236 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



Thus far the eruptive matter consists only of large masses of 

 molten lava, scoria, and ashes, unaccompanied by any lava stream. 

 The latest information states that a cone of about 20 feet of eleva- 

 tion had been formed round the principal orifice, but whether 

 caused by upheaval, or by the deposition of scoria and ashes, is 

 not stated. 



THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS. 



A letter from Naples, dated November 20, 1867, gives the fol- 

 lowing particulars of the eruption of Vesuvius. 



During the last two years a small cone has been formed by the 

 matter gradually ejected from this sulphurous hole. We could 

 scarcely see its head above the walls of the large crater, but 

 within the last week it has shot up above the large crater, and 

 this it is which has been fuming and spluttering and storming 

 since last Wednesday. It has sent forth an immense quantity of 

 lava, converting the surrounding crater into a lake of fire. At 

 first the high circling walls kept it within bounds, but gradually it 

 has risen and risen until it is now flowing in several directions 

 where the abrupt and irregular wall admits of a passage. 



Ascending by the usual road, we were compelled, on approach- 

 ing the summit, to skirt a little round to the south-east, for two 

 reasons, first, to get on the blind side of the wind, which might 

 have brought down upon us an inconvenient shower of stones; 

 and, secondly, to obtain a better view of the main stream, which 

 was fed, not only by the great crater, but by another orifice 

 opened outside, about 20 feet in diameter. From this spot the 

 stream of living fire, full 20 to 30 feet in width, poured down to 

 the bottom of the mountain rapidly where it met with no obstacles, 

 and, where it did, struggled energetically until it carried every- 

 thing before it. To the edge of the crater it was impossible to 

 approach ; the heat was scorching, and the lava threatened to 

 boil over and come down upon us. It was difficult, therefore, 

 to form any fair estimate of its size, but one might have supposed 

 that it was not over 70 feet in diameter. It was not a moment, 

 however, for figures, when nature was exhibiting her power in 

 one of its grandest forms. There was a roar and a shock, and 

 then shot forth flames and stones full 1,000 feet in height, at inter- 

 vals of from 1 to 5 seconds, according to the watch of one of the 

 party. These tremendous convulsions were repeated, and then 

 came the descending shower, composed of stones of various sizes, 

 some certainly half a ton in weight, judging by the bulk. We 

 could mark their course by the eye as long as they retained their 

 red heat, but on approaching the earth they blackened, and then 

 the ear alone could tell what was pitting the earth around. 



The eruption has continued to the present time (Jan., 1868), 

 and promises to be one of the grandest, and, it is feared, one of 

 the most destructive, known in the history of this volcano. 



