432 Account of a Volcanic Eruption in Iceland. 
panied 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 unin- 
habited 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 circumference. 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,, Iam 
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 unparalleled variable- 
ness, storms, and afterwards cold, and a great quantity of snow.” 
Dr. Thorsteinson, in a letter to Prof. Oersted, gives the fol- 
lowing additions: —‘ Since the first 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 
became much milder after the eruption. Though the barome- 
ter was pretty low during the eruption, yet it was lowest on 
Feb. 8, when it was only 27°25 inches; but the fire did not in- 
crease, nor did we feel any thing like an earthquake; but near 
the volcano, they had constantly small shocks.”’ 
The vessel which brought this news had left Iceland on the 
7th of March, and it is reported that the sailors when at sea 
again saw a violent fire. 
State 
