li PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Feb. I903, 



and in the Georgetown District (Windward) the residents moved southward. At 

 9.55 p.m., as seen at the Botanic Station, the eruption commenced in earnest : 

 flashes of flame and lightning were visible over the Soufriere at intervals of 20 to 

 30 seconds, with frequent longer intervals. At 10.30 p.m. the corrected reading 

 of the mercurial barometer was 30*105 and the attached thermometer 81°*5 F. 

 From about this hour the discharges and accompanying noises increased in 

 frequency and severity, and at 1.30 a.m. (4th) the Soufriere was in full eruption. 

 From this hour to 2 a.m. the eruption was, in the writer's opinion, more severe 

 than oh May 7th : the explosions seeming to be louder and more continuous, 

 and the electric discharges, owing doubtless to its being night, immeasurably 

 grander and more awe-inspiring. The writer's house vibrated in a manner it did 

 not do on May 7th. At 2 a.m. the corrected barometrical reading was 30*045 

 and the temperature 81° F., and at 3 a.m. the corrected reading was 30*035. The 

 marvellous electric display was checked by a heavy shower from the east, and the 

 roar was correspondingly lessened. From about 1.30 a.m. a cloud black as gun- 

 powder was seen advancing southward from the Soufriere, and at 2.30 this cloud had 

 assumed a circular form and was overhead of the Botanic Station. The discharges 

 from this cloud and to northward were exceedingly numerous and severe, and the 

 appearance generally was as though myriads of long fiery serpents were darting hither 

 and thither, and a constant crackling noise was heard, in addition to the roar of the 

 volcano. The chief disturbances seemed to be west of the Soufriere, in the direction 

 of Martinique ; and the writer is strongly of opinion, from observations at the time, 

 that Mont Pele and the Soufriere were in action together, but so far no news has 

 come from Martinique. At 3 a.m. (4th) the discharges and roar to the west nearly 

 subsided, and the Soufriere alone seemed in action, but more on the Windward 

 side. From 3 to 4 a.m. the eruption gradually slackened, and at the latter hour had 

 nearly ceased. The next morning the barometer was normal at 29*950, but the 

 morning had a weird and gloomy appearance. No ashes or pebbles fell at the 

 Botanic Station. No deaths are reported anywhere, and no damage to Windward, 

 but to Leeward I learn on good authority that places partly untouched on May 7th are 

 now very severely injured — for instance, the arrowroot-fields at Richmond Vale and 

 Petit Bordelle and Sharpes, as well as the sugar-canes at the first-named, are 

 extensively damaged by the thick coarse layer of material, and as far down as the 

 Linley Estates and Cumberland extensive damage to ground-provisions and arrow- 

 root is reported. The principal peasant-allotments are on the Linley Estates, and 

 early to-morrow morning (6th) I am going with Mr. Osment to inspect, these 

 erstwhile thriving places. His Honour the Administrator is also visiting the 

 Leeward District as far as Chateaubelair to-morrow. We had made arrangements 

 for distributing some thousands of economic plants to the Leeward allottees during 

 the coming week, but I fear that this is now out of the question, as the holders have 

 reported that their provisions are buried deep. Last night we had one of the worst 

 thunderstorms experienced here during the last 12 years, though the rainfall was only 

 0*44 inch. I enclose for your further information a copy of the ' Times ' newspaper, 

 so far the only one issued this week, and on my return from Leeward I hope to be 

 able to give further facts. 



I have etc. 

 ' Dr. D. Morris, C.M.G., (Signed) H. Powell, 



Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture Curator. 



for the West Indies.' 



A second communication (also received through the Secretary of 

 State for the Colonies) was read, dated Grenada, September 23rd, 

 from Sir R. B. Llewelyn, Governor of the Windward Islands, ex- 

 pressing the hope that some scientific observers might be induced 

 to go out to the West Indies and settle there for some time, in 

 order to accumulate information as to volcanic and kindred 

 phenomena. 



The Hev. H. H. Winwood proposed, and Dr. W. T. Blanford 

 seconded, a vote of thanks to the Colonial Department on behalf of 

 the Society for the foregoing communications, and the vote was 

 agreed to, nemine contra dicente. 



