commensurate with their magnitude, and cold water cast in excites an effervescence and uproar almost too horrible to be heard or to behold. Upon this expe riment, and during heavy rains, the lava swells up with impetuosity to the vortex of the crater, and emits a spray, of the heat, color and consistence of boiling lead. The ground for several yards. round is intensely hot, and no vestige of vegetation can be traced. The vortex of the crater is about forty five feet in circumference; but, as it is hourly wasting by the ebullition of its fiery contents, its magnitude will ultimately expand and absorb the Caldeiras of clear water, which at present play round its tremendous gulf"

Near at hand is the Perforated Rock, formed by the unremitting action of a hot spring beneath it, which it covers like a dome. It is about six feet in circumference, four feet deep, and perforated with holes, in such a manner that its surface resembles a sieve, through which the hot water emits itself with great force. This is perhaps the only instance of a rock p rforated by the perpendicular action of water beating upward. Hot and cold streams rising at hand, with baths of every temperature, complete the picture of this wondrous locality.

The Pico de Fer, a huge volcanic mountain, with lead and iron mines neglected as much from fear of spirits and goblins as from want of capital, forms another object of curiosity, as well as a fissure in the hills, between that and Formoya, where the mountain is split from the summit to the base, and the traveller proceeds from one valley to another without the slightest inequality. The geologist has here an admirable opportunity of observing the various strata, and how all is disposed by nature in a manner most useful and congenial. On the top of all is vegetable mould, composed of various substances proper to imbibe and conduct moisture to the roots of trees and plants; under this are sands and pebbles to carry off the superabundant moisture; and that it may not rot off too fast, a thin stratum of clay interferes to stop it; and finally these thin layers are supported by layers of harder and more ferruginous substances.

Between Porto Formoya and Riberia Grande, a route adorned by flowery meads, verdant hills, villages, and villas

all erected on land originating in fiery eruptions, is a subterranean fire, discovered by a light vapor shooting out of an aperture twelve inches wide. After shooting out horizontally, it suddenly ascends to a considerable height-in the day being a very light color, at night presenting the appearance of a faint flame. If the orifice be stopped up, a noise is heard like water boiling with great violence, and small columns of contined vapor burst through weak places, so highly electrical, that instead of ascending in columns, they fork or dart about zig-zag, like lightning. It is thonght dangerous by the guides to keep the passage pent up long, and equally dangerous to listen with the ear against the mountain to the rumbling noise within, as subtle vapors are apt to steal in and disturb the brain. Beyond Riberia, the traveller is directed to a Caldeira which merits a detailed description, as well because of its intrinsic curiosity, as because of the extraordinary appearance which it presents at night.

On arriving at the summit of one of the mountains which have to be crossed to reach it, a column of white vapor is discovered rising from the centre of the cone of a volcano, one side of which being rent from the summit to the base affords the means of seeing the vapor rise in columns or streams, and also serves as a passage for the spectator to enter without impediment into the body of the cone. The scene is grand and sublime, while the heat is so intense, and the ground so hot, as to make standing still impossible. But the eye views with wonder, says a traveller, "the configuration of its borders, the internal sides, the form of the immense cone, its bottom, on which I stood, and its vertex, to which I looked up from a depth of about three hundred feet. In the centre of this astonishing theatre, the boiling water rose, as if from several apertures, and to a various height of from six to seventeen feet, tapering off in the regular and beautiful gradations of the ears of a sheaf of wheat, and forming a base, but undulating and transparent. The circumference of the crater, in which this grand exhibition is display. ed to so much advantage, is two hundred and fifty paces, and the vapor, which ascends ises with great velocity into the external atmosphere; and forms a cloud over the vertex of the cone. The upper edges of the cone or crater are indented

in several places, and the internal at different angles, in different parts, and abound with concretions of diversified colors and fantastic shapes. From what I observed, I considered that the concretions were principally composed of salt and sulphur and the muriate of ammonia. I also perceived that in the lapse of time the crater had undergone many changes, and that there must have been in it formerly an abyss as well as a funnel; whence it may be deduced that the crater was once vastly higher, and that its summit or original vertex having been precipitated into the gulf by some terrible eruption or shock, diminished the height of the crater, and blocked up the mouth of the abyss. The constant ebullition and action of boiling water at the bottom of this volcanic abyss, makes a noise similar to the waves of a stormy sea; and the vapor which issues from it, when condensed by the cold of an elevated atmosphere, descends in heavy dew to the earth, and preserves it, even in the ardent heat of summer, in the most luxuriant fertility and verdure.-Chilicothe paper.

The Blind Boy.

It was a blessed summer day:
The flowers bloom'd, the air was mild,
The little birds poured forth their lay,
And everything in nature smiled.
In pleasant thought I wander'd on
Beneath the deep wood's ample shade,
'Till suddenly I came upon
Two children who had thither strayed.

Just at an aged birch-tree's foot,
A little boy and girl reclin'd:
His hand in her's she kindly put,

And then I saw the boy was blind.
The children knew not I was near;
A tree conceal'd me from their view;
But all they said I well could hear,
And I could see all they might do.
"Dear Mary," said the poor blind boy,
"That little bird sings very long :
Say, do you see him in his joy,

And is he pretty as his song?"
"Yes, Edward, yes," replied the maid,
"I see the bird on yonder tree:"
The poor boy sigh'd, and gently said,
"Sister, I wish that I could see."

"The flowers, you say, are very fair,
And bright green leaves are on the trees,
And pretty birds are singing there-
How beautiful for one who sees!"

"Yet I the fragrant flowers can smell,

And I can feel the green leaf's shade,

And I can hear the notes that swell

From these dear birds that God has made."

"So, sister, God to me is kind,

Though sight, alas' He has not given; But tell me, are there any blind

Among the children up in heaven?" "No, dearest Edward; there all see: But why ask me a thing so odd ?" "Oh, Mary! He's so good to me,

I thought I'd like to look at God."

Ere long, disease his hand had laid
On that dear boy, so meek and mild;
His widow'd mother wept and pray'd
That God would spare her sightless child.

He felt her warm tears on his face,
And said, "Oh, never weep for me:
I'm going to a bright, bright place,
Where, Mary says, I God shall see.

"And you'll come there-dear Mary, too;
Put inother, when you get up there,
Tell Edward, mother, that 'tis you,
You know I never saw you here."

He spake no more, but sweetly smiled
Until the final blow was given,
When God took up that poor blind child,
And opened first his eyes in heaven.

[Dr. Hawkes.

Historical Society.

The first meeting of the N. York Historical Society for the season, was held at the University on Tuesday evening, Oct. 5th, Hon." Albert Gallatin, presiding. A considerable number of members were present, with several strangers.

This Society, has been for several years, in a very Hourishing condition, actively engaged in their collection of valuable books, manuscripts, in conducting on extensive domestic and foreign correspondence, and in publishing much valuable information. The position of its library and its place of meeting is highly favorable, being in the N. Y. University buildings, on Washington Square, and in the midst of a large population of wealthy and intelligent citizens. The monthly meetings are usually attended by from eighty to two hundred members, the business is conducted with system and dispatch, and presents a variety of interesting subjects, in various forms. The Society is doing its full share in the extensive exertions now made in the country, by the numerous historical societies in different States.

Among the letters read was one from Leon Vais of Paris, transmitting some of his essays, one on philology, &c.

A gentleman of Yucatan returned thanks for the honor of his election as a member of the Society. This is the gentleman mentioned so often by Mr. Stephens. He is the owner of > the ruinous city of Uxmal, in Central Ameri

ca.

Dr. O'Callaghan communicated a history of the proceedings of the Jesuits in this country, with forty volumes.

Mr. Marshall, of Buffalo, transmitted his translation of the Journal of the Marquis de Neuville, of his expedition against the Seneca Indians, at the order of the French Government, from the collection in the State Library, collected by Mr. Brodhead.

The collection of original manuscripts in the Society's Library, amounts to above 15,000, and perhaps 20,000. Of those from the family of Gen. Gates, called the Gate's papers, 8000. Steuben papers, 4000, and the Sterling, 1000. Of Lord Bellemont's papers there are thirteen, some of which are curious. The volumes of newspapers amount to 1161.

A letter was read from Mr. George Gibbs of Turk's Island, who last year read a very interesting paper on the first land discovered in America. His letter mentioned that he had lately visited the island of Haiti, and the interior city of Santiago; and found remains of the aboriginal population, mingled with Spanish blood. Pottery, and clay-pipes are manufactured by them, exactly resembling those found in ancient sites, the reliques of periods anterior to the discovery. Entre mountains of salt exist in that island, and abundance of copper, iron and silver. The ancient city of St. Domingo, which he has lately visited, is a fine city. The cathedral, which was twenty

five years in building, is made of very large bricks, with solid walls to guard against injury by earthquakes. The city is large, with broad and straight streets, and some of the inhabitants bear the names of several of the Spanish discoverers: Bobadilla, &c.

A collection of books presented by the city of Paris, through Mr. Vattemare, lay on the table, and M. V., himself was requested to announce their titles to the Society.

Two folio volumes relating to the colonial system of France, presented by the Minister of Marine. A large German chronological chart, presented by M. Vattemare. That gentleman mentioned that he had brought with him from France, about ten thousand volumes, and invited the society to make a selection of such of them as might be best suited to their library.

The Domestic Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Gibbs, presented a collection of about 400 miniature engraved portraits of individuals, made by a French artist in this country, about forty years ago.

The thanks of the Society were offered to M. Vattemare, and a committee was appointed to receive the books he offered to the Society.

The deaths of Peter Stuyvesant and Major William Popham were noticed by resolutions adopted by the Society, after eloquent addresses made by several of the members.

Among the donations presented, was a silver medal of William Pitt, Lord Chatham, found some time since in this city.

CASE OF DR KING.-The trials of this estimable and faithful man have not yet come to their close. He has been obliged to retire for a season, and he is now in Geneva, in Switzerland-a place which has been so often the refuge of the persecuted.

to

For some days after he left Athens, (July 31), a series of articles appeared in the Age, a leading newspaper in the Kingdom; the object of which was bring the odium and abhorrence of the public, full and resistless, upon his devoted head. To Americans it will seem utterly impossible that anybody could believe one word of it; yet we are told that it receives the implicit credit of the great mass of the Greek community. So intense and universal became the excitement, that the government were apprehensive in respect to the consequences, especially when they looked at the disturbed and distracted state of the national politics; and they requested Dr. King, therefore, to leave Athens for a while, that the tumult might subside. As his life was in jeopardy, he yielded to this request, and took his departure.

This little burning mountain forms an island in the Mediterranean, a little distance from the coast of Calabria, between Naples and Sicily. It is one of the few volcanoes which are always in visible action; and, as it shows a constant light at the top, it bears the appropriate name of the Faro, or Light-house. It hardly can be necessary to remark, that no artificial structure or provision of art can subserve the purposes of the mariner so well. It may be seen, in clear weather, at a great distance, and is not liable to extinction by any of the accidents to which common light-houses are exposed. Some of our travelled readers may perhaps recal with interest the sublime impressions received in sailing near Stromboli in the night, when a broad, red glare is thrown upon the intermediate water, a ruddy glow is seen on the distant sail or foaming billow, and nearer objects, and especially human countenances, assume an aspect as strange as the mysterious origin of the light.

One of the adjacent islands is called Volcano, and is supposed to have been named in ancient times after the heathen god Vulcan. It may be that Virgil hence derived a hint which led him to imagine Vulcan's thunderbolt factory (to use a modern word) in Mount Etna, which is at no great distance.

The Lipari Islands to which Stromboli belongs, are seven in number. Their ancient history, as sketched by some of the