Daily National Intelligencer

DREADFUL VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

Manilla, (Pacific Ocean) Feb. 24, 1814.

Thirteen years have elapsed since the volcano of Albay, called by the natives Mayon, had remained in undisturbed silence; so that it was contemplated without those feelings which volcanoes generally raise in the neighbors. The last eruption took place in the year 1800, when great quantities of sand, stone and ashes, were thrown up, and caused great damage to the neighboring villages.-

From that period nothing occurred to mark a volcano, so that the terror which it had occasioned began by degrees to evaporate. The lofty brow of the mountain was converted into a pleasant and beautiful garden, and was cultivated with hemp, cocoa nuts, and many kinds of fructiferous trees, with a great quantity of red and leguminous plants, which at the same time that they afforded a delightful prospect to the eye gave support to many industrious families.

On the last day of January some slight shocks of Earthquakes were felt, but were hardly noticed; similar shocks having become very frequent since the dreadful eruption in October, 1800. During the night the earthquake became more severe, and at 2 o'clock in the morning was more violent than had at any time been known. "It was repeated at 4 o'clock; and from that time continued without intermission till the eruption commenced. A morning more fair or a horizon more serene than attended the approach of the day, had never been known. The hills contiguous to the volcano were, however, observed to be covered with mist, which was supposed to be the smoke of some house that had been burnt during the night. No sooner, however, had the clock, on that fatal morning, struck 8, than the volcano began to emit tremendous quantities of stone, sand and ashes, which were instantaneously thrown up into the air, higher than the eye could reach, and caused terror and consternation among the inhabitants, who saw the summit of the mountain assume a most terrific appearance. The eruption was more tremendous than had ever before been known, and every one expected instant death. The first effort was to offer up prayers to the Divine Mercy, and then to fly to seek shelter in the caves and remote parts in the mountains; but the efforts of many were fruitless, being overtaken in their flight by showers of stones and burning matter, which spread death among them. The misery of our situation increased as the day became darkened, and the subterraneous noise of the volcano more severe. The eruption continued for ten days, and during the first four, was accompanied by almost total darkness -About noon on the tenth day the noise of the volcano began to lessen, and by 2 o'clock the horizon was entirely clear, and enabled us to see distinctly the horrid and lamentable destruction which the darkness had concealed from us. Five populous towns in the province of Camarines, and the principal part of Albay, were destroyed; more than 1,200 persons were reckoned among the dead, and many that survived were dreadfully wounded or hurt!

The mountain presents a melancholy picture; its brow, which was before cultivated, and offered a beautiful prospect, is now a dry and barren desert. The matter thrown out by the volcano covers the ground in some places from 10 to 12 yards in depth, and in others it reaches the tops of the loftiest cocoa nut trees. Its ravages extend over the whole of the beautiful province of Camarines, where scarcely a tree has been left standing or uninjured. The opening of the mountain, which forms the crater of the volcano, has extended itself 20 fathoms below the level, whilst on the southern aspect of the mountain new apertures have been opened, out of which smoke and ashes still continue to be occasionally thrown. The population of the province was calculated at 20,000 souls; and all who have survived the eruption have been ruined or deprived of every thing they possessed.