of a Volcano in the Sea off the Island of St. Michael’s. 155 
merely from the force of imagination ; but while we were sitting 
within five or six yards of the edge of the cliff, partaking of a 
slight repast which had been brought with us, and were all 
busily engaged, one of the most magnificent bursts took place 
which we had yet witnessed, accompanied by a very severe 
shock of an earthquake. The instantaneous and involuntary 
movement of each was to spring upon his feet, and I said 
“ this admits of no doubt/' The words had scarce passed my 
lips, before we observed a large portion 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 consternation had a little subsided, 
we removed about ten or a dozen yards further 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 foundery 
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 intermixt 
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 NW. part of the island, 
X 2 
