The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-08 00:00:00

VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN ICELAND.

A volcanic eruption has taken place in Iceland,
of which an account has been sent to Mr. Buchan,
secretary of the Meteorological Society, by two of
the society's observers at Reykjavik—viz., the Rev.
S. 0. Palssen, Knight of Dannebrog, and Dr.
Hjaltalin, a member of the Althing. The Rev. S.
0. Palssen writes :—" On Thursday, the 29th of
August, it blew a stiff breeze from the east, and the
sky was rather cloudy. At 9 a.m. the air became
suddenly impregnated with a strong smell of sul-
phur, which lasted the whole day, and was felt
even in the rooms if doors and windows were not
carefully closed. In the afternoon reports were
heard as of artillery discharged at a great distance.
On the following day the same reports were heard
at intervals, but no smell was observed. In the
evening, at half-past 7, there were seen i❑ the direc-
tion of E.N.E. sheets of flame ascending into the
air like lightning. The same appearance was ob-
served in the west part of Iceland for several nights
following and in the same direction. It has bee n
ascertained that this eruption took place somewhere
in the desert vicinity of Vatnajokul. It has fortu-
nately not been attended with any serious conse-
quences. Sulphurous ashes were seen on the grass
in the nearest inhabited tracts ; and for some days,
until rain fell, the pasture was not very wholesome
for the cattle, which were unquiet and gave less
milk than they used to do. This eruption must have
been somewhat violent, as the flames were seen at
great distances over the mountains ; and a column

smoke was also visible. Since the middle of
September no further symptoms of this eruption
have been observed." Dr. Hjaltalin writes :—" On
the 29th of August a disagreeable, sulphurous
odour was felt over all our little town (Reykjavik),
and became very opppessive, and occasioned a
good deal of coughing. The weather at the time
was somewhat misty and warm, the temperature
being 46 deg; and the wind was from S.E. to
E., and not strong. In the evening, heavy shots,
like a continuous cannonade, were heard from
the east, and a rolling, as of thunder, under-
ground. Next day, at 7 p.m., appearances of a
great fire were seen in a direction S.E. by E. from
Rekyjavik. The colour of the flame was bluish-
white, resembling the flame of burning sulphur. It
was half a mile broad at the base. It continued all
night, and was clearly seen more than a hundred
miles out at sea. Lightning and rolling peals of
thunder were heard, but, as far as known, no earth-
quake was felt either here or in any other part of
the island. Greyish white ashes were found on the
grass in some places, which I found on examination
to consist of a black pumice dust and pure sulphur.
From a comparison of the different reports, it is

all but certain that the eruption took place on the
north side of the Skaptarjokul, or a little to the
north of this great glacier. The centre of the erup-
tion was thus about 125 English miles from Reyk-
javik, and in a desert 60 or 70 miles from any in-
habited place. The sudden appearance of the
eruption, the absence of any accompanying earth-
quake, the enormous breadth and height of the
column of flame, which seemed to overtop the hills
between it and the sea, the strange and disagree-
able odour which it spread over the whole of the
island, and its short duration, make it one of the
most extraordinary volcanic eruptions that have
ever appeared in Iceland."—Scotsman.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

BRISTOL-THURSDAY.

On our market to-day there was a moderate supply of
English wheat, which was sold freely at barely former
prices. In foreign wheat, which met with a better in-
quiry, prices were scarcely so high as last week. Malting
barley in full supply, at a slight reduction ; grinding sorts
dull, at previous Yates. Oats in retail demand, and prices
as of late. Indian corn slow, and also beans.