ndeur. The plains around were
lit up for many leagues, and the foggy skies intensified and
reduplicated the effects of the illumination. Toward sunrise the
flow of lava was suspended for nearly an hour, but shortly after
ten o'clock it suddenly increased its volume, and, as it cooled,
formed a sort of saucer-shaped funnel, over the edges of which it
boiled up, broke, and ran off in every direction. It was at this
period that the accomplished Dusoloy, so long the Superintendent,
lost his life. As the lava slowly meandered along, he attempted
to cross the stream by stepping from one mass of surface cinders
to another. Making a false step, the floating rock upon which he
sprang suddenly turned over, and before relief could be afforded
his body was consumed to a crisp. I regret to add that his fate
kindled no sympathy among the assembled multitude; but they
rudely seized his mutilated remains, and amid jeers, execrations,
and shouts of triumph, attached a large stone to the
half-consumed corpse and precipitated it into the canal. Thus are
the heroes of science frequently sacrificed to the fury of a
plebeian mob.

It would afford me a pleasure to inform the department that the
unforeseen evils of our scientific convention terminated here.
But I regret to add that such is very far from being the case.
Indeed, from the appearance of affairs this morning at the
volcanic crater--for such it has now become--the possible evils
are almost incalculable. The Belgian Government was duly notified
by telegraph of the death of the Superintendent and the mutinous
disposition of the common people about Bruges, and early on the
morning of the 6th of November a squad of flying horse was
dispatched to the spot to maintain order. But this interference
only made matters worse. The discontent, augmented by the wildest
panic, became universal, and the mob reigned supreme. Nor could
the poor wretches be greatly condemned; for toward evening the
lava current reached the confines of the old village of Dudzeele,
and about midnight set the town on fire. The lurid glare of the
conflagration awakened the old burghers of Bruges from their
slumbers and spread consternation in the city, though distant
several miles from the spot. A meeting was called at the
Guildhall at dawn, and the wildest excitement prevailed. But
after hearing explanation