Reminiscences of a visit to the volcanoes of Hawaii

Some time ago your Honorary Secretary expressed a wish that I should read you a paper upon my visit to the volcanoes of the Sandwich Islands, and my ascent of Mauna Loa, "the great mountain," during the eruption of 1855; and, desirous of doing anything I can to meet the wishes of the Fellows of this Society, I promised to do so. It is now my object to fulfil that promise to the best of my ability, but you will forgive me if I present you with a simple personal descriptive narrative, instead of a scientific disquisition worthy of a place in the proceedings of this Society.