts to commit mischiefs and crimes unpunished!" Mr. Jorgensen, however, considers it a just and necessary clause, for, according to the old laws, no person could remove from one district to another without a written permission from an officer; in consequence of which it frequently happened that this officer would not grant a passport, without the peasant promised to buy the necessary supplies for his family from some particular factor, by which he perhaps might be compelled to pay double what would be asked by others.

* The true and old ensign of Iceland is a slit cod or stock-fish, environed by an oval garland.

of three split stockfish upon a dark blue ground, were shortly afterwards for the first time displayed upon the top of one of the warehouses of the town, under a salute of eleven guns from the Margaret and Anne, and were afterwards hoisted upon Sundays, and occasionally on other days. Mr. Jorgensen now, as much perhaps for the sake of finding what merchandise could be procured, as for the purpose of seeing that his various proclamations were respected, accompanied by five of his soldiers, made a journey across the country to its most northern parts, in the course of which he was every where received with the kindest welcome, as well whilst his guard was with him, as on his return when only escorted by a single Icelander. In all places that he visited, the natives crowded. about him to relate the impositions they were subjected to by the Danes, and to assure him of their satisfaction in the prospect of being freed from their tyranny.

During the time he was occupied in this expédition, Mr. Phelps was employed in executing a part of his Excellency's orders, by putting the town and harbor of Reikevig

in a state of defence, an office he readily undertook for the security of the very considerable property he now had there, as well as of that which he still expected from England. For this purpose a battery, denominated Fort Phelps, was formed near the town, at which the natives, in great numbers, and the crew of the Margaret and Anne, worked with so much alacrity that it was in a short time completed, and mounted with six guns, that had been dug up from the sand on the shore, where they had long been lying; having been sent over from Denmark one hundred and forty years ago.

The order for the confiscation of all Danish property in the island, which was begun to be put in execution immediately after the publication of the second proclamation, was still more vigorously prosecuted on Mr. Jorgensen's return from the north. The property contained in the shops and warehouses in Reikevig, which had from the first day been secured by a guard, was now put under sequestration, and persons were sent for the more effectually enforcing of the decree to the distant factories, such as Havnfiord and

Köblevig. Among other things, possession was taken of two thousand six hundred rixdollars *, belonging to the public chest, under the care of Mr. Adzer Knudson, and a seizure was made from a Mr. Strube, of a stock of tallow, train-oil, fish, and woollen goods, belonging to a trading company at Flensburg, and another of a considerable quantity

* Count Tramp observes that, according to a specification drawn up by Mr. Phelps, the public money forcibly seized in Iceland by Mr. Jorgensen amounted in the whole to nineteen thousand two hundred and twenty rix-dollars, eighty-six skillings, Danish currency. Mr. Jorgensen, however, who appears to have kept an extremely accurate account of money received either by confiscation or from the public officers, as well as of sums issued in the payment of salaries and for other public purposes, states the former at sixteen thousand nine hundred and fifty-five rix-dollars, two marks, and eight skillings; and the latter at sixteen thousand nine hundred and sixty-one rix-dollars, five marks, and four skillings. Other sums were advanced by Mr. Phelps to meet the demands of various persons, but these did not come under the head of public expences. It is to be remarked, that Mr. Sysselman Koefoed had collected king's taxes to the amount of twelve hundred and ninetyfive dollars, which were consequently considered as property to be confiscated; but as this gentleman had laid out the money in the purchase of land, Mr. Jorgensen did not claim any of it.

« PreviousContinue »