Captain MUNK, who had hitherto displayed an unbroken spirit, now began to despair. He added a note to his journal, which was complete, requesting the person who might find it to bury his corpse, and convey the journal to the King of Denmark. Having done this, he resigned himself to the momentary expectation of death, which would no doubt have taken place, if another cause of annoyance, still more powerful than the disease he 'suffered, had not obliged him to quit his cot. The bodies of those who had died last, were dispersed in different parts of the vessel, and becoming putrid, diffused so intolerable a stench, that the Captain, however exhausted by illness, was compelled to collect all his remaining strength, and creep upon deck, where he rejoiced to think, he should die breathing a purer air in his last

moments.

The sailors in the cottage, in the mean time, recovered; and, on perceiving their commander to be still alive, they with much effort reached the vessel. Their mutual congratulations were sincere, and contributed to their mutual comfort. He rejoiced in seeing them, and they in being able to render their good and gallant Captain assistance, at so critical a moment: they encouraged each other to be thankful to that Providence, which, of its mercy, had thus been pleased to allow them to meet once more. They then grubbed into the snow, and dug up herbs and roots for their refreshment. This wholesome expedient restored their health, and they were soon after able to re-commence shooting and fishing.

The season now became favorable to their return; but the danger was appalling. Three men were evidently insufficient to undertake a voyage from Greenland to Denmark, and the mere idea would have deterred imbecile minds from the daring attempt.

But Captain MUNK and his companions were inspired with courage to meet the danger, and hope to support them under it. They laboured a long time in launching the smallest vessel, which they repaired in the best way possible; and then, having implored assistance from the Almighty, began their voyage in the month of July. The vessel had much difficulty to encounter with the ice, and suffered extremely from heavy gales of wind; but, after a lapse of two months, they arrived off Norway, and subsequently at Copenhagen. Captain MUNK had endured so much on this voyage, that it would have been excusable in him to have retired from the service. Nevertheless, he is recorded to have fought gallantly on many subsequent occasions; and, at the close of the war, he persuaded some noblemen and opulent citizens, at Copenhagen, to establish a trading company to Greenland. Two ships were accordingly fitted out under his command, but, in preparing to go on board, he was taken ill and died; at which event the plan was relinquished.

[Capt. Munk's Journal.-Holberg. Hist. of Denm. T. 2. -Slange's History.

On the death of Christian the Fourth, a company of merchants at Copenhagen, and other individuals at different periods, fitted out vessels to Greenland. But being unacquainted with means of surmounting such obstacles as presented themselves, no one felt inclined, or emboldened, to settle in the country, or to establish a trade; till the Reverend HANS EGEDE, in the reign of Frederik the Fourth, seriously resolved to venture on the project.

This excellent man, who was rector at Vogen, in the diocese of Drontheim, had read in ancient history that many Norwegian

families had formerly settled in Greenland, where they built churches, and cloisters, and promoted the cause of Christianity. This circumstance furnished an inexhaustible subject of reflection to EGEDE, in his leisure hours, and stimulated his curiosity to ascertain the present state of religion, and civilization, in that country. In order to obtain information on these points, he wrote to one of his friends, at Bergen, who had been to Greenland, and was told, that those parts of the country which had been inhabited by people from Norway were surrounded by such quantities of floating ice, as to be altogether inaccessible; and that the other parts of the country exhibited merely human beings in a state of savage ignorance, differing wholly from us in language, manners, and customs.

Mr. EGEDE was a true Christian, and a friend to mankind: he regretted sincerely, that a people, which according to his supposition descended from Norwegian Christians, should now be savage and ignorant; and conceived that Christianity must have been extinguished among them, for want of proper teachers and instruction. He continued to dwell on the subject, till he, at length, wrote to the Bishops at Drontheim and Bergen, requesting them to take the subject into their most serious consideration, and to contribute their endeavors to diffuse religion and knowledge among the poor neglected inhabitants of Greenland. To which he added, that if it should be deemed expedient to send teachers thither, he would chearfully resign his living, and give his personal exertions to the promotion of the cause of humanity, and zealously devote himself to its ultimate success. Both Bishops commended his animated appeal in the cause of religion, and forwarded his project to Copenhagen. But the war, then raging with Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, occupied the atten

tion of Government, and the proposition of Mr. EGEDE was unheeded.

In the mean time, the rumour spread that Mr. EGEDE intended emigrating to Greenland, and his friends endeavored, as much as possible, to dissuade him from so romantic a plan, and even to - ridicule his zeal; but nothing could shake his determination. He, indeed, wished for the consent of his wife to his removal; and having obtained that object of his solicitude, he resigned his living, and waited only an opportunity of realizing his wishes.

But Mr. EGEDE was aware, that if any lasting benefits were to be expected from his attempt to humanize the inhabitants of Greenland, trade would greatly facilitate their progress. He therefore went to Bergen, as the place best adapted to commercial intercourse, and endeavored to persuade the merchants to establish a Greenland company. But these merchants hesitated to risk the sums required. Experience presented them with the failure of several former enterprizes of that kind: they, therefore, told Mr. EGEDE, that the Dutch already monopolized the trade of that country, and they wished to decline any interference.

When Mr. EGEDE found that nothing was to be expected from them, he resolved to apply to Government, and for that purpose went to Copenhagen. The death of Charles the Twelfth, which had recently taken place, proved favorable to his project. There was every favorable appearance of peace, and the King was not now wholly occupied in the security of his dominions: he had leisure to attend to useful institutions. Mr. EGEDE having obtained an audience of the King, he explained the object of his journey to Copenhagen; upon which Frederik the Fourth ques

tioned the reverend gentleman respecting Greenland, and graciously promised to take the subject into consideration. Mr. EGEDE rejoiced in the favorable reception his Majesty had given to his project, and returned to Bergen with the most sanguine hopes of immediate success.

His Majesty, however, on consideration, referred the subject to the merchants of Bergen, who were the proper persons to embark in such an undertaking. An order was issued to the Magistrates at Bergen, directing them to convene the merchants, and to ascertain their opinion as to the extent of privileges and assistance which they would expect in support of their trade. The merchants accordingly assembled, but expressed sentiments decidedly inimical to the project, of which a report being laid before his Majesty, and Government not being disposed to trade on its own account, the visions of Mr. EGEDE were, for another year, unrealized.

The worthy clergyman felt harassed by the repeated obstacles which crossed his wishes, but was neither disheartened, nor disinclined to persevere, in his favorite purpose. He gradually won over to his party some of the most opulent merchants of Bergen, by representing to them, that in the event of trade not proving so beneficial as they could wish, they would still enjoy the satisfaction of having employed a small part of that abundance with which Heaven had blessed them, in promoting the welfare and happiness of their fellow-creatures, and ultimately, perhaps, of benefiting their native country. Having, on these grounds, set a subscription afloat, he was unwearied in his assiduity, till, by entreating some, and encouraging others, to venture, he realized the sum of ten thousand dollars, having set down his own name for three hundred dollars-his ALL!