INTELLIGENCE AND MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

FOREIGN.

NEW VOLCANO.

A letter from J. B. Dabney, Esq. American Consul, to a friend at St. Michaels.

FAYAL, AZORES, JUNE 25, 1808. "A PHENOMENON has occurred here, not unusual in former ages, but of which there has been no example of late years; it was well calculated to inspire terrour, and has been attended with the destruction of lives and property. On Sunday, the first of May, at one P. M. walking in the balcony of my house at St. Antonio, I heard noises like the report of heavy cannon at a distance, and concluded there was some sea engagement in the vicinity of the island. But soon after, casting my eyes towards the island of St. George, ten leagues distant, I perceived a dense column of smoke rising to an immense height; it was soon judged that a volcano had burst out, about the centre of that island, and this was rendered certain when night came on, the fire exhibiting an awful appearance. Being desirous of viewing this wonderful exertion of nature, I embarked on the third of May, accompanied by the British Consul, and ten other gentlemen, for St. George; we ran over in five hours, and arrived at Vellas, the principal town, at eleven A. M. We found the poor inhabitants perfectly panick struck, and wholly given up to religious ceremonies and devotion. We learned, that the fire of the first of May had broken out in a ditch, in the midst of fertile pastures, three leagues S. E. of Vellas, and had immediately formed a crater, in size about twenty four acres. In two days, it had thrown out cinders, or small pumice stones, that a strong N. E. wind had propelled southerly; and which, independent of the mass accumulated round the crater, had covered the earth from one foot to four feet in depth, half a league in width, and three leagues in length; then passing the channel five leagues, had done some injury to the east point of Pico. The fire of this large crater had nearly subsided, but in the evening preceding our arrival, another small crater had opened, one league north of the large one, and only two leagues from Vellas. After taking some refreshment, we visited the second crater, the sulphureous smoke of which, driven southerly, rendered it impracticable to attempt approaching the large one. When we came within a mile of the crater, we found the earth rent in every direction; and, as we approached nearer, some of the chasms were six feet wide. By leaping over some of these chasms, and making windings to avoid the larger ones, we at length arrived within two hundred yards of the spot; and saw it, in the middle of a pasture, distinctly at intervals, when the thick smoke, which swept the earth, lighted up a little. The mouth of it was only about fifty yards in circumference; the fire seemed struggling for vent; the force with which a pale blue flame issued forth, resembled a powerful steam engine, multiplied a hundred fold; the noise

"

was deafening; the earth where we stood had a tremulous motion, the whole island seemed convulsed, horrid bellowings were occasionally heard from the bowels of the earth, and earthquakes were frequent. After remaining here about ten minutes, we returned to town; the inhabitants had mostly quitted their houses, and remained in the open air, or under tents. We passed the night at Vellas, and the next morning went by water to Ursulina, a small seaport town, two leagues south of Vellas, and viewed that part of the country covered with the cinders before mentioned, and which has turned the most valuable vineyards in the island into a frightful desert. On the same day, the 4th. of May, we returned to Fayal, and on the 5th. and succeeding days, from twelve to fifteen small volcanoes broke out in the fields we had traversed on the 3d. from the chasms before described, and threw out a quantity of lava, which travelled on slowly towards Vellas. The fire of those small craters subsided, and the lava ceased running about the 11th. of May; on which day, the large volcano, that had lain dormant for nine days, burst forth again like a roaring lion, with horrid belchings, distinctly heard at twelve leagues distance, throwing up prodigious large stones, and an immense quantity of lava, illuminating at night the whole island. This continued with tremendous force until the 5th. of June, exhibiting the awful, yet magnificent spectacle of a perfect river of fire, distinctly seen from Fayal, running into the sea. On that day, the 5th. we experienced that its force began to fail; and, in a few days after, it ceased entirely. The distance of the crater from the sea is about four miles, and its elevation about three thousand five hundred feet. The lava inundated and swept away the town of Ursulina, and country houses and cottages adjacent, as well as the farm houses, throughout its course. It, as usual, gave timely notice of its approach, and most of the inhabitants fled; some few, however, remained in the vicinity of it too long, endeavouring to save their furniture and effects, and were scalded by flashes of steam, which, without injuring their clothes, took off not only their skin, but their flesh. About sixty persons were thus miserably scalded, some of whom died on the spot, or in a few days after. Numbers of cattle shared the same fate. The judge and principal inhabitants left the island very early. The consternation and anxiety were for some days so great among the people, that even their domestick concerns were abandoned; and, amidst plenty, they were in danger of starving. Supplies of ready baked bread were sent from hence to their relief, and large boats were sent to bring away the inhabitants, who had just lost their dwellings. In short, the island, heretofore rich in cattle, corn, and wine, is nearly ruined, and a scene of greater desolation and distress has seldom been witnessed in any country."

THE STATE OF THE PRESS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF

CAMBRIDGE.

AS an account of the present state of the Clarendon press, in the university of Oxford, was given in our last number, a similar account, relative to the sister university, comes in due order in this.

The following books were published either in 1807 or 1808. Euripidis Troades, corrected partly from MSS. and partly by conjectural criticism, by Mr. Burges, of Trinity College. A third volume of a System of Astronomy, by Mr. Vince, Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy. The fifth edi tion of an Analysis of the Greek Metres, by Dr. Seale. A Confu. tation of Atheism, from the Laws and Constitution of the Heavenly Bodies, by Professor Vince. A splendid volume of Travels in Magna Grecia, with engravings, by Mr. Wilkins; this relates principally to architecture. A Translation into blank verse of Lycophron's Cassandra, by the late Lord Royston. A Treatise on an Errour in Euclid, by Mr. Lax, of Trinity College. With a few Prize Essays and single Sermons.

There are several learned works, classical, etymological, and mathematical, now in the press, some in great forwardness; and it will afford many of our readers pleasure to hear, that of the latter number, the following will be published early in the winter: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Oriental Library of the late Tippoo Sultan, of Mysore. To which will be added, an Appendix, containing Specimens of the most interesting works, by Major Stewart, Persian Professor at the East India College, Herts. The Cho❤ ruses of Eschylus's Plays, intended to be explanatory of the Greek Metres, by Dr. Charles Burney; and an Etymological work, by the Rev. Walter Whiter, late Fellow of Clare Hall.

The university has purchased the following work of the son of Hoogeveen, and it is printed, though not yet published; viz. Henrici Hoogeveen Opus Posthumum, exhibens Dictionarium Analogicum, Linguae Graecae, cum Auctoris Vitâ ab ipso conscriptâ. To which is subjoined, Philippi Cattieri Gazophyacium Graecorum, seu Methodus Admirabilis ad insignem brevi comparandam Verborum Copiam cum Auctario Frid. Ludov. Abresch. Hoogeveen is author of the well known work, entitled, Doctrina Particularum Linguae Graecae.

It is also understood that Dr. Clarke, late Fellow of Jesus College, who has already favoured the publick with an account of the Colossal Statue of Ceres, has in the press a Description of the other Marmora which he brought into this country, together with his Travels.

With respect to the plan of printing by stereotype plates, that was adopted by this university as early as 1805. Many beautiful editions of Bibles and Prayer Books have accordingly been published, both in English and Welch, the plates having been cast in a foundery erected by the university for the express purpose,

DOMESTICK.

MERINOS AND MANUFACTURES.

To the honourable General Assembly of the state of Connecticut, now in Session.

THE committee appointed to inquire concerning the properties of the Merino breed of sheep, imported into this state, by the hon. DAVID HUMPHREYS, late minister plenipotentiary from the United States to the court of Madrid, respectfully report:

That we have carefully investigated the facts connected with the various subjects referred to us; and take pleasure in observing, that col. Humphreys, while in discharging the high and important duties of his publick station, availed himself of the facilities, which his character and acquaintance in the capitals of Spain and Portugal afforded; and in the year one thousand eight hundred and two, extracted from Spain a chosen flock of one hundred sheep of the Merino race. The committee thought it to be their duty, firstly, to ascertain whether this breed of sheep is superiour, in intrinsick value, to the several species bred among us; and secondly, whether, if propagated here, they would be likely to retain their original qualities. It is in proof to the committee, that this race of sheep is inferiour to none, in the value of the carcase, or in the facility of management. They are healthful, and fatten easily in our climate. The superiour excellence of their wool is fully attested by comparison, and an attentive examination of the fabricks, wrought from the fleeces grown in this country. Indeed the well known fact, that the wool of the Merino breed has been for a long time considered by artists and manufacturers throughout Europe, as indispensable to the construction of the finer woollen fabricks, is in itself, in the opinion of the committee, incontestible evidence of its superiour fineness. Whether sheep of the Merino race, if propagated here, will be likely to retain their original qualities, has appeared to the committee to be the main question of practical importance. Upon this point the committee are not left to doubt or conjecture. The evidence, that the wool of the imported Merinos has not deteriorated, is conclusive. Gentlemen of the first intelligence and integrity have attentively watched the progressive state of colonel Humphreys' imported flock, and concur in attesting to the facts, that the wool of the original stock retains all its superiour value, in quality and quantity; that the full blooded progeny, produced in this country, is in no respect inferiour to the stock imported from Spain. Were the proof, derived from the observation and experience of respectable citizens, in any degree incomplete, the fact that the Merino race is capable of enduring all the effects of a northern climate, without deterioration, would be apparent from multiplied experiments, made in different countries. They have been successfully propagated in Great Britain, France, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. In these new and various situations, their fleeces, on the experience of many years, have been found to be augmented in quantity, and undiminished in fineness. On this combined view of facts, the committee do not hesitate to express a decided and unanimous opinion, that the climate of this state is not unfavourable to the

The committee

propagation of this valuable breed of animals. deem it necessary to suggest the importance of meliorating our breed of sheep; particularly in the article of wool. The opportunities which are now offered, of crossing the blood, and producing a mixed progeny, as also of preserving and extending the full blooded breed to an unlimited degree, are in the opinion of the committee, advantages of high importance. That the wool of the mixed breed surpasses that of the ordinary sheep of the country, to a surprising degree, in regard to both quantity and quality, is a fact which is fully attested. It is found to be very useful in the hat manufactory, and is eagerly sought for at a price greatly advanced. Its value to the citizens of this state, is very great for the domestick fabrick of homespun garments. The committee find, that the peculiar excellence of the breed is confirmed by experience, beyond contradiction. Many of the citizens of this and other states in the union, are convinced of its intrinsick value; and the legislature of the state of New York, desirous of securing the staple of the woollen manufacture, have considered the extensive spread of the Merino sheep, in and over their state, to be of so much importance, as to encourage it by assurances of liberal pecuniary advancement from their publick treasury.

In regard to the other important matters referred to them, the committee find that colonel Humphreys has, with great expense, erected buildings, and procured machinery, for carrying on several branches of manufactures in the town of Derby, at a place, which, as it has grown up under his care, may with propriety be denomi nated Humphreysville; that, among these is the fabrication of cotton yarn, and stuffs, broad and narrow cloths, and stockings of various kinds. The committee hold no speculative opinions on the subject of manufactures; their views are altogether practical. In their opinion, the exertions of colonel Humphreys; in the introduction of labour-saving machines, and the selection of women and children as his principal labourers, are presages of ultimate success. By this combination of means, he overcomes, in a degree, the embarrassments resulting from the dearness of labour; and, at the same time, in a mode very honourable to himself, and useful to the state, converts into an active capital," the exertions of persons, who would otherwise be idle, and in many instances a burden to the community, either from the bias of temper, habit, infirmity of body, or some other cause indisposing or disqualifying them for severe toils." The committee view with much satisfaction the endeavours of colonel Humphreys to render the services of women and children more useful; and those of the latter more early useful. Nothing is drawn from tillage, and yet the fund of national industry is increased. The fabricks produced from the factory, are, in their colour, and compactness, and fineness of texture, honourable specimens of ingenuity and art; and evidence the care bestowed in the instruction of the artists. The course pursued, to imbue the minds of the youth with useful knowledge, to preserve and correct their morals, and inculcate the principles of religion is in the opinion of the committee judicious; an example highly deserving the imitation of all persons having the charge of extensive manufacturing establishments. Evening schools are kept in the