2 DECEMBER 1848, Page 15

News has arrived of a disastrous eruption of the volcano

of Kloet, in Borneo; which had been inactive for many years. The present eruption had spread deso- lation and death throughout the province of Passaronan, one of the meet fertile and salubrious districts of Borneo. It was preceded by frequent and irregular de- tonations, which were heard at a very considerable distance. For several leagues round the volcano the sky appeared covered with black clouds, which producedthe thickest darkness at midday; showers of cinders were thrown up from the crater, which fell within an hour afterwards on the surrounding country, burning to cin- ders the crops, carbonizing the plantations, and rendering the most luxuriant plains in the world an arid desert. At the same time, torrents of incandescent lava rushed from both sides of the volcano, and inundated the delightful district of Kedirie; enveloping the farms and villages, overwhelming the cattle and men NI they fled.

The Democratie Paw:flue has this story of a freak of sailors. "A state cor- vette, just returned from a cruise in the Indian seas, brings news of a rather curious incident. At one of the islands, a dozen monkeys were caught and brought on board. Their gambols were mightily relished by the crew. One night, however, when the ship was out at sea, some of the monkeys managed to get into the commandant's cabin, scattering ink over official charts and papers, and perpetrating other mischiefs; so that he ordered them all to be flung into the lea. The sailors, however, were much grieved at this; and, on their remon- strance, the commandant gave permission that a raft should be constructed, on which the poor animals might be left with some chance of being drifted ashore. The sailors fitted the raft with a small mast and a sail, which they set Easterly, in the direction of the land; they placed on the frail skiff a store of biscuit and Water, and abandoned the twelve prescripts to their fate. The crew, much moved, Waved their hats, wished them bon voyage,' and watched them out of sight."

A letter from Alexandria recounts the story of " a heroine." " A vessel bound for Men with coal having lost her master by death when about twelve days' sail from her destination, the crew conspired to take possession and dispose of her on the coast of Arabia. However, the captain's daughter, Miss Arnold, .a young woman of the age of twenty, having received some intimation of the piratical in- tentions of the men, armed herself with a pair of pistols, secured all the fire-arms, and getting the mate and another man to join her, bravely forced the mutineers to work the ship to Aden; where they are now in confinement." [The South- ampton Darold states that the ship was the Rainbow, belonging to Mr. Brown of Southampton, from which port it sailed.]