ed, attended with loud claps; and now, indeed, the tumult began. Those only who have witnessed such a sight, can form any idea of the magnificence and variety of the lightning and electric flashes; some forked zig-zag playing across the perpendicular column from the crater-others shooting upwards from the mouth like rockets of the most dazzling lustre-others like shells with their trailing fuses, flying in different parabolas, with the most vivid scintillations from the dark sanguine column, which now seemed inflexible, and immoveable by the wind. Shortly after seven P. M. the mighty caldron was seen to simmer, and the ebullition of lava to break out on the N. W. side. This, immediately after boiling over the orifice, and flowing a short way, was opposed by the acclivity of a higher point of land, over which it was impelled by the immense tide of liquified fire that drove it on, forming the figure V in grand illumination. Sometimes, when the ebullition slackened, or was insufficient to urge it over the obstructing hill, it recoiled back, like a refluent billow from the rock, and then again rushed forward impelled by fresh supplies, and scaling every obstacle, carrying rocks and woods together, in its course down the slope of the mountain, until it precipitated itself down some vast ravine, concealed from our sight by the intervening ridges of Morne Ronde. Vast globular bodies of fire were seen projected from the fiery furnace, and bursting, fell back into it, or over it, on the surrounding bushes, which were instantly set in flames. About four hours from the lava boiling over the crater, it reached the sea, as we could observe from the reflection of the fire and electric flashes attending it. About half past one, another stream of lava was seen descending to the eastward towards Rabacca. The thundering noise of the mountain, and the vibration of sound that had been so formidable hitherto, now mingled in the sudden monotonous roar of the rolling lava, became so terrible, that dismay was almost turned into despair. this time the first earthquake was felt; this was followed by showers of cinders, that fell with the hissing noise of hail during two hours.

At

"At three o'clock, a rolling on the roofs of the houses indicated a fall of stones, which soon thickened, and at length descended in a rain of intermingled fire, that threatened at once the fate of Pompeii, or Herculaneum. The crackling coruscations from the crater at this period exceeded all that had yet passed. The eyes struck with momentary blindness, and the ears stunned with a glomeration of sounds. People sought shelter in the cel lars, under rocks, or any where--for every where was nearly the same; and the miserable negroes flying from their huts, were knocked down, or wounded, and many killed in the open air. Several houses were set on fire. The estates situated in the immediate

vicinity seemed doomed to destruction. Had the stones that fell been proportionately heavy to their size, not a living creature could have escaped without death: these having undergone a thorough fusion, they were divested of the natural gravity, and fell almost as light as pumex, though in some places as large as a man's head. This dreadful rain of stones and fire lasted upwards of an hour, and was again succeeded by cindera from three till six o'clock in the morning. Earthquake followed earthquake almost mumentarily, or rather the whole of this part of the island was in a state of continued oscillation; not agitated by shocks, vertical or horizontal; but undulated like water shaken in a bowl.

"The break of day, if such it could be called, was truly terrific. Darkness was only visible at eight o'clock, and the birth of May dawned like the day of judgment: a chaotic gloom enveloped the mountain, and an impenetrable haze hung over the sea, with black sluggish clouds of a sulphureous cast. The whole island was covered with favilla, cinders, scoriæ, and broken masses of volcanic matter. It was not until the afternoon, the muttering noise of the mountains sunk gradually into a solemn yet suspicious silence. Such were the particulars of this sublime and tremendous scene, from commencement to catastrophe. To describe the effect, is, if possible, a more difficult, and truly most dis tressing task.

Though the English excel in many branches of horticulture, there are others in which they are outdone by the French. Our fruit-gardeners, who carry every sort of fruit to market, cannot be said to have brought any one kind to absolute perfection. In France whole villages are employed in the culture, each of one single kind of fruit. In consequence of this arrangement, the fruits under the management of individuals, who, for many generations, have exerted their energies to this one point, are brought to a degree of perfection which can never be attained in a garden, where fruits and vegetables of all sorts must be provided by one man, for a large and opulent family, or for a weekly market.-A Montreuil, a village near Paris, the whole population has been maintained for several generations, by the culture of PEACHES, their sole occupation. An English tourist tells us, that he bad stored his carriage with peaches, which he thought excellent; when he arrived at Montreuil, the inhabitants, who offer their fruit for sale to travellers, told him that he would, if he tasted one of theirs, throw those he had got out of his chaise, which in fact he did, as soon as he had tasted a Montreuil peach. It is

at Montreuil alone where the true management of this delicious fruit can be studied and attained; for it is impossible from written precepts to acquire the whole art. The modes of winter and summer pruning are varied not only ac. cording to the differences of soil and exposure, but even according to the state and constitution of each individual tree. Some of the best of their fruits are never budded, but always reared from the stone; the rest are budded on stocks of a half wild peach, called Peche de Vigre. Peach-trees budded on an almond stock are larger and more durable than others; but they require a deep and light soil, and do not fruit so soon. The best almonds for stock are the red-shelled sort, and some prefer the bitter, but it is more difficult to succeed with these than with the soft-shelled almond. Stocks of the apricot, and the prune de St. Jubers, produce smaller trees that bear sooner, but do not last so long, and of course answer better in a shallow soil. The season of budding depends on the weather being more or less wet; the end of July, in ordinary years, is proper for the plum stock; that for the apricot and the almond is later; and for the young almond stock the middle of September is the most proper. In order to provide stocks, the fruit stones are sown in baskets, which, when the tree has attained a proper size, are sunk in the ground, where it is intended they should grow, provided the soil is deep; for shallow soils the young plant is taken up, and its larger roots cut off, which forces it to throw out lateral roots, and in the event to become a more productive bearer. Peaches are never eaten in perfection if suffered to ripen on the tree; they should be gathered just before they are quite soft, and kept at least twenty-four hours. The inhabitants of Agenteuil, near Paris, derive their chief support from the culture of FIG-TREES. Near this town are immense plains covered with these trees, on the sides of hills facing the south, and in other places sheltered from the north and the north-west winds. In the autumn the earth about the roots of these trees is stirred and dug; as soon as the frost commences, the gardeners bend down the branches and bury them under six inches of mould, which is sufficient to préserve them; but before this is done, the branches must be entirely stripped of their leaves. A fig tree will remain buried in this manDer seventy-five or eighty days without MONTHLY MAG, No. 230.

harm. It is necessary, in dry seasons, to water fig-trees; the nature of the plant requires to have its root cool, while its head is exposed to the hottest sun If planted against the south wall of a house, near a spout that brings wa. ter from the roof, it thrives abundantly. Figs do well also in a paved court; the stones keep the ground under them moist and cool, while the surrounding buildings reflect and increase the sun rays.

From Mr. MONTAGU's researches on the constitution of sponges, it appears, that no polype, or vermes of any kind, are to be discerned in their cells or pores; they are, however, decidedly of an animal nature, and possess vitality without perceptible action or motion! Mr. Montagu has divided the genus Spongia, into five families, viz. branched, digitated, tubular, compact, or orbicular. Only fourteen species were previously known, but Mr. Montagu has described no fewer than thirty nine.

It appears from the eighth annual Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, that 35,690 Bibles, and 70,783 Testaments, were issued last year, besides the number circulated abroad by the Society's aid-that within that period seventy new Auxiliary Societies, including Branch Societies, were produced in Britain alone, and that the neat income of the year was 43,5321. 12s. 5d. and its expenditure, including its engagements, 46,5301. 10s. 11d.

By the Report of the Committee of Agriculture, it appears, that the total amount of Waste Lands in the United Kingdom is as follows:-England above six millions of acres, Wales two, and Scotland about fourteen.

Salted bacon, and unsalted beef or mutton, and other kinds of animal tood, when too long kept, or improperly cured, so as to be tainted with putridity, may be perfectly recovered, or rendered quite sweet, by being buried in fresh earth, a foot deep, for a few days.

In the awful and tremendous precipices of Hoy, in the unfrequented Isles of Orkney, some of which are 1400 feet perpendicular from the sea, have Lutely been discovered and taken, the nests of four different species of Eagles, which have their aeries in the pinnacles and projecting cliffs that surround the West side of the Island.

FRANCE.

A prize of twelve thousand francs was offered in 1807, by the French GovernK meut,

prive persons of remedy by civil action.-Nor to affect any districts having separate jurisaiction. Nor to prevent the masters, &c. of ships residing at Dover, &c. from piloting their own ships in the Thames or Medway.Licensed pilots may supersede unlicensed ones; penalty on masters continuing unlisensed pilots, &c. after a proper pilot shall have offered to take charge of the ship. Trinity House of Deptford shall establish rates of pilotage, which shall be hung up at, the respective Custom Houses.-Majority of pilots or owners of ships, being dissatisfied with the rates, may appeal to the Privy Counail, who may determine the matter.-Trinity House may make bye laws, and annex penalties to breach of them.-3ye laws to be sanctioned by the Chief Justice of the King's Bench or Common Pleas.-Copies of proposed bve laws to be previously transmitted to the Privy Council, and to the Commissioners of Customs, who shall cause printed copies to be hung up at the Custom Houses.-Copies of bye laws confirmed, to be hung up in the Custom Houses and the Trinity House.-Persons applying for licencies shall execute a bond for securing obedience to bye laws.-Bye laws, c. under former Act, to remain valid unless altered by this Act.-Masters of vessels bound to the Thames repairing to Standgate Creek, to pay full charges of pilotage, &c.-Pilots quitting ships at Standgate Creek before arrival at the place to which bound, to forfeit pay, and be liable to penalty.-Description of pilot to be indorsed on his licence, &c.-Pilots keeping public houses, &c. (unless authorized) or offending against the revenue laws, &c. shall be dismissed or suspended. No pilot shall act until his licence has been registered; nor without having his licence in his custody, &c.—On death of a pilot his lisence shall be returned to the corporation that granted it.-Corporations authorized to license vessels for having pilots in attendance at sea, &c.-Pilot boats shall be fitted, and the name and number of the principal pilot painted thereon, with a distinguishing flag, under a penalty for carrying such distinguishing flag, without having such pilot on board. -Penalty on pilots declining to take charge of vessels, or exacting more than the allowed fee, &c.-Penalty on pilots for employing, or requiring masters to employ, any boat, &c. beyond what is necessary, thereby to increase expence.-Penalty for conducting any vessel into danger, or unnecessarily cutting cables, &c-Pilot boat running as guide before vessels not having a pilot on board, entitled to pilotage-No pilot shall be taken to sea withbut his consent, except in case of necessity, and then shall receive half a guinea per diem. -Surplus rates of pilotage on ships not having British registers, shall be paid to receivers, and made a fund for relief of infirm pilots; and an account thereof shall be annually laid before parliament.-How pilotage of ships not foreign may be recovered. How

pilotage of foreign ships may be recovered.Consignees of foreign ships may retain pilotage,-Penalty on masters of vessels piloted by any other than a licensed pilot, under certain exceptions.-Penalty for reporting to pilots a false account of the draught of water of ves sels, or altering marks on vessels to denote such draught.-How controversies respecting the draught of water of vessels shall be settled.-Names of pilots to be inserted in the report of ships coming into the port of London, and reported monthly to the Trinity House.

Like reports to be made of vessels clearing outwards.-Masters of foreign ships not giving the name of pilot, shall be deemed to have sailed without one, and shall pay pilotage. List of pilots to be transmitted to the Trinity House and the Commissioners of Customs. -Commissioners of Customs to transmit to their principal officers at the se veral ports in England, the names, &c. of pilots residing within the limits of each port. All Acts relating to the regulation of pilots extended to this Act.-Provisions of former Acts for Preservation of Bacons, shall extend to all vessels appointed to exhibit lights, &c. Penalty for riding by, &c. such vessels, or any buoy or beacon.-Penalty on pilots for not obeying the orders of the dock master of the West India Dock Company.-List of vessels employed for pilotage, with the number of hands, to be annually transmitted to the receiver of the six-penny duty in the port of London.-How penalties not exceeding twenty pounds may be recovered.-How penalties above twenty pounds may be recovered.-Act not to affect the jurisdiction of the Court of Loadmanage, or of the High Court of Admiralty.-Justice of any county into which am offender shall escape, may indorse the original warrant, which shall authorize the peace offi cers to execute it, &c.—Applications of penalties -Witnesses not appearing may be committed to the House of Correction-Persons convicted of giving false testimony, guilty of perjury.-Appeal on convictions to the Quarter Sessions, who may finally determine the matter, and award costs. -Proceedings not to be quashed for want of form, or removed by Certiorari.-Limitation of actions. -General issue.-Treble costs.-Act not to prejudice any right of the City of London.— Public Act.

Cap. XL. "An Act to make provi sion for a limited time respecting certain grants of offices."-20th April, 1812.

Until Feb. 28, 1814, no public office shall, be granted in reversion.-Grants contrary hereto to be void.-Grants of offices in courts of law exempted under certain limitations.— Not to prohibit the appointment of assistants and successors to the clergy of Scotland.

Cap. XLI. "An Act to amend and continue until the twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, an Act of the forty-fifth year of K 2

bis

his present majesty, for appointing commissioners to enquire into the public ex penditure, and the conduct of the pubJic business, in the military departments therein mentioned; and another Act, of the fifty-first year of his present majesty, for continuing and extending the same to public works executed by the office of works and others."-20th April, 1812.

The statutes 45 G. 3. c. 47, and 51 G. 3. c. 19, so far as relates to an enquiry into the expenditure and business in the office of works, &c. continued till March 25, 1813. Cap. XLII. "An Act for amending the laws relating to the allowance of the bounties on Pilchards exported until the twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen."-20th April, 1812.

The statutes 38 G. iii. c. 89, 43 G. iii. c. 68, and 48 G. iii. c. 68, are recited, and the bounty of 1s. 6d per cask granted by 45 G. iii. c. 68, is revived and continued

Cap. XLIII. “An Act for increasing the rates of subsistence to be paid to inn

keepers and others on quartering soldiers.”–20th April, 1812.

Mutiny Act, c. 22, recited.-Non-commissioned officers and soldiers to allow 8d per diem for diet and small beer, in quarters in England, and for articles which have been furnished gratis, in lieu thereof one half-penny per diem to be allowed.-For horses quartered 1s. 2d. per diem to be paid for hay and straw. so much of recited act as relates to furnishing with diet non-commissioned officers and soldiers lation with respect to dieting non-commison a march, or recruiting, repealed.-Regu

sioned officers and soldiers on their march.

Persons paying money to non-commissioned offi cers or soldiers on the march, in lieu of furnishing diet and small beer, liable to be fined.— When halted on a march non-commissioned officers and soldiers entitled to diet and small beer as after arriving at their destination.-And if such halting be only for a day after arrival, and that be a market day, their diet and small beer not to be discontinued. -- Regulations respecting recruiting parties and recruits on their march. Continuance of Act.-Act may be altered this session.

BANKRUPTCIES. [This Month 93.3

A

LDER D. Eaft India Chambers merchant. (Clutton Amell G. and Co. Wallington, Surrey, calico printers. (Bourdillon and co.

(Parren

Fair J. . anchetter, warehoufeman. (Entwifle Field S. Honleigh Park, Reigate, dealer and chapman. (Clutton

Fearns R. Twickenham, poulterer. (Hirgler, Kyall

Fitch ) King freet, Golden fquare, wine merchant. (Chapman and Co.

Power J. Portfimouth, merchant. (Winkworth
Gorton A. Wormwood ftreet, merchant.

and Co.

(Sherwood

Powell J. 1 artmouth, Devon, grocer.
Holmes T. Warwick, grocer.
Hunter S. Macclesfield, iron founder.
Iruns T. Bilion, stafford hire, woollen draper. (Whateley,
irmingham

Ifaacs M. Sheerness, flopfeller and filversmith.
pler and Co.

Jones

T. North (Parker

(TemShields, Northumberland, grocera

Johnfo S. Nottingham, hofier. (Percy
Lavender W. Offerton, Chefter, cotton fpinner.
Marth H. Broadway, Weaminfter, victualler.
and Co.

(Edge

(Crofs

(Parathers and Son

Mafon J. Liverpool, merchant. (Orred and Co.
Mark J. Queenhithe, maltfactor.
Millikin. B. Martin's Lane, Cannun freet, Sugar refiner.
(Collins and Co.

Moor M. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, chinaman. (Steward and Co.

Mumford C. Stroud, grocer and cheesemonger.

and Co.

Nebon

Newton J Stockport, Chafire, grocer, (Cheetham