“Extract of a letter from the speaker...”

Date

9-26-1812

Newspaper

Montreal Herald

Page and Column

Page 1, Column 1

Newspaper Location

Montreal, Canada

Serial Number

461

Abstract

Reports of volcanos from St. Bartholomew.

Transcript

LONDON, JULY 21, 1812. Extracts of a letter from the SPEAKER of the Assembly of St. Vincent, to the Colonial Agent in London, dated St. Vincent, May 6, 1812:-- "I am desired by the House of Assembly to give you a statement of the late eruption of the Southeast, with the effects it has produced, that no mistake may take place in the extent of the evil it has caused, as from what I can learn, you may take what has been often written concerning Etna and Vesuvius, multasis mutandis and you will have a good idea of what happened here. "For some months past Earthquakes have been frequently felt in the neighborhood of the Soufrer, particularly to leeward; but about the 24th of April large bodies of smoke were seen issuing from the summit; soon after great qunatities of ashes were perceived faling around to a very considerable distance. About the 24th, large rocks were precepetated with real violence on the north side, and the [unreadable] very much increased. On the 29th, the discharge became greater, and ma-many apprehended the event which soon took place. On the morning of the 1st of May, at about one o'clock the eruption commenced with great violence, and continued until about ten or eleven. During this period the roaring from the volccanic eruption resembled the noise of hundreds of forges working at a [unreadable] distance ; and occasionally some dreadful explosions resembling severe thunder), than any-thing else I know. "I presume by this time the eruption ceased though great quantities of fire and smoke issued from it during the next day and night. Several bodies of lava, if I may recall it issued in different directions, one to a small military post called Mosne Ronde, another to Owie and and third into Rabara river, which it filled up, and we fear permanently stopped. Wal[unreadable] river is likewise filled, either with lava or [unreadable] the [unreadable] rivers are most to windward and leeward in the island and both very large "The discharge of what I call ashes, though, in reality , it is more like grit and sand, mixed with various particles of all sorts of earth stones, &c. after undergoing a severe fusion, was immense, and the injury at present beyond calculation. "On one estate, called Walliboutto leeward and on five more to windward; or as we speak here in the Charlotte country the earth is also covered with what I will still term ashes, from six to twelve inches; and on one estate, the walls of the building house fell in, as it is supposed, from the effects of one earthquake. "Excepting the one estate to leeward, and those five to windward, I do not believe the injury has been very great. The ashes have fallen abundantly on two or three others, but it is hoped not enough materially to injure the same; this however as the effect where it is deeper, must be ascertained to experience. We have no data to judge whether it be a mere [unreadable], or it [unreadable] the sources of vegetation [unreadable], labour and industry may bring matters about; but, if the former I do not know what to say. See the rivers which turn the mills on these states, may resume their courses; but no human wisdom can do more than conjecture on the subject. "The estates, from the Charaib boundary, and from the Wa [unreadable] have not, as I understood, received any injury; the ashes fell indeed to the extent of many miles at sea after the great and heavy part was deposited the lighter particles seem to have been dispersed in all directions throughout the island and has made a light thin crust about 1-4th or 1-8th of an inch thick which we consider as doing more good than harm. "Only one white man and I believe 40 or 50 Negroes have been lost, and some sawgrass houses, negroes houses, and other buildings took fire, from the ignited stones which were discharged to a considerable distance, and at certain periods in great profusion. "This I believe, is a tolerably correct statement of the effects, introduced by this dreadful event, though I speak with some hesitation as to the damage suffered by two estates in the Charab country, and one in leeward called Richmond, the accounts which I have not agreeing very well. My opinion is that the damage is not great but persons concerned on all the properties from Mount Young (to windward,) and from Walibou (to leeward) may be at ease to any loss."

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