Volcanic Island hetisoeen Pantellaria and Sclacca, 5^5 



by the rotting of the handle. Nothing can be ruder than 

 the blade ; it is about 2^ in. long, and the third of an inch 

 broad ; high on the blade, where the maker's name on Bir- 

 mingham articles is placed, are three figures, 16 3; the figure 

 between 6 and 3 being obliterated. Let that figure be what 

 it may, from the time the knife was discovered by the sawyers 

 to the time it was stuck into the growing tree could not have 

 exceeded two hundred years. This tree, observe, was dug 

 out of the peat bog, 12 ft. below the surface, and the knife 

 was 6 in. within the solid sound timber. I asked the sawyers 

 why they did not offer it to Mr. Steward, or tell him some- 

 thing about it. They said they had no talk with his Reve- 

 rence, and that he would care nothing for such a curosity. 

 They brought it to me without any promise of reward. They 

 were willing to make affidavit of the truth of their statement. 

 They have been examined by others ; and very lately I had 

 the account repeated by the surviving brother. I have no 

 doubt of their veracity. 



George Ensor. 

 August 17. 1831. 



Art. XV. Notice of the Volcanic Island lately throton up between 

 Pantellaria and Sciacca. By William Ainsworth, Esq., 

 M.R.S.L., Member of the Royal Geographical Society, &c. 



The ejection of volcanic masses, or the elevation of the 

 strata of the earth above the level of the soil or sea by 

 natural causes, is of importance, remotely to all theories of 

 the earth, and proximately to the true origin and form- 

 ation of pseudo and active volcanic rocks and of craters of 

 elevation. 



This branch of geological enquiry has received a new im- 

 pulse from the late researches of De Buch and Elie Beau- 

 mont, and every circumstance which tends to give consistency 

 to opinions more or less theoretically deduced is advantage- 

 ous to science. 



The elevation of Graham Island, in lat. 37° H' N., and 

 long. 12° 4?4<' E., in the Mediterranean Sea, between Pantel- 

 laria and Sciacca, which took place in the month of July, 

 1831, has been observed at different stages of its progress, 

 and has been attended with phenomena of such decided 

 utility to this enquiry, that they will be my excuse for in- 

 truding upon your pages some remarks connected with its 

 origin and general character. 



Vol. IV. — No. 22. n n 



