Star.
London, England, 1831-08-31 00:00:00

VOLCANO IN THE SEA.

MALTA, AUG. 5.—A new volcano has made
its appearance between Pontellaria and Sciacea.
The Admiral's tender, the Hind cutter, returned
here the day before yesterday, having taken
thither and brought back Capt. Senhouse, flag-
captain of the St. Vincent, who brings the account
that the island was rapidly increasing in size ;
when he left it was from to I h mile in circum-
ference, and from 200 to 250 feet in height. The
volcano was busily at work throwing tip a vast
quantity of materials, which resemble the lava
, from Vesuvius, being quite soft when fresh out of
the crater, and becoming hard shortly after. The
fall of these ashes rendered it difficult to land, but
Captain Seuhouse managed to do so, and planted
the British colours, taking possession in the King's
name. This, I imagine, was merely a matter, of
precaution, and to prevent any other nation (Ame-
rica for instance) from claiming a prior right to it,
should it ever become an habitable island. This
' report is confirmed by Mario Provezano, the-master
of the Neapolitan bombard Madonna dells Grazie,
arrived from Palermo on the same day, who says
that on the 13th instant, at about two o clock, P. 14.
being between Sciacca and Pantalleria, 25 miles
to the southward of Sciacca, we discovered three
, columns of smoke apparently issuing from the
sea, which cannot be considered a new volcano.
On approaching it we heard a great noise, like the
rolling of the wheels of a steam-vessel. In con-
sequence of the continuance of calm weather, we
remained in that vicinity three days, during which
we constantly observed the same appearance, and
' heard the same noise. Vice-Admiral Sir Henry
Hotham, on learning this intelligence, sent off the
tender of the flag-ship, the Hind cutter, com-
manded by Lieut. Coleman.
It appears from the testimony of Rossignaud,
master of the Adelaide, that be passed the same
spot on Monday, at 4 P.M. when he observed
smoke issuing out of the supposed volcano, some-
dines in one and sometimes in two columns, in the
midst of which was visible a body of fire, which
shot up perpendicularly, as high as the mast-head
of a line-of-battle ship.
Report of Commander C. IL Swinburne, of the Rapid,
to Vier-Admiral Hotham

Rapid, at Malta, July 22, 1831.
Stn,—l have the honour to inform you, that on the 18th
of July, 1831, at 4 P.M. the town of Manila bearing by
compass E. half N. 0 miles, I observed from ou board his
Majesty's sloop Rapid, under my command, a high We-

galas column of very white smoke or steam, bearing S. by
I steered for it and continued to do so till 8, 15, rear.
when having gone about 30 miles by the reckoning, I saw
flashes of brilliant light mingled with the smoke which was
still distinctly visible by the light of the moon.
In a few minutes the whole column became black and ,I
larger; almost immediately afterwards several succzedve
eruptions of lurid fire rose up amidst the smoke; they sub.!
sided, and the column then became gradually white again.'
As we seemed to near it fast, I shortened sail and hove to
till daylight, that I might ascertain its nature and exact po.
sition. During the night the changes from white to black
with flashes, and the eruptions of fire, continued at irregular
intervals, varying from half an hour to an hour. At day-
light I again steered towards it, and about five a. nn. when
the smoke had for a moment cleared away at the bare,l saw
a small hillock of a dark colour a few feet alsove the sea.
This was soon hidden again, and was only visible through
the smoke at the intervals between the more violent et options.
The volcano was in a constant state of activity, and ap-
pearee to be discharging dust and stones with vast volumes
of steam. At seven, 30, the rushing noise of the eruptions
was heard. At nine, being distant front it about two miles,
and the water being much -discoloured with (lark objects at
the surface in various places, I hove to nod went iu a boat
to sound round and examine it. I rowed towards it, keeping
on the weather side aid sounding, but got no bottom till
within twenty yards of the western side, where I had 18
fathoms soft bottom; this was the only sounding obtained,
nxcept from the brig, one mile true north from the centre
of the island, a here the depth was 130 fahoms soft dark
brown mud. The crater (for it was now evident that
such wan its farm) seemed to he comp ss:(1 of fine cinders
and mud of a dark brown colour; within it was to be
sect in the intervals between the cruptinns, a mixture of
muddy water, steam, and cinders dashing up and down and
occasionally running into the sea, over the edge of the crater,
which I found on rowing round to be hroken down to the
!etrel of the sts, on the W. S. W. side for tine space of ten
or twelve yards. Here I obtained a better view of the in-
terior, which apyeared to be filled with muddy water, vios
lently agitated, from which showers of hot tomes or cinders
were constantly shootin3 up a few yards, and falling into it
tut the west quantities of steam that constantly rose
from it prevented my teeing the whole center. 1
A consiel. fable stream of muddy water flowed outward
through the o,eniog, ard. mingling a ith that of the sea,
mused the diseniouration that had been observed be-1
fore. I could not approach near enough to observe
iss temperature, but that cf the sea, within ten or twelve
yards of it, was enly one degree higher than the ave-
rage, and to ]reward of the island, in the direction of the
current' (which ran to the eastward) no difference could be
perceived, even where the water was most discoloured ;
however as a' mirage' played above is near its source, it was
probably hot there. The dark objects on the surface of the
sea proved to be patches of small floating cinders. The
island or crater appeared to be 70 or 80 yards in its external
diameter, and the lip as thin as it could be, consistent with
its height, which might be 20 feet above the sea in the
highest, and 1111; fret in the lowest part. leaving the rest
for the diameter of the area within. These details could
only he observed in the intervals between the great
eruptions. some of which I witnessed from the boat.
No words can describe their sublime grandeur; their
proves, was generally as follows :—After the volcano
had emitted for some time its usual quantites of white
steam, suddenly the whole aperture was filled with an enor-
mous in: ss of hot cinders and dast, rushing upwards to the
height of some hundred feel with a loud roaring roise, then
falling into the sea on all skies with a will louder noise,
arising in part, perhaps, from the formation of pr iii.
pious quantities of steam which instantly took place.
This steam was at first of a brown colour, having embodied
a great deal of dust, as it rose it gradually recovered lie pt.re
white colour, depositing the dust in the shape of a shower
of muddy rain. While this was being accomplished renewed
eruptions of hot cinders and dust were quickly succeeding each
other, while forked lightning accompanied byrattling thunder
darted abou• in all directions within the column.now darkened
with dust and greatly increased in volume, and dis-
totted by sudden gusts and whirlwinds. The latter were
most freq tent on the lee side, where they often made imper-
fect water spouts of curious shapes. On one occasion some of
the steam reached the boat; it smelt a little of sulphur, and
the mud it left became a gritty sparkling dark-brown pow.
der when dty. None of the stones or tinders thrown out
appeared more than half a foot in diameter, and most of
than touch smaller.
From the time when the Volcano was first seen till after I
left it, the barometer did not fall or rise, the sympiesorneter
underwent frequent but not important changes, and the tem-
perature of the ass 4141 not bespeak any unusual influence.
After sunset, on the 18th, soundings were tried for every
hour, to the average depth of 00 fathoms, no bottom. The
wind was N.W. the weather serene.

On the forenoon of the 19th, with the centre of the vol-
cano bearing by compass S. by W. 4 W. one mile distant,
good sights for the chronometer gave the longitude 12 deg.
41 East ; and nt noon, ott the same day, when it bore W. by
N. 4 N. by compass, the meridian altitude of the sun gave
the latitude 37 deg. 7 coin. 30 sec. North ; an amplitude of
the sun the lame morning gave the variation of 4 point
Westerly. It is v. orthy of remark, that on the 28th of June
last, at 9, 30, p.m. when passing near the same spot in com-
pany with the Britannia, several shocks of au earthquake
were felt it. both ships.
C. H. SWINBURNE, Commander.

FOREIGN IN7'ELLIGEATE.

GERMAN PAPERS, THIS DAY.

POLISII FRONTIERS, AUGUST 16.—The con.
nections which the Russians have in Ware w
enable them to learn all the intended measures of
the Polish General, and to act accordingly. Thus,
General Paskewitsch was informed, a few days ago,
that a considerable corps of Polish troops was to
go to Cracow, to organise the Landsttirni, and to
take measures for forming a fortified camp,
by way of precaution, in case the Polish army
should be obliged to leave the vicinity of Warsaw.
To defeat this plan, a corps of 8,000 men, of Gen.
Rudir,er's army, immediately received orders to
pass the Upper Vistula, to march towards Cracow,
and to hinder the Poles horn taking a firm po-
sition in the territory of that republic. In
fact, a Russian corps, under General 'l'hielmann,
is on its march to Cracow, •
• where it expects
to arrive in a few days • The
Commissariat service of the Russian army, which
is most conducted by Prussian contractors, is more
regular than ever. There is now abundance of
bread, wine, meat, vegetables, and brandy, as well
as forage; and the appearance of the Russian
troops is described, in all the accounts, in the most
advantageous terms. In the Polish army, on the
contrary, there is the greatest economy, and the
soldiers receive but small rations. The more
commendable, therefore, is their discipline; since,
amidst all the hardships of war, they are satisfied
with the little that the nation can give for their
subsistence.

It reported at Warsaw, that the Emperor of
Russia was seriously ill, and there were but faint'
hopes of his recovery. The alarm that was excited
by the news of the advance of the enemy to-
wards Warsaw, seems to have latterly subsided,
which may be partly owing to tho calmness of the
General and the Government, and to a much
talked of letter from a person of great infiuenc
at St. Petersburgh, which held out great hopes
of an amicable arrangement. The scarcity
of ready money, however, is more and more
sensibly felt at Warsaw, and causes a general stag-
nation of business. Many houses which have hi-
therto weathered the storm, are said to be in diffi-
culty.
CRACOW, Aug. 14.—The advance of the Rus-
sians to the Upper Vistula has broken off our com-
munication with Warsaw. We hear a great deal
of negociations announced in well-informed circles,
as being actually on foot, and by which a last and
undoubtedly dreadful slaughter would be prevented.
Our city is daily more and more filled with persons

concerned in the insurrection.—A/genieihe z.
tung, Aug. 23.

BRUSSELS PAPERS, THIS DAY.
BRUSSELS, Avn. 27.—The French army ha,
commenced its retrograde movement; a great pare
of it will immediately return to France : the rw„
regiments of cavalry which are here, form the
vanguard of the corps which is to pass through
Brussels. Another column is to pass through Na.
mur and Mons, to Givet and Valenciennes. 11,,
amount of the force that is to remain is not vEt
axed.

The memorial in defence of the operation, of the
army of the Meuse, under the command of Gm.
ral Daine, has been sent to the press.
The news of the renewal of hostilities in Flanders
has been confirmed ; several letters from St. Ni-
cholas, West Capelle, and Ghent, announce tilt:
continuation of the inundation, and the measures
taken by the Dutch to fortify their positions. Co-
lonel Moyard, who commands ad interim our army
in Flanders, has sent a flag of truce to the Dutch
General, to induce him to put an end to these vio-
lations of territory.—Eniancipation.
GHENT, AUG. 26.--A letter from Vest Ca-
pelle, of the 24th August says ;—" Yesterday
Capt. Vernieulen, of Bruges, left the camp of Leo-
pold, with the piece of artillery which he has en:-
played with so much success against our eneraka.
All our means of defence are withdrawn from the
points most threatened by the Dutch, who continue
to fortify themselves more and more ; in fact, re
inforcements have arrived at St. Anne and at
L'Ecluse.

E An account from Walnvliet announces that the
Dutch, who had begun to let the water of the
inundation about the Capitalen Dam flow off, have
just received the inundation this morning. The can-
non were fired in the nirection of our sluices.
ANTWERP, Ace. 26.—The Government of thc
province of Antwerp invites the proprietors of land
in the Polders of Beerenclrecht and Santvliet, to
attend at the Hall of the Government of Antwerp,
on the 31st Aug. in the morning, to deliberate on
the measures which the situation of those Polders
absolutely calls for, and on the means of carryinz
them into effect. General Chasse detained, the
day before yesterday, three barges laden with coals,
which were bound to Antwerp, and had them un-
loaded at the citadel; he, however, paid the pike
of the coals.—Brussels Papers, August 28.

GREECE.
MALTA, Arc. s.—By the Pelican, which ar-
rived on the 2Sth from Nauplia, in eight days, we
are informed that every thing in that distracted
country remains in the most alarming state, owing
to the rapid progress of disaffection now openly
manifested against the government of the Presi-
dent : Business is at a perfect stand. The Presi-
dent is going to issue a papor currency.
N•VA RINO, JULY 30.--We yesterday re-
ceived the following news from Napoli: " A
hundred end Gfty Hydriots have seized the Hellas
frigate, which la) dismantled in the road of Poros.
It is a mad act, for if the Hydriots had kept
within the bounds of legal resistance, the Govern-
ments would never have ventured to support the
President, but now intervention becomes legiti-
mate. We believe that, whether legitimate or not,
the Governments will not take the trouble to ex-
ercise this intervention."