184 • Eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 



whose return from his travels to his native country was for- 

 merly announced, and whose researches and collections made 

 during his absence will be of great service to the study of 

 antiquities and natural history. Abbe Stasic read an account 

 of his geological tour through the whole of Poland, under- 

 taken with a view to extend the knowledge of the natural 

 history of that country : the Karpat mountains were the par- 

 ticular objects of his inquiries. 



' XXXI. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



ERUPTION OP MOUNT VESUVIUS. 



Extract of a private Letter, dated Naples, June 6. 



On the 3 1st of last month we enjoyed the spectacle of an 

 eruption of Vesuvius. A column of very black smoke rose 

 from the crater about ten o'clock ; flashes now and then burst 

 from this column ; at length the eruption appeared in a mass 

 of flame of immense diameter, and, occupying the whole 

 vast extent of the crater. This mass was kept up by succes- 

 sive emissions of whitish flame, which, as it rose into the 

 air, assumed a more intense red colour. Ignited or melted 

 substances were projected with violence above this body of 

 fire, and often fell beyond the circumference of the crater. 

 At midnight there was not as yet any current of lava, but 

 frequent rumblings were heard. 



On the 1st of June the eruption continued the whole 

 morning, and we resolved to visit the mountain the follow- 

 ing night. 



We set out at eight in the evening. We took horse at 

 Resina, near the descent to Herculaneum, and proceeded 

 towards the residence of the Hermit. The house in which 

 he lives is situated near the southern peak of Mount Somma, 

 being an easy ride of an hour and a half from Resina. 



On leaving the hermitage, we proceeded across the valley 

 which separates Somma from Vesuvius, and is known by 

 the appellation of Alrio del Cavallo. It is of no great 

 depth, being almost entirely filled with the lavas of succes- 

 sive 



