The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-31 00:00:00

The Eruption of Mount Etna,

The Moniteur of Wednesday contains the follow-
ing summary of a letter upon the eruption of Mount
Etna, addressed by M. Fouqu6 to M. C. Saint-
Clair Deville, which has been communicated to the
French Academy :
" The eruption commenced at half-past ten on
the night of the 30th to 31st January last. On the
previous day two shocks of earthquake had been
felt, one at mid-day and the other about half-past
four in the afternoon.

" A very violent shock also immediately preceded
the eruption, consisting of vertical oscillations and
horizontal movements from S.W. to N.W. These
took place only on the north-west side of the moun-
tains. At Lavina, near Piedimonte, the terrified
inhabitants fled from their dwellings and did not
dare to return all night. At Catania the pheno-
menon passed over unperceived.

" After the shock columns of flame were seen to
rise up from the north-east side of Etna to the
height of 1,700 metres above the level of the sea,
and of 500 metres from the foot of Mount Fru-
mento, formerly an active volcanic cone, lying at
the base of the chief volcano, but which had for
some time remained quiet.
" Immediately the ground opened the lava began
flowing with great rapidity. In two or three days
it had passed over a distance of six kilometres, the
current being three or four kilometres wide, and
often attaining a depth of 10 to 20 metres. The
lava destroyed everything in its passage, leaving but
few traces of vegetation behind. The stream, upon
meeting with Mount Stornello, divided into two
branches, the one flowing to the west of the mount
continued advancing very slowly ; the other, on the
contraryi passing to the east of that volcanic cone,
precipitated itself into the deep and narrow valley
of Colla Vecchio from a height of 50 metres, bear-
ing solid blocks of lava on its surface. The valley
was soon filled up, and the stream, still advancing
to the distance of about three kilometres, stopped
on an old bed of lava at the height of 800 metres.
At this time (Feb. 6) the western branch continued
its route, again subdividing into two streams at the
height of 1,321 metres. One of these advanced
until Feb. 21, and stopped at the height of 1,309
metres, and the other went on till the 25th, stopping
at the height of 1,186 metres. Lastly, on the 6th
March, a new stream formed at the west of the
crater, advancing with rapidity.
" The craters, five of which are contained in an
enclosure of elliptical form, are seven in number.
The five first named have each corresponding cones
at the foot of which they lie; and there the ground
is opened and cracked. To the west of this enclo-
sure there is a division which affords an outlet to
several torrents of lava.
" From the base of Mount Frumento to the nearest
cone there is a fissure about 500 metres long, dating
probably fr9m the origin of the eruption ; it ex-
tends to E. 28 deg. N., and forms a continuation
to the craters. Its width exceeds 10 metres, and
its depth is often considerable. It is half filled up
with solidified blocks of lava that have become cold,
for the snow has already accumulated there to a
certain depth. The lava has carbonised even the
most gigantic pines, which indicates a very high
degree of primitive temperature. This fissure in
the ground, considered in unison with the craters,
combine to make it appear as if the actual mouths of
the volcano, formed a line passing right through the
summit of the mountain.

" The fumerolles may be divided into dry, acid,
alkaline, and carbonic. The former contain chlo-
ride of sodium, and are without water, steam, or
acid, and alkaline vapours. They correspond to
the maximum of volcanic intensity, and are found
on lava still incandescent. The latter answer to the
minimum of activity, and the two others to the in-
termediate degrees.

" The peculiarity, however, of this eruption con-
sists in the utter absence of sulphur and all its com-
ponent parts ; which circumstance is particularly
remarkable, inasmuch as volcanos are usually con-
sidered as sources of sulphur-beds; but, on the other
hand, there is sea salt, cialorure of copper, chlorhythic
acid, chiorures of iron, and salammoniac in abund-
ance.. A second remarkable fact is that the alkaline,
fumerolles are rather characterised by carbonate
than chlorhydrate of ammoniac, which can be found
everywhere else.

" The active centre of the present eruptions is
now to be found in the lowest part of the great

volcanic enclosure, and the three craters in Mount
Frumento are less active than the four others. The
latter vomit liquid lava incandescent in daylight,
and emit an almost colourless smoke ; whilst the
three upper mouths discharge only solid masses of
lava and black rocks, pouring forth a thick smoke
implegnated with water, steam, and ashes, dark
brown in colour. These three craters give forth
about two or three times a minute very loud deto-
nations resembling claps of thunder. From the
lower craters, on the other hand, proceed a series
of sounds, following each other in such rapid suc-
cession that they cannot be counted ; they are all
loud and quite distinct from each other. The author
of the letter compares them to a series of blows de-
livered with a hammer on an anvil. If the ancients,'
says he, heard similar sounds during the eruptions
of old, it is perfectly easy to conceive how the idea
struck them of there being a smithy in the middle
of Etna, with the Cyclops for workmen."

And then he drew a dial frem his poke,
And looking on it with lack lustre eye,
Says very wisely, ' It is ten o'clock :
Thus we may see,' quoth he, how the world wags."
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11.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

RAILWAY BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.—Yester-
day in Mr. Ingham's committee the further con-
sideration of the Crystal Palace New Railway case for the
promoters occupied the whole day, the Hon. A. Liddell,
Mr. Round, and Mr. Holway appearing in support. The
Great Yarmouth Borough, Haven, and Port was not con-
cluded in group 6. The committee in group 1 B, pro-
ceeded with the further hearing of the London, Chatham,
ind Dover Railway (No. 1) Bill, Mr. Burke, Mr. Round
and Mr. Somerset for, and Mr. Cripps, Q.C., against. In
group 13 (Mr. A. Mills, chairman), the Alcester, Stratford-
.upon-Avon, and Warwick Junction Railway was resumed.
There was no decision in the numerous bills before Sir F.
Goldsmid in group 23.

ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S STORlES.—Governor
Andrew related at the dinner to the Cadets, the
other evening, a "little story " which he credited to Presi-
dent Lincoln. The anecdote was first told on the night of
the Bth-of November, when, long after the success of the
Union candidates was assured, the returns of heavy
majorities stall came in thick and jubilant. Then it was
that the President was reminded of this Illinois incident :
—A friend of his, poising along a village street, was pain-
fully bitten by an ugly dog. A single blow of a heavy
stick, skilfully aimed, was sufficient to kill the animal in-
stantly ; but the enraged pedestrian still continued to
pummel the corpse, till little vestige of the canine form
remained. At length he was accosted with " What aro'
you about ? That dog has been dead this ten minutes."
" I know it," was the reply ; "but I want to give the beast
a realising sense that there is a pu.nishraent after death."

FIC7
Pl 4 Vie
finri
41 01

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 30.

The Queen, with their Royal Highnesses Princess
Louise and Princess Beatrice, walked in the Home
Park yesterday afternoon, and again this morning,
accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Leopold.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena and
Princess Louise rode in the Home Park.

His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by
Lieutenant Haig, returned from London.
The Countess of Elgin had the honour of an
interview of her Majesty yesterday afternoon.