shot up with quicker motion, dilating as it arose, like a balloon.-The sun appeared in total eclipse, and shed a meridian twilight over us, that aggravated the wintry gloom of the scene now completely powdered over with falling particles. It was evident that the crisis was as yet to come -that the burning fluid was struggling for a vent, and labouring to throw off the superincumbent strata and obstructions, which suppressed the ignivomous torrent. At night, it was manifest, that it had greatly disengaged inself from its burthen, by the appearance of fire flashing now and then, flaking above the mouth of the crater.

On Thursday, the memorable 30th of April, the reflection of the rising sun on the majestic body of curling vapour was sublime beyond imagination-any comparison of the Glaciers, of the Andes, or Cordilleras with it, can but feebly convey an idea of the fleecy whiteness and brilliancy of this awful column of intermingled wreathed smoke and clouds; it afterwards assumed a more sulphureous cast, like what we call thunder clouds, and in' the course of this day, a ferruginous and sanguine appearance, with much livelier action in the ascent, a more extensive dilation, as if almost freed from every obstruction-afternoon, the noise was incessant, and resembled the approach of thunder still nearer and nearer, with a vibration that affected the feelings and hearing; as yet there was no convulsive motion or sensible earthquake. Terror and consternation now seized all beholders. The Charaibs, settled at Morne Ronde, at the foot of the Souffrier, abandoned their houses, with their live stock, and every thing they possessed, and fled precipitately to the town. The negroes became confused, left their work, looked up to the mountain, and as it shook, trembled with the dread of what they neither understand nor describe the birds fell to

the ground, overpowered with showers of favilla, unable to keep themselves on the wing-the cattle were starving for want of food, as not a blade of grass or a leaf was now to be found the sea was much discoloured, but in nowise uncommonly agitated; and it is remarkable, that throughout the whole of this violent disturbance of the earth, it continued quite passive, and did not at any time sympathize with the agitation of the land. About four o'clock, P. M. the noise became more alarming, and just before sunset the clouds reflected a bright copper-colour, suffused with fire. Scarcely had the day closed, when the flame burst at length pyramidically from the crater, through the mass of smoke; the rolling of the thunder became more awful and deafening; electric flashes quickly succeeded, attended with loud claps; and now, indeed, the hurly burly began.-Those only who have witnessed such a sight, can form an idea of the magnificence and variety of the lightning and electric flashes ; some forked zig-zag playing across the perpendicular column from the crater-others shooting upwards from the mouth like rockets of the most dazzling lustre-others like shells with their trailing fuses flying in different parabolas, with the most vivid scintillations from the dark sanguine column, which now seemed inflexible, and immoveable by the wind. Shortly after seven P. M. the mighty cauldron was seen to simmer, and the ebullition of lava to break out on the N. W. side. This, immediately af ter boiling over the orifice, and flowing a short way, was opposed by the acclivity of a higher point of land, over which it was impelled by the immense tide of liquified fire that drove it on, forming the figure V in grand illumination. Sometimes when the ebullition slackened, or was insufficient to urge it over the obstructing hill, it recoiled back like a refluent billow from the rock, and then

again rushed forward, impelled by fresh supplies, and, scaling every obstacle, carrying rocks and woods together in its course down the slope of the mountain, until it precipitated it self down some vast ravines, concealed from our sight by the intervening ridges of Morne Ronde.-Vast globular bodies of fire were seen projected from the fiery furnace, and bursting, fell back into it, or over it, on the surrounding bushes, which were instantly set in flames. About four hours from the lava boiling over the crater, it reached the sea, as we could observe from the reflection of the fire and the electric flashes attending it. About half past one, another stream of lava was seen descending to the eastward towards Rabacca. The thundering noise of the mountain, and the vibration of sound that had been so formidable hitherto, now ringled in the sullen monotonous roar of the rolling lava, became so terrible, that dismay was almost turned into despair. At this time, the first earthquake was felt; this was followed by showers of cinders, that fell with the hissing noise of hail, during two hours. At three o'clock, a rolling on the roofs of the houses indicated a fall of stones, which soon thickened, and at length descended in a rain of intermingled fire that threated at once the fate of Pompeii, or Herculaneum. The crackling and coruscations from the crater, at this period, exceeded all that had yet pas sed. The eyes were struck with momentary blindness, and the ears stunned with the glomeration of sounds. People sought shelter in cellars, under rocks, or any where-for every where was nearly the same; and the miserable negroes, flying from their huts, were knocked down or wounded, and many killed in the open air. Several houses were set on fire. The estates situated in the immediate vicinity seemed doomed to destruction. Had the stones that fell been propor

tionably heavy to their size, not a living creature could have escaped without death; these having undergone a thorough fusion, they were divested of their natural gravity, and fell almost as light as pumex, though in some places as large as a man's head. This dreadful rain of stones and fire lasted upwards of an hour, and was again succeeded by cinders from three till six o'clock in the morning. Earthquake followed earthquake almost momentarily, or rather the whole of this part of the island was in a state of continual oscillation; not agitated by shocks, vertical or horizonal; but undulated like water shaken in a bowl.

The break of day, if such it could be called, was truly terrific. Darkness was only visible at eight o'clock, and the birth of May dawned like the day of judgment; a chaotic gloom enveloped the mountain, and an impenetrable haze hung over the sea, with black sluggish clouds of a sulphureous cast. The whole island was covered with favilla, cinders, scoria, and broken masses of volcanic matter. It was not until the afterternoon that the muttering noise of the mountain sunk gradually into a solemn yet suspicious silence.

The following letters contain farther details of this awful event.

Extract of a letter from St Vincent, dated 1st May, received by a vessel arrived in the Clyde:

"Having been informed that you had not sailed from Grenada by the April fleet, I hasten to give you some account of a most alarming circumstance which took place here last night and this morning. About sunset on Thursday evening, we observed an immense quantity of fire and smoke to proceed from the volcano, and continued till one o'clock this morning, when a most tremendous explosion took continued till four,

place, which throwing up

immense

immense quantities of stones and ashes all over the island. On the estates in the vicinity of the mountains, the ashes are said to be from two to three feet deep; that two of the principal rivers have been dried up, and new ones formed; and that many of the estates in that quarter have been much injured. One white person and six negroes have been killed. Although Kingston is at the distance of twelve miles from the volcano, the inhabitants were so much alarmed, that many of them went on board of the vessels in the bay for protection, and it was not until past eight o'clock that one person could distinguish another, in consequence of the atmos. phere being darkened by the quantity of ashes. I am much afraid that the extent of the damage sustained is not yet known."

Barbadoes, May 2, 1812. Yesterday morning at four o'clock, the atmosphere was perfectly clear and light; but at six, thick clouds had covered the horizon, from whence issued, in torrents, like rain, and particles finer than sand, volcanic matter; and at eight it was as totally dark as we ever recollect to have seen the most stormy night. It then became necessary to procure lights, not only in the dwellings of families, but lanterns were obliged to be used in passing from one part of the street to another. On the preceding night, however, it seems that many persons heard sounds like those which follow the discharging of cannon, and some go so far as to say, that they clearly observed the flashes to leeward of us, the same as if vessels were engaged at sea; therefore, as these clouds came from the northward, it is much to be dreaded that some one of the neighbouring islands has experienced the dismal effects of a volcanic eruption. This awful state of darkness continued until twenty minutes past twelve at noon, when the glimmerings of heaven's light were gradually percep

tible, and about one o'clock it was so far clear as to be compared with that of about seven in the evening. The eruptive matter, however, still continued, and, as was the case during the whole time of its descent, numerous flocks of birds were heard warbling the melancholy note of croaking, as if they were messengers of past, or presages of future evil. We shall, in common with our fellow inhabitants, feel extremely anxious for arrivals from the neighbouring islands; should these fortunately have escaped any convulsion of the earth, this phenomenon will form a subject of much philosophical interest, and learned discussion. To discribe the feelings that prevail in the community during this awful period is impossible-it is far more easy to be conceived. The sandy particles appear to have fallen in this neighbourhood to the depth of about three quarters of an inch; but, in the north part of the island, it is said to be considerably deeper.

The armed ship Emma, arrived this day at noon, informs, that when 30 miles to the eastward of point Saline, Martinique, early yesterday morning, a dreadful explosion was heard, and the vessel was shortly after completely enveloped in clouds of the same kind of matter as above stated; and this was also experienced by the schooner Peggy, from Dominick, which also states, that total darkness prevailed from two o'clock yesterday morning until three in the afternoon.

éd the island at least one inch think. The country is melancholy, and unless we have rain, there is no saying what will become of our live stock,

Earthquake at the CARACCAS.

THE

HE following statement of this calamitous event is taken from a supplement to the St Thomas's gazette, dated 9th April, 1812:

"The 26th March has been a day of woe and horror to the province of Venezuela. At four P. M. the city of Caraccas stood in all its splendour. A few minutes later, 4500 houses, 19 churches and convents, together with all the public buildings, monuments, &c. were crushed to atoms by a sudden shock of an earthquake, which did not last a minute, and buried thousands of its inhabitants in ruins and desolation. That day happened to be Holy, or Maundy-Thursday; and at the precise hour, every place of worship being crowded to commemorate the commencement of our Saviour's passion by public procession, which was to proceed through the streets a few minutes afterwards, augmented the number of hapless sufferers to an incredible amount, as every church was levelled with the ground before any person could be aware of the danger. The number of sufferers taken out of one of the churches amounting (two days after this disaster) alone, to upwards of 300 corpses, besides those it may be presumed could not yet have been taken out of such ruins, gives an idea of the extent of the calamity. The number of dead are differently stated, from four to six, and as far as eighteen thousand. Horrible as this catastrophe appears, it would be a matter of some consolation to know, that the vicinity of that city offered some support to surviving mourners; but the next town and sea port thereto, viz. La Guira, has, in

proportion, suffered still more, as well as its immediate coast. Huge masses of the mountains detached themselves from the summits, and were hurled down into the vallies. Deep clefts and separations of the immense bed of rocks still threaten future disasters to the hapless survivors, who are now occupied in burying and burning the dead, and in relieving the numerous wounded and cripples perishing for want of surgical and medical aid, shelter, and other comforts."

Other letters.

"It is not within the compass of my ability to describe to you the misery of these people; fear and despair, grief and ruin, have completely overwhelmed them. Parents have escaped, with the loss of their childrenchildren with the loss of their parents, and very few without the loss of their property. Already 500 persons have been found, and the probability is, that a greater number still remain buried beneath the ruins. The destruction at Caraccas is much greater; 2500 bodies have been thrown upon the funeral pile, and burned already, and it is supposed that from 5 to 10,000 souls are lost. Out of 40 churches in that place, two convents only remain standing. Such is the lamentable situation of these two places, that it will be a long time before they can be reinstated. No business of any nature is doing. All the Americans here will go to Puerto Cabello."

The following melancholy narrative was addressed to a respectable merchant in Philadelphia.

"Ruins of La Guira, April 2, 1812. "DEAR SIR-Many times in my life have I experienced the goodness of a merciful God towards me, but never so conspicuously as in my preservation during the tremenduous ex

ertion of his power, which has shaken the mountains to their foundation, and levelled the greatest part of this city, as also that of Caraccas, with the ground-more than 10,000 have been buried, and most of them now lie beneath the ruins! The stench arising from the dead bodies, is intolerable such of them as could be come at, have been thrown into the sea, or collected into heaps and burned to ashes.

"It is imagined that seven-eighths of the houses in this city are demolished, and of those which still stand there are not perhaps twenty that will be found tenable. The customhouse, which was built very strong, is not much injured the house which I occupy is three storeys high, and was likewise very strong-it stood the shock without falling, but it was so much injured that I do not intend to sleep in it, especially as we are constantly kept in a state of alarm by the frequent shocks which have daily taken place ever since the 26th ult. When the first great shock occurred, I ran out of my house, and in my amazement, I turned round, and beheld it rocking like a cradle, which, with the roaring of the earthquake, the screams of the people, and the crashing, perhaps of a thousand buildings, made the scene horrible beyond description !"

as would have been occasioned by an action between two ships, to which cause we universally attributed its origin. This opinion was, however, in a very short time changed, from the smoke increasing and ascending in much larger bodies than could pos sibly have been produced by such an event; and, having heard an account, prior to our sailing from Lisbon, that in the preceding January or February

a volcano had burst out within the sea near St Michael's, we immediately concluded that the smoke we saw proceeded from that cause, and, on our anchoring the next morning in the road of Ponta del Gada, we found this conjecture correct as to the cause, but not to the time; the eruption of January having totally subsided, and the present one having only burst. forth two days prior to our approach, and about three miles distant from the one before alluded to.

Desirous of examining as minutely as possible a contention so extraordinary between two such powerful elements, I set off from the city of Ponta del Gada on the morning of the 14th, in company with Mr Read, the Consul General of the Azores, and two other gentlemen. After riding about twenty miles across the N. W. end of the island of St Michael's, we came to the edge of a cliff, from whence the volcano burst suddenly upon our view in the most terrific and awful grandeur. It was only a short mile from the base of the cliff, which was nearly perpendicular, and formed the margin of the sea; this cliff being as nearly as I could judge from three to four hundred feet high. To give you an adequate idea of the scene by description is far beyond my powers; but for your satis

faction I shall attempt it.

Imagine an immense body of smoke rising from the sea, the surface of which was marked by the silvery ripling of the waves, occasioned by the light and steady breezes incidental

to