Oil the New Insular Volcano, named Hutham Island. 371 



coasting vessel from Sardinia, arrived here, and reported to 

 our Admiral that three days before, while off Cape Biancx), in 

 Sicily, he discovered the extraordinary phenomena of three dis- 

 tinct cclumns of smoke issuing from the sea, accompanied by a 

 submarine noise, which he compared to that made by the 

 " wheels of a vast steam-vessel.'''' In the evening of the same 

 day, a second report was brought by a vessel from London. No 

 appearance of lava was to be seen. The Admiral instantly di- 

 rected two officers to proceed and verify the report. On the 

 night of Wednesday the 20lh instant, while proceeding on their 

 voyage, they first discovered it at 25 or 30 miles distant, shoot- 

 ing upwards rays and flashes to a great height. The next day, 

 observing that the intervals between the eruptions occupied al- 

 most a correct laiiformity of time, viz. from an hour and a half 

 to an hour and a quarter, affiarded them the chance to approach 

 at one time within 60 yards of the crater, where they sounded, 

 and found the side of the cone in S3 fathoms, the armory of 

 the lead bringing up a small piece of black stone, being the only 

 substance, we got during three days'" constant perseverance, whose 

 specific gravity was greater than water, which I am sorry it is 

 not in my power to transmit ; but I have secured some cinders 

 and ashes, which I shall have the pleasure to send home in the 

 Melville, Avhich will leave this shortly for England. Since 

 writing the above, I have just learned that Lord William 

 Thynne, on the morning of the I9th, on his return from Gib- 

 raltar to this place, was enabled to approach within 20, and 

 to sound in 18 fathoms. At this time the island was just above 

 the surface, and on the 21st my friend found it 20 feet in 

 height ; and I have now learned that the day before yesterday, 

 viz. the 25th instant, it had acquired the height of 40 or 45 feet. 

 Any further information you may wish to acquire I shall be 

 able to collect, as I shall in a day or so visit the scene.'" 



The following report by the officers of the Philomel, has been 

 published at Malta, by Admiral Hotham : — " The Philomel 

 brig of war, which left Malta Harbour on Tuesday afternoon, 

 the 19th of July, with the masters of the St Vincent and Ganges, 

 to ascertain the correct particulars, &c. of the new volcano island 

 forming off Sciacca, in Sicily, discovered the object at 1 a. m. 

 on Thursday the Slst. At 3, spoke an Austrian ship, from 



