18S Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, 



often fled, with their most valuable effects ; to which they have 

 driven their flocks, and conveyed their wives and children. : 



Here we staid a considerable time; our view extended 

 over the declivity of Vesuvius, from which ran several cur- 

 rents of lava, that issued from the sides of the mountain ; 

 while enormous flames of lire, of which we had a nearer 

 prospect the night before, darted continually from its summit. 

 We had likewise a view of the plain, in which appeared the 

 long windings of the rivers of fire. The reddish revcrbera- 

 tionof the lava, and the conflagration in the plain, illumined 

 the landscape. On every side appeared the image of desola* 

 tion; but yet it exhibited a picture so splendid, a scene so 

 magnificent, that the ravages with which it was attended were 

 entirely forgotten in the contemplation of its picturesque 

 and poetic beauty. In short, when mv mind figures to itself 

 those fiery torrents, the motion of the lava, the subterraneous 

 thunders, those continual hissings — so many wonders, so 

 many subjects of grief and admiration — I should think that 

 a dream had deceived me, if the imagination, which pro- 

 duces such dreams, were capable of creating images so awful 

 and so grand. 



On the 3d, the eruption continued, and the lava still 

 advanced ; the thunder was louder and more frequent than 

 the preceding day. In the evening the flames shot to a still 

 greater height, attracting the electricity of the air, and of 

 the clouds, which emitted splendid flashes. 



On the 4th, the eruption was less violent. 



On the 5th, Vesusius began to throw out ashes ; which, 

 we are assured, announces the conclusion of the eruption. . 



SINGULAR METEOR. 



A very singular and brilliant meteor was seen by many of 

 "the inhabitants of London, in broad day-light,, on Thursday 

 afternoon, the 1 7th of July, just about eight o'clock ; pass- 

 ing in the southern and western part of the hemisphere, 

 from about south-east to north-west : it seemed about one 

 fourth of the apparent diameter of the moon, but more 

 brilliant than Venus ever appears, and moved with very great 

 swiftness, nearly in an horizontal direction, leaving a conical 



tail 



