250 



SUBMARINE VOLCANO AND NEW ISLAND. 



Farther ae 

 count. 



of the face of the cliff, about fifty yards on our left, falling", 

 which it did with a violent crash. So soon as our first con- 

 sternation had a little subsided, we removed about ten or a 

 dozen yards farther from the edge of the cliff, and finished 

 our dinner. 



On the succeeding day, June 15th, having the consul and 

 some other friends on board, I weighed, and proceeded with 

 the ship towards the volcano, with the intention of witnessing 

 a night view ; but in this expectation we were greatly disap- 

 pointed, from the wind freshening and the weather becoming 

 thick and hazy, and also from the volcano itself being clearly 

 more quiescent than it was the preceding day. It seldom 

 emitted any lightning, but occasionally as much flame as 

 may be seen to issue from the top of a glass-house, or foun- 

 dery chimney. 



On passing directly under the great cloud of smoke, about 

 three or four miles distant from the volcano, the decks of the 

 ship were covered with fine black ashes, which fell inter- 

 mixed with small rain. We returned the next morning, and 

 late on the evening of the same day, I took my leave of St. 

 Michael's to complete my cruize. 



On opening the volcano clear of the N W. part of the 

 island, after dark on the 16th, we witnessed one or two 

 eruptions that, had the ship been near enough, would have 

 been awfully grand. It appeared one contiuued blaze of 

 lightning; but the distance which it was at from the ship, 

 upwards of twenty miles, prevented our seeing it with effect. 



Returning again towards St. Michael's on the 4th of July, 

 quiet, and 80 I was obliged, by the state of the wind, to pass with the ship 

 water. ° ve T c ^ ose to tne island, which was now completely formed 



by the volcano, being nearly the height of Matlock High 

 Tor, about eighty yards above the sea. At this time it was 

 perfectly tranquil, which circumstance determined me to 

 land, and explore it more narrowly. 



I left the ship in one of the boats, accompanied by some 

 of the officers. As we approached, we perceived it was still 

 smoking in many parts, and upon our reaching the island 

 found the surf on the beach very high. Rowing round to 

 the lee side, with some little difficulty, by the aid of an oar, 

 as a pole, 1 jumped on shore, and was followed by the other 



officers 



The volcano 



Landing on 

 the island. 



