line, the rings of the charmed serpent are, by degrees, expanded, and sink one after another upon the ground in concentric circles. The shades of azure, green, white, and gold, recover their brilliancy on his quivering skin; and slightly turning his head, he remains motionless in the attitude of attention and pleasure. At this moment the Canadian advanced a few steps, producing with his flute sweet and simple notes. The reptile, inclining his variegated neck, opens a passage with his head through the high grass, and begins to creep after the musician, stopping when he stops, and beginning to follow him again as soon as he moves forward.

"In this manner he was led out of our camp, attended by a great number of spectators, both savages and Europeans, who could scarcely believe their eyes when they witnessed this ef fect of harmony. The assembly unanimously decreed that the serpent which had so highly entertained them, should be permitted to escape."

The Attributes of God Displayed.

From the London Methodist Magazine.

ACCOUNT OF A VOLCANO IN THE SEA.

"Not having it in my power to inform you of the progress of the arts in this quarter of the globe, I embrace the present opportunity of giving you a circumstantial, and I doubt not authentic, account of the proceedings of Nature, which I presume you will find not less interesting. His Majesty's ship Sabrina arrived here lately, from a cruise off the Western Isles, or Azores, and brought us the following account :

"On the 10th of June they observed two columns of white smoke arising from the sea, off the west end of the island of St. Michael, which, for some time, they supposed to be an engagement, and mrade all sail towards it, but were prevented by the wind dying away. The smoke continued to ascend with sometimes large flames of fire, and they then concluded that it was a volcano. Next day they were close in with the island of St. Michael, and found the volcano situated about two miles west of that island, and still raging in the most awful manner. They learnt, from the British Consul at St. Michael's, the smoke was first observed rising from that place on the 14th of June, previous to which there had been several very severe shocks of an earthquake felt at St. Michael's, so that the destruction of the whole island was much feared; but they ceased as soon as the volcano broke out. On the 18th, the Sabrina went as near the VOL. IV. 58

volcano as they could with safety, and found it still raging with unabated violence, throwing up, from under water, large stones, cinders, ashes, &c. accompanied with several severe shocks. About noon, on the same day, they observed the mouth of the crater, just showing itself above the surface of the sea, where there were formerly 40 fathoms, or 240 feet of water. They christened it "Sabrina Island." At three, P. M. same day, it was about 30 feet above the surface of the water, and about a furlong in length. On the 19th, they were within five or six miles of the volcano, and found it about 50 feet in height, and two-thirds of a mile in length, still raging as before, and throwing out large quantities of stones, some of which fell a mile distant from the volcano. The smoke drew up several water-spouts, which, spreading in the air, fell in a heavy rain, accompanied with vast quantities of fine black sand, which completely covered the Sabrina's decks, at the distance of three or four miles from the volcano. On the 20th, they went on a cruise, leaving the volcano about 150 feet high, and a mile in length, still raging as formerly, and continuing to increase in size. On the 4th of July, they again visited the volcano, and found it perfectly quiet. They went on shore on Sabrina Island, (as it is now called,) and found it very steep; its height not less than from 200 to 300 feet. It was with difficulty they were able to reach the top of the island, which they at last effected in a quarter where there was a gentle declivity; but the ground, or rather the ashes, composed of sulphureous matter, dross of iron, &c. was so very hot to their feet, that they were obliged soon to return. They, however, took possession of the island, in the name of his Britannic Majesty, and left an English union-jack flying on it. The circumference is now from two to three miles. In the middle is a large basin, full of boiling hot water, from which a stream runs into the sea; and, at the distance of fifty yards from the island, the water, although thirty fathoms deep, is too hot for one to hold his hand in. In short, the whole island is but a crater; the cliff on the outside appearing as walls, are as steep within as they are without. The basin of boiling water is the mouth, from which the smoke, &c. issued. When the Sabrina left it, several parts of the cliff continued to smoke a little, and it was their opinion that it would soon break out again.* I presume you are informed of this strange phenomenon before now; however, as I had the foregoing account from a young gentlemen belonging to the Sabrina, who was an eye-witness of what is related, I conceived it likely to contain some particulars of which you have hitherto been uninformed."

* The old legends of St. Michael relate, that some 170 years ago, an island appeared in this neighbourhood, but which was again buried in the bowels of the ocean.

The Grace of God Manifested.

For the Methodist Magazine.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE, EXPERIENCE AND DEATH OF MRS. ELIZA S.

AKERS, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 22d of May, 1821.

ELIZA S. AKERS, daughter of John and Eleanor Faris, was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, on the 27th day of August, 1802. Nothing very remarkable occurred during the early part of her life, excepting one circumstance; which, both on account of its singular character, and as it may display to the reader a striking instance of a particular and superintending providence, is worthy of notice in this place. She was three weeks old, wanting one day, when her mother, who had been sitting up sewing a garment, stuck her threaded needle in the sleeve of her left arm, and immediately suckled her child at her left breast. In a very short time the infant had a severe fit, and bloody froth issued from her mouth. From that time, late in the evening, until the next morning, she had thirty fits. She continued in extreme misery, night and day, and was expected to die for seven weeks; after which she got some better. But she remained very poor and unpromising until she was seven years old. At which age she accidentally discovered a small hard substance, which she called "another little rib," close to the upper part of the os ilium, between the skin and flesh. Her mother examined it, and thinking it was a pin, from the head it seemed to have, was anxious to extract it; but could not prevail on her to undergo the operation short of two weeks; within which time it had shifted its position near to the lower part of her shoulder blade. Thence it was extracted, and proved to be the same needle that, seven years before, had been strangely missing from the sleeve of her mother, and had occasioned so much anxiety for the child's life. The thread was still in the eye of the needle, but was wrapped round it and formed into a hard substance, which went foremost as the needle progressed. In the fall of 1814, her sister Matilda departed this life, triumphant in the faith. About that time Eliza had strong convictions, and serious thoughts about religion-began to pray much in secret, and made many resolutions to seek God, and try to meet her departed sister in heaven. In the following spring she ceased praying, and all her convictions and resolutions forsook her-the cause of which she divulged on her death-bed. Three young ladies, whom she named, her intimate acquaintances, having discovered she was seriously exercised about religion, laughed at her; and persuaded her, that, if she went

on to be religious, no body would think respectfully of herthat she would lose all the pleasure and happiness she might otherwise enjoy. Being only twelve years of age, she got alarmed at their evil suggestions, shunned every appearance of seriousness, mingled much with gay company, and thus put an end to her serious impressions for that time.

On the 12th day of March 1818, she and I were married. I had lately commenced the practice of the law; and she entained the flattering, but delusive expectation of soon becoming rich and independent. From a circumstance that occurred the following summer, it is evident she had, at that time, very little notion of leading a religious life. I had been for some little time in Floyd county, on professional business, and during my absence had attended a camp meeting. A false report reached home before I did, that I had obtained religion. The news overwhelmed her mind; and she seemed like one who had lost all prospects of happiness. She said, to think of my getting religion, seemed like seeing me go to my grave--It blast ed all her hopes.-But, not long afterwards, her mind seemed very much altered on that subject; and she said she had no objections to my becoming religious-indeed she repeatedly told me she thought we ought both to become so.

On the 26th of April, 1819, she had her first son, John Bryan, who lived only seven weeks and two days. About this time also, as she related in her last illness, she had serious impres sions about religion, and prayed often in secret. She also stated the occasion which she took of relapsing again into carelessness about the concerns of her soul. The Rev. Samuel Dement preaching in town, on the evening preceding a love-feast, remarked severely on the subject of dress. She had intended staying in love feast, but took occasion from his remarks on dress to entertain a prejudice against him, and thus grew remiss in her duty, by giving way to the evil suggestions of Satan.

On the 12th of September 1820, she had her last son, William Dennis, who is yet living. From this time she continued weakly, and never recovered again her usual health. She began more frequently to mention to me the propriety of our turning to God. I generally excused myself by telling her to go on and get religion herself.

In the early part of February, the day before she was confined to her bed, an elderly lady was buried in town. Eliza made diligent inquiry of such persons as visited my house, during the day, whether the old lady departed in the enjoyment of religion? No person with whom she conversed was able to give a satisfactory answer to the inquiry. While conversing with me on the subject, she raised both hands in a contemplative mood, and looking stedfastly at me, while she let them fall grad

ually said, O! Mr. Akers, I feel as if I were dying! I told her not to indulge in such a thought--that I did not think she had cause to be alarmed. She wept; and said we ought by all means to try and get religion. Thinking I might probably induce her to excuse me in the matter, I told her to go on, and seek religion without me-that if I were to obtain religion, she might calculate on my preaching the gospel-that we would then live a very poor life, and that she would have to submit to many losses and privations in future. Said she, "I am willing to live a poor and destitute life in this world, for the sake of getting to heaven-riches will do us no good when we come to die." She had a very high fever all that night, and the next day continued mostly in bed-still grew worse, and talked about the affairs of this life, as one who wished to have a fair settlement with the world-seemed anxiously concerned for the future welfare of her infant son, and continued to urge on me the necessity of our becoming religious. About the third night after her confinement, her pulse became too quick to be counted accurately; and, being moved at her request, she fainted. Fears were now entertained that her time of departure was close at hand. Doctor Anthony G. Houston was immediately called in.* She, however, recovered slowly; and, as soon as she gained strength enough to speak, said, with an interest and pathos that I never shall forget, "Mr. Akers, ask Dr. Houston to pray for me." Her words came like a dagger to my soul. To think my companion was so violently afflicted-so near entering into the invisible world-so unprepared to stand before the judge of quick and dead-the time so short and uncertain, in which to begin to do the whole business of life-and to think that if I would not accompany her from a state of nature to grace, she was, even at the eleventh hour, about to undertake the great and important work alone-all, like so many barbed arrows, pierced my soul with the deepest concern. I complied with her request and the Doctor asked her if she felt like trying to pray for herself? She said, "yes" and he addressed the throne of grace in her behalf. Her case was too alarming to afford grounds for an expectation of her recovery-and she continued under the awful apprehensions of immediate dissolution. She prayed day and night for that religion, without which she believed she would shortly be for ever miserable-lamented bitterly the loss of golden opportunities which could never return -cited instances when she had had serious impressions--when

A minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose constant attendance, diligent care and well tempered zeal for the best interests of my afflicted family, temporally and spiritually, entitle him to this public expression of my heart felt gratitude. May the Lord reward him abundantly, for he has been faithful over a few things."