The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-01 00:00:00

ERUPTION OF MOUNT ETNA.

The published accounts from Catania, as to the
course of the lava, reach to 8 A.M., on 7th September.
Zaffarana, which appdars to have been in such great
peril, it is now hoped may escape. We make the
following extracts from the Giornale di Catania :
Aug. 30, Nine A.M.—The lava, which has assumed
more celerity, has reached the road to Faragone, and
is near the habitations; the centre of Zaffarana is
distant but a mile. It has nearly destroyed several
vines and chestnut trees. Its front is half a mile, its
height forty palms. The inhabitants of Zaffarana
are much frightened, and are removing their furni-
ture, &c.
Aug. 31, Eight A.M.—The people of Zaffarana are
more tranquil. A portion of lava directed towards the
centre of the commune has ceased during the night to
flow, and that which continued, making a turn to the
north-east, has left Faragone intact. Sciara di Ballo
is once more threatened.

Nine P.M.—The rapidity of the lava is about ton
canne per hour. It continues, via Pantani, its course
towards Solari di Ballo. Continued rumblings are
beard from the mountain, but not the strong detona-
tions of the past, which were like the discharge:of
cannon. The flame from the vortex is indescribably
beautiful, and greater than yesterday.
Sept. 1, Seven A.M.—lhe same breadth of lava, but
its height varies from ten to thirty palms. Its ad-
vance during the night was less actives, about five
canne per hour, but the centre and N.W. wings are
slower.

Two antique cottages have been destroyed, and the
lava is nearer to other homes. It is painful, how-
ever, to observe that from the road to Calanna it has
disappeared, and is taking a third volcanic stratum,
the dimensions of which are not known.
The course which on the 30th was directed towards
Dragalone, _nor di Casino, Angona, and the plain of
Saint Giacomo, is stopped entirely.
I,:;ght pm,—The course towards Sciara di Ballo is
much slower—about a canna per hour laterally to-
wards the house of Salvatore Coco.
The new lava progresses in two wings—one to.
wards Dagelone, the other towards Fior di Casino—
they are distant from Zaffarana three miles. Some
loud detonations have been heard today.
Sept. 2, Eight A.M.—The mass of lava, which had
almost blocked up Sciara appears to be deadened in
its centre, the two wings alone are in movement, but
very slow—six canne only during the night—and it
is thought that it will cease flowing.
The two expansions of the third stratum which
yesterday appeared over Calanna, properly the (2uer-
cia del Vento, have during the night been very slow,
and hopes are entertained that its destructive progres
will not continue.
The property which has suffered by the eruption,
not reckoning a portion of the Bishop of Catania's
revenues, may be taken at 132 saline (about 620
acres), from among vineyards, woody spots already
sown, good land, chestnut.., lava
,spread ground, that is
cultivable, and arid ground. Tne sufferers are eighty
in number.
Sept. 3, Eight A.m,--The two wings of the lava
appear to be uniting, having only advanced two canne
during the night. The fears of the people are
.sub-
duing, and many are re-enuring
The third stratum, their houses.
which came within half a mile
of Quercia del Vento, no longer advances. A fourth,
however, is discovered from the highest part of
Quercia del Vento, and is taking an E.S.E. direction,
which may invade the land between Milo sad Ballo,
but is yet two miles distant, and little alarm of its
advance is entertained.

Sept. 4, eight A.M.—The lava menacing Sciara di
Ballo is spent. The fourth stream, seen
yesterday,
has changed its course to S.S.E., once menacing
Zaffarana. It advanced since 37,,sterciasteep
more
ground about a mile, and is now on the"
road to
Palszzo, above the grotto of Chicchitelli. It has
taken the course of the old lava, but has damaged
some vineyards and cultivated fields which had
pre-
viously escaped. Its extent has dilated, but its pro-
gress is slow.
Sept. 5, Eight A.H.—From Zaffarana—The era!)_
tion decreases In violence. The stratum which was
spoken of yesterday is dying away.
Ten r.m.—From Milo—From Renatore a branch
of the volcanic lava has proceeded eastward with great
rapidity. Its size is half a mile. It is actually near
Dalalonga, and in ten hours rose 400 canoe. It
menaces the village of Milo, from which, however, it
is three miles end a half distant.
Sept. 6, swan A.:A.—From Zaffarana—The lava
menacing the grotto Chicchitelli proceeded slowly,
advancing five canne only during the night, end is
about closing. From the point of eruption several
strata have appeared, one of which this morning is
visible from the Quercia del Vento, wending its
course over the old lava, but so slowly as not to occa-
sion any alarm. The storms of sand and the detona-
tions have diminished.
Sept. 7, Eight A.M.—The spread of the lava united
over the grotto Chicchitelli may b 3 said to be spent.
The fifth stratum, announced yesterday, menaced the
Quarter Milo and Caselle on the night of the sth to
the 6th, but turning off towards the Quercia del
Vento diffased itself over the old lava and descended
aivith so much rapidity as to progress more than half
mils in the day. In the evening it united, and took

he direction of Palazzo, and is now distant two miles
only from Zsffarana.
During the night its force has diminished—its
front, which was fifteen palms high, has increased, and
its breadth may be reckoned at nearly 200 palms.
To the frightful detonations a dull rumbling sound
has succeeded.

Subsequent private letters, to the 16th of Septem-
ber, announce the mountain to be still in active la-
bour, and the course of the volcanic stream of liquid
lava, which had branched off close to Zaffarana, had
taken the direction of Milo, which seemed
so as-
suredly doomed to destruction that the inhabi-
tants were clearing not only their, houses, but like-
wise cutting down the loftiest chesnut trees in its vi-
cinity, in the hopes of having time to remove the same
to save the timber. A vast quantity of sal ammonia
has been vomited from the crater, which rendered the
air so impure as to threaten the lives of seamen in
small craft trading along the coast. The deck of a
small revenue cruiser had been nearly covered with
volcanic cinders. Even as far as Malta some of
the soot and lava dust had been wafted by the wind
during the night of the 21st of September. The
mountain has on several occasions been distinctly
visible from the town of Valletta, the smoke from its
summit presenting the appearance of a very heavy
cloud. Very oppressive sirocco winds have prevailed
at Malta throughout the month of September, and at
the latest date a very dense fog, which is unusual at
this season, but the island generally was very salu-
brious.

BANK OF ENGLAND.
(From this night's Gazette.)
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32 for
the Week ending on Saturday, the 25th day of September, 1852.
ISSUE DEPARTMENT.
X.
Notes issued.;...... 33, 132 seo

Government debt •• 11,015,100
Other securities •• • . 2,984,900
Gold coin and bullion 21,113,40t3
Silver bullion • • • • • • 19,154

X 35,132,560
J. R. ELSEY, Deputy Cashier.
Dated the 20th day of September, 1652.

£35,132,560