34 and calculated to add in no little measure to the terrors of justice, and maintain the inviolability of any legal code. It is a vast lava bed, honey- combed with apparently bottomless Assures in the rock Ailed with water. Bound one of the highest points of the lava, three of the Assures meet and form a triangular island, perfectly inaccessible, excepting for a large boulder or two at the open apex of the triangle, which have stuck in the mouth of the narrowest Assure and bridged it over. The approach is very deceptive ; we walked up to it and were stopped by a yawning chasm, which looked full twenty feet across, but of its depth we could form no opinion, as about forty feet below we saw the surface of dark black water. We then tried to gain the rock by going round to the other side, but in every place were met by a ‘‘ bottomless pit,” At last the guide shewed the secret, and we stepped across on to the “ Sacred hill of laws.” Centuries ago, the farm having been conAscated on account of some heinous offence committed by its possessor, it was appropriated to the public use, and being erected by nature almost into a fortress, this spot was chosen by the founders of the Icelandic constitution for the meetings of their Thing or Parliament. The narrow entrance of rock could be defended by a mere handful of armed guards, while the grave bonders deliberated within. To this day at the upper end can be seen three hummocks, where sat in state the three judges of the land surrounded by chiefs and ecclesiastics ; who forlhundreds of years assembled here and issued laws to the people, judgments upon their disputes and punishments for their crimes. Prom this un- assailable rock they published their stern decrees, which were immediately carried out before their eyes. The supreme magistrate, who presided at these annual meetings, was named the “ Publisher of the Law.” He was elected by the free choice of the people, and generally retained the office for life. His verdict, conArmed by the people, was in all cases considered decisive. Although he possessed little or no authority outside the Althing, he was always respected by his country- men as the protector of their laws and liberties ; to him alone was committed the custody of the written laws, and it was his duty to know the whole by heart. Prom this code we gain many

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