366 On the new Insular Volcano, called Hotham Island. 



sented a circumference of nearly 400 fathoms; a smoke pro- 

 ceeded from it, exhaling an odour of sulphur. The preceding 

 day, in the Gulf of Trois Fontaines (Three Fountains) he 

 had seen a great quantity of dead fish and of black matter float- 

 ing on the water, and he heard a noise like that of thunder, 

 which the captain attributed to a volcanic eruption. He conti- 

 nued his voyage to Girgenti ; and all the time that he was oc- 

 cupied in lading his ship, he saw a thick smoke rise incessantly 

 from the same point, before which he arrived on the 16tb, on 

 his return from Girgenti. A new spectacle was then presented 

 to him, namely, a tract of land, of the same circumference as 

 that of the mass of water which he had observed on his fii'st 

 voyage. This island, which we shall call Corrao, from the 

 name of him who saw it formed, is elevated twelve feet above 

 the level of the sea ; it has in the middle a kind of plain, and 

 the crater of a volcano, whence a burning lava is seen to pro- 

 ceed during the night. The island is bordered by a girdle of 

 smoke. The sounding all around the island gives a depth of 

 100 fathoms. The Lat. is 37° 6' N., and Long. 10° 26' E. from 

 the meridian of Paris." 



In a letter from Dr Turnbull Christie to us, dated Malta. 

 23d July 1831, we have the following additional particula.'-s : — 



" I have much pleasure in communicating to you the highly 

 interesting intelligence of a new volcano having made its ap- 

 pearance only a few days ago, in .the Mediterranean, and at no 

 great distance from this place. It is situated about half way 

 between the small island of Pantellaria and the adjoining coast of 

 Sicily. It has been preceded by several violent shocks of earth- 

 quakes, one of which threw down some houses, and killed se- 

 veral people at Sciacca. From the accounts which have been 

 already received, it would appear that the volcano commenced 

 on the 11th instant, when it was seen by the master of a small 

 vessel sailing towards Terra Nova, who describes it as having 

 had " the appearance of a large rugged island, coming up and 

 faUing with force back into the sea, so that the sea flew up to a 

 great height, and fell down in the form of foam." This was 

 seen to be repeated, at short intervals, for nearly two hours. 

 The masters of two small vessels, one from Sardinia, and the 

 other from Palermo, saw it on the 13th, and gave the fol- 



