into the Crater of Mount Vefuvtus. I'X'J' 



Before we renounced our enterprife to return to Naples, 

 dejeoled on account of not having fuccecded, we once more' 

 walked round the mouth of the crater, and at lall difcovcred 

 a long declivity, pretty fmooth though very ileep, which 

 conduc^lcd to the focus. Without examining- the precipices 

 which it might be neccilary to pafs before it could be reacfied, 

 C.Debeer, the ambafiador's fecrctary, accompanied b\ a laz- 

 zaroni, fet out firfl to attempt the palfage. When they had 

 got halfway, amidlt a torrent of alhes, which the impreliion 

 of their feet made to roll down along with them, thev found 

 means to fix thenifelves on the edu;e of a precipice twelve feet- 

 in height, which it was necelVary to pais before they could 

 reach the lower declivity. The lazzaroni, frightened, re- 

 fufed to proceed ; but, being promifed a double ducat, avarice 

 got the better of his timidity ; he fpccdily made the ii-ai of 

 the crofs over his whole bodv, and, having invoked the Ma- 

 donna, and St. Anthony of Padua, threw himfelf alons; with 

 C. Debeer to the bottom of the firlt precipice : foon after 

 they arrived at another, but being of lefs height it was palfed 

 with more tale. At length, anndft a continual torrent of 

 falling lava, allies, and Itones, thev arrived at the i)oitom of 

 the crater, and ftretched out their arms to us, fendingr forth 

 fhouts of joy, which we returned with the utmoft fatisfaclioii 

 and cnthufiafm. 



C. Houdouart, engineer, immediately followed C. Debeer; 

 and after encountering the fame difficulties, and paffing; dan- 

 gerous precipices, joined him at the bottom of the crater. 

 Being there both convinced of the almoli infurmountable' 

 difficulty of afcending, they threw themfelves into each other's' 

 arms, like two friends reduced to the necciTitv of terminating 

 their lives together in a defert ifland without any hopc^s of 

 e leaping from it. 



They then began, but with cautious fteps, to walk. 

 round this immenfe furnace, which Itiil fmokes in feveral 

 places. The intrepid Wickar, who was very defirous to par- 

 ticipate in their fate, called out to them to fend fome one to 

 aflill him in paffing the two clifis ; but feeing no one cominsr, 

 and growing impatient, he rulhed forward, and rolled dow^a 

 towards them amidlt a torrent of ftones, aflies, and volcanic 

 matters. Adjutant Dampierrc, C. Bagneris phyfici:m to the 

 army, Frelfinet and Andras French travellers, and Moulin 

 infpector ot polt», foon followed, and arrived at the crater 

 after having incurred the fame dangers. 



Wickar immediately fat down on a heap of fcoriae, and, 



with that fupcrioritv of talents for which he is diltint'-uiihed, 



Jkclched out in profile, with a perfedt refemblancc, the por- 



^ traits 



