Eruptions of Vesuvius.

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own furious concussions, ere yet rebounding on the earth, setting flame also to all things around with the vivid fire that burst from within them! Lava, minerals, stones, mud, water, fire, came up from the raging pit, mounted into the heavens, and rained down again in flaming streams upon the earth, and its inhabitants! The storm of fire was at one time, two miles and a half broad! it kindled the woods around, and thus were added their paler red, and electric blue flames to these deeper crimson fires and more awful, unextinguishable, volcanic horrors!

Such is a faint description of the eruption so fatal to Ottaiano. The lighter ashes were hurled 100 miles in two hours! the magnitude of the ponderous rocks ejected, and broken by their fall, could not, of course, be ascertained, but one stone was measured whose height was 17 English feet, and circumference 108:-it had been ejected a full quarter of a mile, and it had thrice bounded ere it settled.

In its composition much pure glass was found, in colour like our common bottles.

The extreme distance to which the ashes are ejected has been accounted for by recollecting the extreme height to which they are hurled, and by supposing that at this elevation they meet with extraordinary currents of air.

The smoke of 1767 being in the shape of a Pine

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Vesuvius and Etna.

tree, was also noticed by Pliny in 79, who thus expresses himself:

Nubes oriebatur cujus similitudinem et formam non alia magis arbor quam pinus expresserit-candida interdum, interdum sordida, et maculosa, prout terram, cineremve sustulerat. *

Yet horrific as are the terrors of Vesuvius what are they compared to those of Etna. The eruption of 1693 which annihilated Catania destroyed altogether 49 towns, and villages; 922 churches, colleges, and convents; and killed or injured, near 100,000 people! (Sir William Hamilton) :-and yet near to this very receptacle of flames are harboured the vast pits of snow which contribute to the luxuries of the surrounding inhabitants.

For a period of 400 years, from 12th to 16th century, Vesuvius appears to have been perfectly tranquil; prior also to this long interval it is on record that within its crater were verdant woods, pools of water, animals, and birds; with caverns, having subterranean passages, explored by, and familiar to, man.

Here also did the gladiator Spartacus find refuge, together with his 10,000 adherents, and in this neighbourhood did he defeat the Romans under Clodius; for being closely besieged he made ladders of the wild vines that flourished on the

A cloud arose, resembling more a pine tree than any thing else-sometimes it appeared clear, sometimes foul, and spotted, in proportion as it was impregnated with earth, or ashes.

mountain, and by their means descending the intricate fastnesses, and inaccessible steeps, of the volcano, was thus enabled to vanquish the unsuspecting Roman Prætor.

One of the most singular circumstances is to see the houses, towns, and vineyards, that stretch along the coast, and lie so exposed to the rage of Vesuvius. Torre del Greco has been often destroyed, and as often rebuilt. In the late fury of 1794 it is said that 100 persons perished, the old, the sick, and the young.

The situation must have great attractions, the soil must be fertile indeed, thus to induce people to expose themselves. But even for these horrors there is a provision, and means of escape; since the eruptions are always preceded, for some days, by noises, and earthquakes; and when the smoking lava has ceased to flow, the inhabitants may return to dig out their houses from the yielding ashes, and to hope for a more fertile harvest. The outer scoria is worthless; the liquid lava that flows a few feet deep becomes in about eighteen months that hard, impenetrable, stone, used for walls and houses.

In returning, we partook of some bread and cheese, at the Hermitage, with some Lachryma Christi, and inserted our names in the Album. In this book are some particulars of a most extraordinary, and tragical, event that occurred in January,

1821.

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Suicide at Vesuvius.

A Frenchman, M. Louis Gauteret, of Clisson, du département de la Loire Inferieure, arrived, and stayed, at the Hermitage three days, and, like other visitors, he explored Vesuvius, and watched the rising, and the setting, sun. He wrote several letters, some to his family, some in the book; he appeared tranquil and easy, and when he had done all he proposed, he took his guide with him, to the fiery pit, and jumped into it!

The unfortunate attendant might have suffered much on suspicion only, but a letter of M. Gauteret was found declaring this act to have been his fixed resolve.

The Police have cut out of the book every explanation that he had left, and all that he had there addressed to every reader. There is a slight account, and confirmation, of the catastrophe by an Englishman who was present, the same day; signed George Hare, Firfield, Bristol.

Pompeii.

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CHAPTER XXXI.

POMPEII-BARRACKS, OR MARKET-PLACE.—THE ODEON, AND THE THEATRE OF TRAGEDY-TEMPLE OF ISIS, AND RELICS -AMPHITHEATRE-VARIOUS SHOPS-HOUSES AND VILLAS -ROMAN FEASTING-ITHYPHALLIC RITES-FORUM-TEMPLES BASILICA POMPEIANA - PIAZZA OF EUMACHIA -VILLA OF DIOMEDES, AND SKELETONS-POST-HOUSE—TOMBS -RELICS IN THE MUSEUM-CULINARY-EATABLE-ORNAMENTAL, SACRIFICIAL, &c. &c.- GLASS THE PAPYRIPICTURES, AND SCULPTURES, IN THE MUSEO BORBONICO.

POMPEII.-Some seven days since we explored Pompeii, and of this unique, and most interesting, city, probably founded by Hercules, let me now endeavour to give some account.

It is situated about 13 miles from Naples; is founded upon strata of lava, and the road to it passes through Portici, Resina, and Torre del Greco; through towns all well known in the sad records of volcanic devastation, and by a path where the carriage rumbles over the subterraneous Herculaneum.

I have already noticed that Pompeii was destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius on 24th August of the year 79, in the reign of Titus; and by showers of hot cinders, which being ejected from the crater at a distance of eight miles, fell, comparatively, lightly, and in some places not more than eight feet deep.