248 SUBMARINE VOLCANO AND NEW ISLAND. 



burst out within the sea near St. Michael's, we immediately 

 concluded, that the smoke we saw proceeded from this 

 cause, and on our anchoring the next morning in the road 

 of Ponta del Gada, we found this conjecture correct as to 

 the cause, but not to the time; the eruption of January 

 Two at three having totally subsided, and the present one having only 

 nnles distance. Durs t forth two days prior to our approach, and about three 



miles distant from the one before alluded to. 

 Visit to the Desirous of examining as minutely as possible a contention 



so extraordinary between two such powerful elements, I set 

 off from the city of Ponta del Gada on the morning of the 

 14th, in company with Mr. Read, the consul general of the 

 Azores, and two other gentlemen. After riding about 

 twenty miles across the N\V. end of the island of St. Mi- 

 chael's, we came to the edge of a cliff, whence the volcano 

 burst suddenly upon our view in the most terrific and awful 

 grandeur. It was only a short mile from the base of the 

 cliff, which was nearly perpendicular, and formed the mar^ 

 gin of the sear this cliff being as nearly as I could judge 

 from three to four hundred feet high. To give you an ade- 

 quate idea of the scene by description is far beyond my 

 powers; but for your satisfaction I shall attempt it. 

 The volcano Jmagine an immense body of smoke rising from the se{|, 

 described. ^ ie SUVIace Q f which was marked by the silvery riplingof the 

 waves, occasioned by the light and steady breezes incidental 

 to those climates in summer. In a quiescent state, it had 

 the appearance of a circular cloud revolving on the water 

 like a horizontal wheel, in various and irregular involutions, 

 expanding it*elf gradually on the lee side; when suddenly a 

 column of the blackest cinders, ashes, and stones would shoot 

 up in form of a spire at an angle of from ten to twenty de- 

 grees from a perpendicularline, theangleof inclination being 

 universally to windward: this was rapidly succeeded by a se- 

 cond, thivd, and fourth, each acquiring greater velocity, 

 ond overtopping the other till they had attained an altitude 

 as much above the level of our eye, as the sea was below it. 



As the impetus with which the columns were severally 

 propelled diminished, and their ascending motion had nearly 

 ceased, they broke into various branches resembling a groupe 

 pf pines, these again forming themselves into festoons of white 



feathery 



