JONSSON, FINN (known also by the Latin name of PINNU8 JOBANNXISS), the historian of the Icelandic Church and literature, was born on the 16th of January 1704 at Ifitardal in Iceland, where his father, Jon lialdorsson, was minister. After receiving the olemouts of eduoation from his father, who had formerly been master of the school of Skalholt, he went himself to that school; and in 172.5, at the age of twenty-one, priced over to Copenhagen to proseouto his studies at. the university. In 1728 lie was present at the great fire of Copenhagen, which, among other calamities, inflicted an irreparable loss on Icelandic literature by the destruction of most of the collection of manuscripts formed by his friend and patron Ames Megnams, or Magnusson; and in his endeavours to save a portion of this invaluable treasure he neglected to attend to his own wardrobe and library, which were consumed. On his return to Iceland his intention was to become a lawyer, but the death of his nncle, a pariah priest, who left behind him a numerous family of small children, led his father to request him to alter his views to the church, that lie might bring up the orphans. He obtained the vacant benefice, brought up the family, married himself, and in 1754 was appointed to the biehoprio of Skalholt. lie was very attentive to the reveuucs of his diocese, and the amount of his episcopate by Pdtureson is chiefly occupied with his disputes with refractory termite of church property. He found time also to compose and publish several works in Latin and Icelaudie, one of which, the ' Historia Eeelesiasticia Ielaudite,' is certain to preserve his name. lie died ou the 23rd of July 1789 at the age of eighty-five,
leaving trebled him six children, one of whom, Jon Finsson, succeeded him in the see of Skalholt, and was the last bishop of that diocese, which was abolished at his decease in 1790. Fineson was editor of the Landuaniabok' and other Icelandic sagas, and founder of the Icelandic agricultural society ; and being long resident at Copenhagen, where ho was one of the leading members of the AnHa•11ngomau Commission for publishing manuscripts saved from the conflagration of 1728, he had also the opportunity of passing through the prom his father's 'Hietoria Ecclesiastica,' to which he made valuable additions.
The 'Bistoria Eceleeiastica Islandire' is iu four quarto volumes, closely printed, of which the first was published in 1772 and the fourth in 1778, at Copenhagen. A coutinuation by Patureson, containing the hundred years from 1740 to 1840, was published in 1841. The original book is a more valuable and interesting one than might be supposed from its title. The history is made to embrace the literary as well as the ecclesiastical affairs of Iceland, and both are treated in so lively and attractive a style that few ecclesiastical histories can be perused with. equal satisfaction. To those whose studies lead them to take an interest in the very singular country to which it relates, the ' Historia' is a mine of valuable information, the want of which no other work can supply.