Remarks on the Climate ^Naples and its Vicinity. 9.QS 



that before the sound of one thunder clap was over, another 

 had commenced, rolling round the horizon like cannon re- 

 echoed by a long chain of hills, now falling, then strengthened 

 by a new echo, and finally, as it seems dying away in distance, 

 renewed by another explosion of redoubled fury. During this, 

 and especially succeeding it, the rain fell almost like a water- 

 spout, and the lower part of the large street of Naples was 

 rolling with turbulence like a swollen river. Before eight a tre- 

 mendous hail storm began ; and it is a fact, that in thirty-seven 

 minutes about that hour nine-tenths of an inch of rain and 

 .melted hail fell. Some time after the storm had ceased I measur- 

 ed several of the hailstones, and observed one of them half an 

 inch, and several one- third of an inch in diameter. 



While speaking of meteorological subjects at Naples, I may 

 note one or two remarks on La Piseravella and Nero's Baths, 

 or the Stufi di Tritoli, two very singular hot-springs in the 

 vicinity of that city. The former is near Solfaterra, and in 

 the side of a limestone hill. It rises rapidly from the ground, 

 discharging a great deal of gas, which gives it the appearance 

 of ebullition. On the 7th December, by an excellent mer- 

 curial thermometer of Gary's, the temperature of the exterior 

 air was 48 J°, the interior of the building by which the spring 

 is enclosed 70|°, and the hottest part of the water IISJ*'. 

 This fluid is impregnated with sulphur, alum, and vitriol ; the 

 latter predominating so much that by the simple addition of 

 ^alls, and by evaporation, I found that it formed very tolerable 

 writing ink. In small quantity the water is clear, though the 

 basin into which it rises appears very muddy. The baths of 

 Nero are far more worthy of notice, and I regret that I had 

 not convenient opportunity for making a second visit to perfect 

 my observations. On the 11th December we entered extensive 

 passages cut in the solid rock out of the hill on the sea shore, 

 between Baiae and theLucrine Lake. Having partly undressed, 

 to avoid the effects of perspiration and excessive moisture, we 

 went along a passage in the rock three or four feet wide, and 

 nearly straight and level for perhaps forty yards. At this point 

 the road turned sharply down to the right, and here the heat and 

 ' the atmosphere prodigiously loaded with steam were almost in- 

 \ supportable ; but as we descended the steep inclined plane for 



VOL. VII. NO. II. OCT. 1827- s 



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