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. Fouque to M. C. Saint-
Clair Devine, 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
contrary, 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-
in 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 from 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, chlorure of copper, chlorhydric
acid, chlorures 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
every Where 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 months discharge only solid masses of
lava and black rocks, pouring forth a thick smoke
impregnated 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. 'lf 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 from 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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H.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,
and 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 still came in thick and jubilant. Then it was
that the President was reminded of this Illinois incident :
—A friend of his, passing 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 are'
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 punishment after; death."

(fort GM OlENauk

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.
The Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Prince of Wales rode on horseback yesterday
morning, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel.
The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive,
attended by the Countess de Grey.
The Prince and Princess of Wales gave a dinner
to the King of the Belgians last night. The fol-
lowing were invited to meet his Majesty :—Prince
Edward of Saxe-Weimar and the Countess Dorn-
berg, the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de
Weyer, Earl Granville, Earl Russell, the Earl of
Clarendon, the Earl of Sefton, Countess de Grey
and Ripon, Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston,
Viscount Hamilton, Lieutenant-General Hon. Sir
Edward Cust, Sir George Grey, Sir Charles Wood,
the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Right Hon.
Edward Cardwell, General Count de Moerkerke
and Dr. Koepl (in attendance on the King of the
Belgians), Lieutenant-General Knollys, and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Keppel.
Sir Robert Montgomery waited upon the Prince
and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House, on
Tuesday last, and presented to their Royal High-
nesses some costly presents from the North-Western
Provinces of India.

Mr. John Parry performed on the piano, and
sang at Marlborough House on Wednesday evening.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale honoured Mr. and Mrs. Disraeli with their pre-
sence at dinner, yesterday evening, at Grosvenor-gate.
There were present, to meet their Royal Highnesses, the
Duke and Duchess of Cleveland, the Marchioness of Salis-
bury, the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath, the Mar-
chioness of Ely, the Earl of St. Germans, the Earl of
Derby, Sir }Alward and Lady Caroline Kerrison, Mr. and
Lady Elizabeth Russell, M. de Rothschild, and the Lady
in Waiting on her Royal Highness.

His Royal Highness the Count d'Eu and her
Imperial Highness the Crown Princess of Brazil, with
their suite, have left the Clarendon Hotel for Claremont.

The Princess de la Tour d'Auvergne, mother of
the French Ambassador, left the French Embassy yester-
day on her return to Paris.

The Duchess (Eleanor) of Northumberland is
expected to leave Alnwiek Castle, Northumberland, for
town on Wednesday or Thursday next.
Louisa Marchioness of Waterford has left Far-
rance's Hotel, for Ford Castle, Coldstream, N.B.

The Earl and Countess Spencer will entertain a
distinguished party at Althorp Hall next week, for the
Northampton races. The company will assemble on Tues-
day and separate on the Friday following.

The Earl and Countess of Bessborough enter-
tained a select party at dinner yesterday evening, at their
residence in Charles-street, Berkeley-square.
The Earl and Countess of Belmore and Sir
George and Lady Macpherson Grant have left Brown's
Hotel.

The Earl and Countess of Seafield and Lord
Reidhaven have left the Clarendon Hotel, for Cullen
House, Banffshire.

The Countess Stanhope had a small dancing
party last night at the family residence in Grosvenor-
place Houses.

Viscount and Viscountess Stratford de Redcliffe
had a party last evening at their residence in Grosvenor-
square.

Count E. de Viel Castel has left the Clarendon
Hotel for Paris.

Lord Llanover has left town for Llanover, South
Wales.

Mr. Newdegate Again.

Sir Charles Clifford presents his compliments to
the Editor of the 7 iines, and would be much obliged
by the insertion of the enclosed correspondence in
that paper.
Coldham-hall, Bury St. Edmund's, March 28.

" Coldham-hall, Bury St. Edmunds, March 23.
" Sir,—The correspondence between yourself and Mr.
Langdale has been brought to my notice. I should not
have deemed it requisite to address you on the subject had
it not been for the concluding sentence in one of your letters,
in which you infer that the relations and friends of ladies
resident in convents in England have not hitherto given
attention to their condition and to the treatment of their
inmates.

"I cannot allow an inference so devoid of truth to P
without remark. I have a sister who was a nun in the con-
vent of Colwich at the date of the charges you bring against
that convent, and who is now the superioress of the con-
vent at Atherstone, which you have also attacked. From
the relationship mentioned above I have taken very great
i
interest in the convents named by you, and ' paid relic'
attention to the treatment of the inmates ;' and I am in a
position to assure you that you have been grossly deceive'
by your informants, and that your -‘ 27 witnesses,' if their
evidence amounted to anything at all, have either snen3a-
lessly perjured themselves or were prepared to do so. I ean
hardly hope that anything I can say will induce you to alter
your expressed determination not to leave your privileged
position, and thus allow a refutation of the grave charges
made in your place in the House of Commons ; yet I think
you must recognise a great difference between Catholic
members of Parliament objecting to the Legislature ar
pointing a committee to pry into the private affairs and
social arrangements of ladies living in communities and
relatives of those ladies requiring proofs of charges affect-
ing their individual character.
" The regulation and order of convents and the treatment
of ladies within them are well known, not only to every
Catholic nobleman and gentleman in England, but to many
Protestants also ; under these circumstances, I hope the
you will still embrace the opportunity offered to you ol
being undeceived in your ideas of their condition, and thug
be enabled to make the amende to ladies at least the equsl:
of your sisters or your daughters.—l am, sir, your obedient
servant, " CHAS. CLIFFORD-
" To C. Newdegate, Esq., M.P., 3, Arlington-
street, Piccadilly."

" Arbury, Nuneaton, March 25.
" Mr. Newdegate presents his compliments to Sir Charles
Clifford, and regrets that Sir Charles Clifford should con-
sider Mr. Newdegate's reply to the Hon. Charles Langdale;
jun., discourteous or insufficient, since it is evident that
Sir Charles Clifford, when he wrote his letter of the 23d,
did not anticipate that Mr. Newdegate could consistentlerY,
under existing circumstances, make any other_ f:ir
reply than he has made to the Hon. Charles Langdale/ ;
Mr. Newdegate, therefore, does not consider any
apology for or explanation of this reply necessary.
"Sir Charles Clifford, Knight, Coldham-hall,
Bury St. Edmunds."

coldham-hall, Bury St. Edmunds, March 28.
"Sir Charles Clifford begs to acknowledge the receipt of
Mr. Newdegate's letter of the 25th, received last evening'
in which Mr. Newdegate professes to regret that Sir Chi'
should consider his reply to Mr. Langdale discourteous an
insufficient. That reply, containing no apology for grievoo
slanders against a near relative, adds the further insult of
inferring that the Catholic nobility and gentry of Bile.o
are indifferent to the treatment of their sisters and &ugh-
tors. Sir Charles certainly did not anticipate that
ut
Newdegate would make any other or further reply,
that he could and ought to have done so Sir Charles is Per-
suaded will be the opinion of the large majority of Engis/'‘;
men. Mr. Newdegate has, under the shelter of a privilege
position, cast the most shameful imputations upon a conic;
munity of ladies of whom Sir Charles's sister is one,
an
when asked for proof or retractation has again availed him"
self of his privilege to refuse either.
"Sir Charles Clifford is of opinion that Mr. Nevideget:
is guilty either of compounding a felony, or of refusing t
make the only reparation in his power, by acknowledgint
that the evidence collected in such underhand vols
utterly worthless and untrue. Sir Charles is hapP9 in be;
lieving that Mr. Newdegate is the only man wh°l
endeavouring to inflict so cruel an injury, would have f°
lowed the course he has chosen—a course which must
1)°
reprobated by every English gentleman.
" To O. N. Newdegate, Esq., 3, Arlington-

street, Piccadilly."
--- 0 Og"
NETHERLANDS INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION it
PANY.—The first ordinary general meeting of this coMP,II:t
took place yesterday at the offices, Leadenhall-street, " ,
upon the representatives of the press making their aPPe.3',l,
ante, they were informed that it was not desired that tP.'
proceedings should be Published.