404 Dr, Forchhammer on a [June, 



Dec. 24, 25. — The clouds of smoke remained on the same 

 place, and in the same direction, as before ; now and then the 

 fire was observed on the place of the first eruption. 



Dec. 26, 27. — Heavy storm from north-east; the clouds of 

 smoke on the same place. 



Dec. 28. — The weather began to get more calm ; it seemed as 

 if the colunm of clouds was divided into two, which took different 

 directions by different currents of wind. 



Dec. 29. — Weather calm and pleasant. The clouds of smoke 

 moved towards the north and east over the ice mountains. Late 

 in the evening a mild rain. 



During this whole time, the cold was moderate, not exceeding 

 25° Fahrenheit, and sometimes it was 4° above the freezing point. 

 It is reported that the water of the river which falls into the 



, and in the other rivers that come from the Jokkul 



and the surrounding mountains, had increased considerably dur- 

 ing the first days of the eruption. In the vicinity of the volcano 

 a constant rumbling noise was heard, now and then accompanied 

 by a dreadful crash, as if the whole immense masses of stone and 

 ice were going to fall together. The greater part of the ashes 

 was fortunately carried towards the north, into uninhabited 

 mountains and heaths, where also a great quantity of pumice 

 has fallen." 



In another letter from the same Provost, dated Feb. 23, it is 

 said, ** The clouds of smoke have not yet disappeared, and to- 

 day they are increased. No ashes, however, have been observed 

 during a long time, and the Jokkul has resumed its shining white 

 colour, so that the rain and wind must have removed the ashes. 

 The smoke greatly resembles the steam rising from boiling- 

 water, and certainly owes its origin to the fire below. Some 

 imagine they have observed that the Jokkul has decreased, and 

 is now lower near the crater, which certainly must now be 

 larger than before, the column of clouds increasing in circumfe- 

 rence. So it appears at least from this side from N. to S. ; but 

 whether the same has taken place in the other direction, from E. 

 to W. I am not able to say. It has been reported that to the 

 E. two other volcanoes have had eruptions, the mountains Katla 

 and Oraefa Jokkul, but nothing is known about it. Since the 

 eruption, the weather has become worse, owing to its unparaW 

 leled variableness, storms, and afterwards cold, and a great 

 quantity of snow." 



Dr. Thorsteinson, in a letter to Prof. Oersted, gives the follow- 

 ing additions :— ** Since the 1st of January, the violence of the 

 eruption has been decreasing. Though the town of Reikiavig 

 is about 74 miles from the volcano, the flame was observed there 

 several times at night, when the weather was clear. People 

 that recollect the eruptions of 1766 and 1783 think this trifling, 

 but principally because it has done no harm. Though distant 

 about 74 miles from the volcano, I thought that the weather 



