266 Mr Forbes's Physical Notices of the Bay of Naples. 



have completed the view of the Bay of Naples, some more ge- 

 neral consequences will probably present themselves. To pro- 

 ceed analytically from phenomena to hypotheses, and from the 

 present to the past or future, should be the endeavour of the 

 observer of nature ; and before we can hope to account sa- 

 tisfactorily for the appearances of extinct volcanic agency, 

 which we have now been describing, we must deduce a foun- 

 dation of facts from craters in a state of present activity. It 

 would be unnecessary, therefore, to speculate farther upon the 

 origin of the tufaceous hills of the Campi Phlegraei, till we are 

 prepared to take a more extensive view of the subject. 



The substance named Pozzuolana I have not here touched 

 upon, because, though some have imagined it to form the basis 

 of the common tufas of Naples, in its more useful form it is 

 best seen in the Bay of Pozzuoli, from which it took its name, 

 both ancient and modern *. We shall therefore speak of it 

 when we come to consider that quarter. 



The district we have described is not less interestinor, from 

 its picturesque or gently beautiful features, than for its physi- 

 cal importance. Imaginative as well as natural beauties com- 

 bine to enhance the scene, and Parthenope, while she enjoys 

 the lustre of classical and poetic associations, is surrounded by 

 the lavish profusion of nature'*s most attractive charms ; 

 " Earth, sea, and sky, the brightest in the world !" 



We cannot doubt that the Italian poets, modern as well as 

 ancient, have embellished their descriptions with scenes taken 

 from the Phlegraean fields ; and Tasso in particular, who was 

 a native of this part of Italy, seems to have had in his view, 

 when describing the enchanted gardens of Armida, scenes like 

 those of Pausilipo or Astroni. 



" Acque stagnanti, mobili cristalli 

 Fior vari e varie piante, erbe diverse 

 Apriche coUinette, ombrose valli 

 Selve e spelunche, in una vista ofFerse." 



Ger. Lib. xvi. 9. 



• It is the Pulvis Fvieolanus of Vitruvius. 



