creased under their feet. It continued to increase in height and extension, very sensibly, from its first appearance to the 13th or 14th of June, and that without any noise or disturbance, although two days preceding its first appearance, there was an earthquake felt all over the island. On the 10th of July, at sun set, we perceived a chain of rocks, as it were, that rose up from a prodigious. depth of the sea, to the number of seventeen or eighteen, not very distinct from each other, and apparently inclining to join themselves to the new island. The next day, smoke was observed to break forth, much resembling in thickness and colour that of a burning furnace; and at the same time were heard certain murmurings under ground, which seemed to proceed from the center of this new island. The rocks then recently formed, united together, and seemed to form another island distinct from the former. The smoke still increased; but, on the following day, the fire broke forth, at first of a dull colour, but afterwards more vivid, as the island increased, and so. continued, and from a variety of apertures. It was no less frightful than curious to the sight, to see every evening on the top of this mount, that nature had lately formed a vast number of burning furnaces, as it were, all of a bright flame,

I

and

and not unlike the illuminated minarets of the Turks, which, in that quarter of the world, are so frequently to be seen. One night, however, at the latter end of July, there appeared of a sudden, in the middle region of the sky, a fiery lance, seeming to come from east to west; but, it disappearing again as suddenly, its dimensions could not be exactly ascertained. In the mean time, the burnt island increased prodigiously, and extended itself chiefly on the south and north sides; the sea also seemed much more disturbed, and was loaded with sulphur and vitriol; the boiling of the sea was more fierce and violent, the smoke became thicker and in greater abundance, and the fire larger and more frightful. But, above all, a stench which infected the whole country, became so intolerable, that persons of the strongest constitutions could hardly breathe in it. In thirteen or fourteen days there was a considerable alteration in the size and appearance of these islands; they became considerably higher and longer, and at length absolutely joined and formed but one island. This phænomenon grew every day more curious, more dreadful, and less accessible, and was so far from ceasing to increase at the ap proach of winter, that it was seen continually to extend itself on the south west side, where nature seemed as if she laboured to make a large port

for ships; and on the 20th of November, it appeared to be at least three miles in circumference, and forty feet in height."

To these, many instances might be added, of the volcanic generation, as well as of the volcanic destruction of islands. Various publications are full of them. But, there was an eruption of fire in Iceland, and that very lately, not longer ago than the year 1783, which is particularly worth attending to :-In the month of June of this year, for some days, a continual smoke or steam arose out of the earth. Three fire-spouts broke out. After rising to a considerable height in the air, they were collected into one stream, which ascended so high as to be seen at the distance of thirty-four miles. The fire was mixed with prodigious quantities of orimstone, sand, pumicestone, and ashes. Along with the pumicestone there fell a great quantity of dirty substance like pitch, sometimes in the form of small balls, and sometimes like rings, or garlands. The fire was sometimes in a continued stream, and at other times in flashes, and was accompanied with a noise like thunder. The phænomenon continued the whole summer. In about eleven days the red hot lava began to An extent of fifteen miles long, and seven

run.

The

miles broad, was covered by this lava. perpendicular height of its edge was from sixteen to twenty fathoms; so that wherever it came, it covered every village it met with, as well as several hills. But, in the winter, the greatest wonder appeared: two islands were thrown up. One of these made its appearance in the month of February 1784, where the water was before upwards of an hundred fathoms deep. This island is above half a mile in circumference, full as high as the mountain Erian in Iceland; and by the last accounts, continued burning with great violence. The other island, which is at a greater distance northward, is yet larger in circumference, very high, and has likewise continued burning without intermission. *

Creation, and destruction, thus regularly succeed to one another. Nothing is at a stand. All is in motion, and every revolution serves but to some wise purpose. Thus, while some regions are undermining, others are forming; while this mountain crumbles, its resemblance consolidates in the ocean; while flints, jaspers, pe- . tro-silex, felt spar, granites, lavas, and ferruginous stones, from long exposure to the air, fall into a

• Pennant.

state

state of decomposition, similar bodies and crystallizations assume their distinct shapes, and wait but to be called into being. This succession is most adinirable. Every particle of matter thus comes into action. But the time required for such regeneration is infinitely, perhaps, too unbounded for the circumscribed imagination and faculties of man,

In labouring thus pertinaciously to represent to you what has been conceived on the subject of volcanos, I fear I may have fatigued you. But, in a complicated question, too much attention to particulars cannot be given. Volcanos have at all times been considered as features of importance in the face of nature, Homer forgot not to commemorate Etna: Poly-' bius, who lived one hundred and fifty years before Christ, takes notice of Vesuvius, in his description of Italy: and Diodorus Siculus, who flourished under the reign of Augustus, and who had employed thirty years indefatigable industry in composing his Historical Library, tells us, "that the eruptions of Vesuvius were lost in the darkness of remote antiquity." There is a remark however made by a great chymist, which we have not yet noticed, but which is striking. Volcanos," says he, " are not found in the primitive