“Intelligence Extraordinary”
Date
5-22-1812
Newspaper
Georgia Express
Page and Column
Page 2, Column 1
Newspaper Location
Athens, Georgia
Serial Number
744
Abstract
Report of a volcano at St. Bartholomew in the Caribbean.
Transcript
INTELLIGENCER EXTRAORDINARY Extract of a letter from St. Bartholomews dated the [unreadable] Jan 1812. ”A most suprising event has lately occurred on this island. I hasten to inform you thereof for the benefit of your merchants. It is this--A volcano has just broken out on the top of the peak overlooking our harbor. The crater is circular—the lava runs down the hill without intermission, and appears inexhaustible. But, what will astonish you most, is, that the lava, as it issues from the mouth of the crater, is actually pure molasses—as it descends towards our narrow valley, it is chrystalized into brown sugar of various qualities; in some parts, it assumes the appearance of Gaudaloupe sugar; in others, Martinique, and in other places, Barbadoes, &c. We are employed in putting it in hogsheads, tierces and barrels, and as quickly as we can accomplish this object, it is bought for your market. The crater also discharges into the air, immense quanties of what appears, to us below, very small pebbles, but, on a close investigation turn out to be actually coffee, as like the growth of all windward island coffee as possible.—Every soul here is employed in stuffing this prodigious windfall (as precious as the manna in the wilderness) into bags and barrels. I have hastened to inform you of this glorious source of speculation, in order that you and all other friends may either partake of, or sympathize in our good fortune.”
Recommended Citation
"“Intelligence Extraordinary”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 729.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/729
