steep sides of this gulf, while the exterior of the mountain was covered from its base to its summit by a thick forest. Such was the scene previous to the fatal 27th of April 1812. On that day, about noon, the first unequivocal symptoms of the subsequent convulsion were evinced by a loud explosion from the volcanic mountain, followed by an immense column of thick sulphurous smoke, which suddenly burst near the vicinity of the crater, and, in the course of a minute, discharged vast quantities of volcanic matter, which covered the whole surface. This, and the noise by which it was accompanied, apparently proceeding from the bowels of the mountain, threw the inhabitants into the utmost consternation.

The eruption continuing with increased violence, presented on Thursday night and Friday morning, one of the most awful spectacles human imagination can form an idea of. The mountain burst forth in a tremendous blaze, throwing up huge jets of fire and burning stones, accompanied with a terrific thundering noise, at the same time sending down its sides torrents of lava; and showers of volcanic matter continued to fall for several hours all over the island. At times, also, pieces of rock of enormous size were shot forth from the aperture of the mountain.

The brilliancy of the flames which majestically rose from the mouth of the crater, had a most sublime and awful effect. The burning stones which darted in the air, resembled the stars of a rocket. The vivid flashes of lightning which shot forth with a noise far exceeding the heaviest artillery, accompanied with violent shocks of earthquakes, resembled in colour and brightness that which is usually seen in a tempest; and the curling sheets of smoke so obscured the sky, that the island was, until Friday morning at ten o'clock, nearly involved in nocturnal darkness. These appearances were sufficiently dreadful, but our fears added new horrors to the scene. The terrified people precipitately retreated from their homes to places of shelter. I have not been able to ascertain exactly the extent of damage sustained, or lives lost, but the principal rivers of the island were all dried up. The negro provision grounds and pasture lands were destroyed for miles around, and so covered over with ashes and vitrified pieces of stone, that there was not apparently a spot of ground left for the cattle to feed upon. The range of the mountain on the windward side was split open, and from it issued torrents of burning lava which consumed in its course every tree and shrub that impeded its way. And the surface in that quarter was covered several inches deep with a volcanic matter resembling dross from a forge.

On Thursday evening, the 30th of April, we weighed with a moderate breeze and fair weather from Carlisle Bay, on our way to Fort Royal, Martinico, to join the flag-ship which had preceded us thither the day before. Between two and three A.M. the following morning, I was aroused by the person having charge of the deck, who in the hurried accents of surprise, requested me to come on deck, at the same time announcing to me the singular information, that it was "raining sand," and that the watch on deck, already half blinded by it, were obliged to bandage their eyes. At this moment, we were about twelve leagues east by south from the southern extremity of Martinico, or a little more than half way between that island and Barbadoes. Astonished at a phenomenon so unusual, I hurried upon deck,

which I found covered with a layer of sandy particles to the depth of an inch, and a constant shower of the same material still continuing to descend. The atmosphere, thus loaded, prevented our seeing a foot from the vessel's side; indeed, the finer particles of the falling matter rendered it extremely inconvenient to use the eyes at all. It blew a light breeze, the usual trade wind, before which we moved at the rate of about two knots an hour. I had heard of sand taken up by the atmosphere, and carried sometimes by the wind to an immense distance; and I attributed the present appearance to that cause. One thing, however, all felt convinced of, that it was an event of no ordinary occurrence; and under the influence of a high and not unpleasant excitement that mixture of awe, blended with suspense and curiosity, felt when watching the denouement of some extraordinary circumstance-we all anxiously waited the issue. We more especially looked to daybreak for a little more light on the obscurity, moral and physical, which enveloped us. This at length came, between five and six; but it was that partial dubious glimmering which was little more than sufficient to render "darkness visible," and to lend additional interest and awe to the scene. The atmosphere in the direction of the sun, had a deep reddish murky brown appearance, something resembling-though infinitely more intense one of those dense November fogs mixed with the smoke, which at that season of the year hover over our metropolis. The effect of all this was increased by our isolated situation, and the solemn stillness, undisturbed by aught save the scarcely perceptible ripple under the bows of the vessel, which was now nearly becalmed. This earthy shower, which prevented us from even seeing the water, continued falling until about eleven A.M., at which time the breeze began to freshen, and the atmosphere to clear; about noon it had altogether ceased, the air was serene, and the sun shone out with comparative brilliancy. When distant objects had become visible, we descried a brig in the north-east standing to the southward. This turned out to be an American, and on nearing her she presented a singular appearance, from the sand adhering to the tar and pitch of the rigging and hull. Glad of an opportunity to glean farther information, we closed with, and spoke this vessel; but honest Jonathan, apparently much more astonished and confounded than ourselves, could throw no new light on the matter. Amidst our conjectures, however, we at length mutually hit upon the same causesthose of volcanic action,-and the imagination once stimulated in this new direction, we looked eagerly out in the quarter of the land, fancying we saw smoke and flame from every peak or mountain. Be this as it may, on passing within two cables' length of the Diamond about an hour after, every one on board was convinced they saw both the one and the other issue from the fissures of this remarkable rock; and so impressed was I with the fact, that I reported the circumstance to the Commander-in-chief. In consequence of this, a party, of which I made one, was formed the next day to explore it.

It was on this occasion that the attempt to reach the summit placed me in the critical situation alluded to in a former part of my narrative. On its south side, this rock presents a perpendicular face of six hundred feet in height, and the others, with the exception of the northeast, are for the most part inaccessible. It was on the latter that I U. S. JOURN. No. 40. MARCH 1832.

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now proceeded to mount, having taken with me a Negro fisherman, well acquained with the localities, to direct me. During the first two hundred feet or so I found little difficulty, but after that it was like climbing the pinnacle of Salisbury Cathedral. With the exception of a resting-place here and there, the ascent was now generally at an angle of seventy or eighty degrees, and many places were nearly perpendicular. I soon heartily wished myself below. The rays of a cloudless sun, reflected by the rock, were overpowering, and there was scarcely a breath of wind. Following my sable conductor, who, accustomed to scale the rock for birds' eggs, scrambled up the precipices like a goat, on I went expecting every instant to be precipitated below by the crumbling of the rock from under my feet; at length, on reaching a small slope, near the summit, I sank down exhausted with heat and exertion. On consulting my watch, I found my enterprize had taken a greater time than I had anticipated, and that, in order not to detain my party, it was necessary that I should return; I therefore prepared to descend. I now discovered I had achieved only the easiest part of my task, and that getting down was much more difficult than getting up. On looking below, I shuddered as I contemplated the gulf at my feet, into which one false step would at once precipitate me. The face of the rock taken in profile, one projection hiding another, looked smooth and nearly perpendicular; however, by the aid of my guide, I at length reached the bottom in safety, but we failed in satisfactorily accomplishing the object of our visit, no positive evidence being obtained either for or against the question at issue. The south-western side of the rock, from which the smoke had apparently emanated, was inaccessible; no signs of volcanic action however were now visible, and whether those of our former visit were the fumes of a volcano, of a fisherman's fire, or those of the imagination, is still doubtful.

We at length learned the cause of the phenomenon we had witnessed on our voyage. It was one of the many connected with the eruption of the Grand Souffrier at St. Vincent's. Immediately following this I made the circuit of the islands, and collected the following particulars. At Barbadoes, notwithstanding the general trade wind was dead to windward, they were visited simultaneously with ourselves with a much heavier shower of similar sand, which continued falling until nearly an hour after noon, and was so profuse as to wrap the whole island in midnight darkness. An appearance so awful and unaccountable, had a corresponding influence on the minds of the less enlightened inhabitants. The mass of the population imagined the last day had arrived, and stricken with terror and compunctious visitings, the multitude flocked to the churches to propitiate the offended Deity. These, lighted up for the occasion, were soon filled to suffocation; crowds were seen groping their way along the streets by the aid of lanthorns, while others fell on their knees in prayer; never had Barbadoes before or since exhibited so much devotion..

The crops and the soil were much injured by the quantity of falling matter; and the latter did not recover for two or three years after. On a subsequent analyzation this matter has been ascertained to consist principally of powdered pumice stone, mixed with a considerable quantity of sulphur and some minute portions of other mineral substances.

Leaving Martinico on the second or third day following this event, we made the circuit of the islands as far as St. Thomas's, touching at Nevis, St. Kitt's, Tortola, and some others. At the former, on landing, a large concourse of people flocked down to the beach to meet us, with the most anxious curiosity depicted on their countenances, imagining we were the bearers of some interesting information. This excitement had its origin in an impression that an enemy's force had arrived in these seas, an impression which originated as follows:— At two A.M. the inhabitants had been aroused from their beds, and the garrison assembled at their posts, by explosions from the seaward, in the immediate vicinity of the island, resembling a heavy and incessant cannonading of two mighty and conflicting fleets. This continued for upwards of an hour, and so forcible was the conviction that the reports proceeded from the above cause, that the greatest bustle and alarm prevailed, and every preparation was made, in case of need, to repel an attack. The moment of these explosions coincided exactly with that of our sandy visitation, when about half way between Barbadoes and Martinico, and several miles from the scene of the eruption, St. Vincent's; yet though so much nearer than the remote islands where the noise was so vividly heard, nothing of the sort was remarked by us, or, as far as I am aware, by any of those who were afloat at the moment.

The prodigious projectile force with which the volcanic matter was ejected from the mountain, may be judged of by the fact, that some of it fell on board an outward-bound vessel between two and three hundred miles to windward of Barbadoes, which, be it remarked, was in the teeth of the regular trade wind, some four hundred from the volcano.

Similar explosions simultaneously took place at the neighbouring island of St. Kitt's, at which we called on leaving Nevis; and, as far as I had an opportunity of ascertaining, along the whole line, or rather semicircle of islands, as well as along an immense extent of the coast of Caraccas. This island consists of a central range of volcanic mountains, extending east and west, and having for their apex the awful craig of Mount Missery, which, rendered broken and ragged by incessant convulsions, lifts its bleak and desolate pinnacle over the mouth of an exhausted crater to the height of 3700 feet. The contrast of these rugged rocks, with the verdure of the plain at their feet, is de. lightful. The spacious town of Basse Terre lies to the south east at the foot of the range. Like most of the other English towns, it is a dull, slovenly, ill-built place. Under the government of this island are comprised Nevis, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands.

Nevis is most beautifully picturesque and striking when seen a few miles from the sea. From the southward it appears a single cone rising with a gradual unbroken slope out of the ocean, covered with the freshest verdure, and studded with neat planters' houses; the summit is crowned with a thick forest, and sometimes capped with clouds. To the northward and westward it falls off in a long slope towards St. Kitt's, from which it is only divided by a narrow strait. Charlestown is the capital; it lies on the south side, at the foot of the verdant acclivity just described. Not far from the town are some mineral baths. There are five churches and two chapels on the island.

(To be continued.)

MEMOIR Of the SERVICES OF THE LATE ADMIRAL THE HON. SIR ALEXANDER INGLIS COCHRANE. G.C.B.

ON the 26th January, died at Paris, of apoplexy, the Hon. Sir Alexander Inglis Cochrane. This distinguished and able officer was descended from an ancient Scottish family, which flourished in the reign of Alexander III. King of Scotland. The subject of this memoir was uncle to the present Earl of Dundonald, and brother to the late Basil Cochrane, and also to Cochrane Johnstone, of Stock Exchange notoriety some few years since. At an early age, he commenced his naval career, and passing through the stipulated period as Midshipman, was made Lieutenant in 1778, and Master and Commander into the St. Lucia sloop. He then commanded the Avenger, and on 17th Dec. 1782, was made Captain of the Kangaroo, from which he removed into the Caroline, of 24 guns, on the North American station.

After the peace with that country, Capt. Cochrane was not employed until the expectation of a war with Spain, in consequence of the affair at Nootka Sound, when he was appointed to the Hind frigate, of 28 guns, in which, during 1793, he captured several privateers belonging to the French Republic. Capt. Cochrane was subsequently removed to the Thetis, of 42 guns, and employed on the coast of America.

In May 1795, cruising off the Chesapeake, with the Hussar, Capt. Beresford (now Admiral Sir John P. Beresford) under his orders, he discovered five sail of ships, and instantly gave chase. After some time, the frigates were observed, and the ships directly formed and waited to receive them. The Hussar having been ordered to engage the second ship, the Thetis intending to attack the centre one, when having reached within half-musket shot, the French vessels commenced firing; and before eleven o'clock, the former frigate compelled the Commodore and his second, a-head, to quit and make sail. The three remaining ships were then closely engaged by both the frigates, and in about an hour afterwards struck their colours, and then attempted to make off after their companions; one, however, only effected this, and both the others were taken possession of. That by the Hussar was called La Raison, of 18 guns, and 125 men; and that by the Thetis, La Prevoyante, mounting 24 guns, but able to carry 46. They were all armed en flute, and were from Guadaloupe to America, for naval stores and provisions. The Thetis had seventeen men killed and wounded, and the Hussar two wounded.

In February 1779, Capt. Cochrane was appointed to the Ajax, of 80 guns, and was in the several expeditions against Quiberon, Belleisle, and Ferrol, in the following year. The Ajax was then ordered to join the fleet under the orders of Admiral Lord Keith, in the Mediterranean, and Capt. Cochrane's ship formed one of the fleet destined to convey the troops under the orders of Lieut.-Gen. Sir Ralph Abercromby, to expel the French from Egypt, where, on the 8th of March, the troops were landed under his superintendence.

When the attack was made upon Alexandria, some armed vessels were placed at the lake Mareotis, under the immediate direction of Capt. Cochrane, to cover the approach of the soldiers. During the