Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-21
HEspERsoN's ISLAND.

h.,k ola fr;ehiful chasm called Almanagia,
- tho soIid masses of burnt rock have
b.sn DISRUPTED, so as form assure orgap
NO, /, 8, than 1870 feet deep, in many pla-
Ses ~ the same width, and about three miles
in zenith. The parish of Thingvalla con-
sisted of twelve families the church which
was somewhat larger than that OF Moosfell,
Twas filed with barrels, books, and chests,
which served the purpose of seats, and on
= Shelf before the altar stood the pastors
coffin. prepared BIZ himself. Miserable as
Che place now was-'a spot says Sir Geo.
Mackenzie. .of wildness and desolation,
nm eyerv side of which appear the most
tremendous effects of ancient commissions
and disorder, while nature sleeps IN
deatb.ike silence amid the horrors she
had formec"-it was here that the Chris
tan religion was first established on the Is
land; it was here 100 to that the seat OF the
.9ltbins ur general Assembly, was held tor
the period Of nearly 200 years.
On the margin of the lake are several hot
springs. soue OF which throw the water to
the heigttof three feet and emit con'i-
derable quantity of steam. In the hottest
tho thermometer of Fahrenheit ascended
N ol2: the water was suIphurous,& the m
crustations forued by the dispositions were
extremely delicate and beautiful. From
thence they preceded to the Geysers: the
heat of the wea her was intense, and the
musou, toes very troublesome. The iol-
loving is his description OF the New Gey-
ser called by the natives strokr from stro-
cta--tO churn.
con the morning of the goth, was a
Weakened by Capt. Won Scheel, at % mi
nutes past 5 O'Clock, TO contemplate ane-
ruption of the spring, which Sir John Stan
lev denominates The New Geyser, situated
attic distance of hundred and forty yards
10 the south of the principal fountain. 1t
is scarcely possible, however to give any
idea of the brilliancy and grandeur OF the
scene which caught my eye on drawing a.
side the curtain of my tent. From an orr
fee nine feet in diameter, which lay direct
" before me, at the distance OF about an
hundred yards, column OF water accom-
panied with prodigious volumes OF steam,
WIS erupted with uncomfortable force, and
tremendous roaring noise to varied
heights from fifty TO eighty feet, threatened
20 darkeu the horizon, though brightly iilu-
mined by the morning sun. During the
frs, quarter of an hour, found 1t lmpossi-
BILE to move from my knees, on which had
raised myself, but poured out my soul III
solemn alteration of the Almighty Author
of nature, to whose control all her secret
movements and terrifying operations are
subject who looEeia on tue esrto anu
il treinblelh, VINO toucheth the niiis "nd
they smoke" At leug,h repaired to the
fo,mtaju. ~ here we all net, AMI commune
called 10 ca h other our mutual anu ehrap-
ture &c. .iings of wonGera d admiration. -
Tt III. 81 " ter now subsidized but their
place was occupied 10y the spray anu steam
which, having free room to play, rushed
witt a deaiening roar 10 height h'tle in-
ferIr 10 that OF he water. On thro"ihs
fbe Iarlesl stones we CouiJ hnd mo lhe
p,ye, they we're instantly propelled 10 d"
amazing height and seine vi them lhat
were cast up more perpendicular Than the
others. remained Tor the space OF tour OF h't
minutes within tue influence OF the steam,
being successively elected anu falling a.
gain in very amusing manner. "A senlie
northern breeze carried part OF the spray al
the lop of the pillar 10 the one side' "heh
it fell ike driszlng rain, and Was so colo
that W. could stand below 1t, anu receive
lin her hands or lace without the least IN
convenience. While kept my station on
the SAM, side vita the SUI, NEST orliliah'
Circle bow Of large size, appeared On ule
opposite side OF the iountain: ah' Oh 'na'''
gins s,deS, having the iouniam Det"eeh i"e
and toe sun, discovered another, II pos
sibIe still more beautiful, but so small as
only 10 encircle my head. lnell hues en-
TREY resemb.ed taose oil the common ram
dow. Alter continuing to roar about nall
an hour longer, The column OF spray vlsloiy
diminished, and SUNK gradually hll twenty
six minutes past SIX, when ii Tell to the same
state ln which we had observed IT the pre-