The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-11-06

The ERUPTION OF 4ETNA.-Wc have been fa-
vored with the perusal of private letter as late
as the 10th Sept, announcing the lava to have
taken another direction, and is fast approach
ing Milo, the inhabitants of which, to save the
wood are cutting down their chesnut trees. and
OF course. emptying their houses.
| A cOasting vessel, the Monticello, when living
at anchor near Catania, has been covered with
sal ammoniac, the issue from the mountain A
specimen has been sent to the island and has
been pronounced Of the very best quality The
mountain sent it forth in vast clouds.
We find the following graphic account of the
lava, in letter dated Catania, Aug. 80:
yesterday after breakfast we reached Zafa-
rama; from the last house in the village we saw
the lava at gunshOt distance, and at that dis
| tance, the heat was very great
"The manner in which the extraordinary and
frightful torrent advanced is not to he descrl-
edit must be seen. 1t moves slowly and un-
interruptediy; the first waves, if may so cy-
press myself, rise and fall at the least obstacle
they encounter then send forth streamlets here
and there, recede, extend themselves, and again
advance. Now it is heard as continued sound
of glass breaking in tire-nothing more--and
now immense damage succeeds Every now
and then it is arrested. denOtng the presence of
greater obstacles, or of water
"By day all this grand mass presents an ap-
pearance between red and yelOw-sOmetimes
dull, sometimes brighter. | can ill describe
the spectacle by night--that dull stream of fire
those clouds OF ashes and sulphureous vapOrs
are beyond description, and most sublmely
horrible.
"The streams of lava are much higher than
the surrounding land. for as the former bed,
have become solid, the new lava flows over
them.
"ln truth, nothing can be more picturesque,
could we dlvest ourselves of the feeling of mis-
cry and grief which pervadcs this haplcss re-
giOn.
"Thc lava flows over the richest and most cul-
tivated part OF the country, destroying vine
yards, all sorts OF fruit trees and some houses
Conceive the misery that has fallen on many
proprictors and cOlOnists.'
| Since writing the above, we have accounts
from Catania to the oath Sept, ND to which date
the eruption continued, but without having de-
stroyed any village, though rich vineyards,
woods, &C., have been devastated.
NILE DTsCOvERY.-A Mr.. Role. who early in
the last winter had gained point on the White
Nile within IL degrees of the equator. has
sent back an account of his discoveries, with
map, which has reached the French Geographic
cal Society. 1t appears from his account that
the upper part of the Nile channel is surrounded
by great mountains. which extend eastwardly
from the southern Abyssinian range far toward
the centre of the Continent in line curving to
the south. In these mountains are nourished
the many streams whose reservoirs supply the
inundations of the Nile, continuing as they do
for months Mr. Role finds in that country the
tradition of white people who formerly broug ght
merchandise from the south; he supposes that
these traders were Portuguese, and that they
crossed the mountains by some pass which is
yet to be discovered.
At about the same date with this communi-
cation, Missionary, named Don Angelo Vico,
was at place which he calls Bellenia. on an
eastern branch of the White Nile. between 4 and
) degrees n. latitude. What with these travel
ers. and with others who are scattered over that
continent, it must soon be thoroughly explored.
MFR. Role speaks of the practice of the Egyptian
Turks, who kidnap and enslave the natives of
these remote regions, as hindering greatly the
progress Of both scientific investigation and Of
commerce.
An OLD COPPER MINE.-An old copper mine
of extraordinary richness has recently been dis
lowered on what is called the Hill Vein in the
Lake Superior country. Certain circumstances
recently brought to light by its discovery, indi-
cate that it was worked long before the discoy.
cry Of America by Columbus. The richness Of
the mine may be imagined from the fact that
Mr.. Mendlebaum, the manager, in causing it to
be explored, had a mass of copper, which weigh
ed 2 800 pounds, removed from the surface o
the vein. There is certainly much mystery
connected with these ancient traces of mining
operations discovered from time to time in thu
copper region of Lake Superior.-LouisviN,
Journal.
. The Governor of Ohio has appointed Noyem
Der 25th Thanksgiving for that State.