Sin/ii/ig of the Earth in America. 3.93 



bers of Government, and the Austrian soldiers, rivalled each 

 other in endeavouring to remove this obstruction. The erup- 

 tion of" cinders and smoke at this moment presents the appear- 

 ance of a very thick and elevated black cone, which the wind 

 blows towards Somma, Ottaiano, and Nola. 



October 26. — We expect that the eruption will soon en- 

 tirely cease. The columns of cinders and smoke are decreas- 

 ing, and the detonations are less i'requent and loud than here- 

 tofore. Most of the people who had fled are returning to their 

 homes. It rained copiously last night; which has had the et- 

 iect of purifying the atmosphere, which before was filled with 

 clouds of black ashes. The rain, too, has washed the plants, 

 which have assumed their natural colour and appearance, 

 which vmder our climate is, even at the end of autumn, so strik- 

 ing and agreeable. The summit of \'esuvius is visible, and it 

 appears the dreadful eruption which has taken place has torn 

 away a part of the crest of the volcano. 



October 28. — The eruption is completely at an end, but 

 violent explosions of cinders still continue. The inhabitants 

 of the country have returned to their homes. Portici and La 

 Torre del Gneco have suffered no other injury than what 

 arises from their being in a great 2)art covered with ashes and 

 stones. A portion of the territory of llesina is covered with 

 lava, but only where lava had formerly' lain. The tower of the 

 Annunziata has sustained injuries which it will not be easy ei- 

 ther to estimate or repair. At Ottaiano the fire has consumed 

 50 acres of wood. These are all the details which have hitherto 

 reached us. 



The same date (four in the evening). — The rejiort which 

 we have just leceived from Ottaiano inibrms us of new disas- 

 ters in that quarter, ajid of others with Avhich it is still me- 

 naced. It is not the fire which is now feared, but terrible over- 

 flowings. 



SIN'ICING OF THE EARTH IN AMERICA. 



Such a pha-Miomenon has taken jjlace, and is still progress- 

 ing in the country of Jellerson, near the Warren line, on u 

 hill near the Ogechea River, as is not common hi this part of 

 the woi-ld. Aljout six or eight weeks ago, the earth on a steep 

 hill-side was discovered to be sinking and dividing asunder to 

 the extent of about one acre. A gentleman in the neighbour- 

 hood of this scene, told me that he went round it and on it 

 about three weeks ago, and \cYy distinctly heard the cracking 

 and snapping of the roots. A man of the same neighbourhood, 

 wJio was my pilot to this eventliil jilace on the 25th of June 

 1822, told uie that it was jjrogressing fast. When I was fia- 



Vol.fJO. No. 2!)5. A'or. 1822. ' .'J D voured 



