40 MEMOIR OF PLINY. 



but scanty materials for judging. He appears to 

 have been as amiable and affectionate as he was 

 learned and studious. Everywhere he expresses his 



about the crater, already rendered sterile by so many pre- 

 vious streams of lava. On Monday, the 25th, the eruption 

 appeared to have abated, but on the following day the scene 

 changed in a sudden and terrible manner. Since the year 

 1828, the inner part of the volcano had formed anew crater, 

 which had gradually filled the vast chasm almost half a 

 league in length, which was the consequence of the erup- 

 tion of 1822, and at length rose above the old crater to the 

 height of 200 feet, and was very perceptible from Naples. 

 The little Vesuvius, as people called it, on the morning of 

 the 2Gth, fell in with a most terrific noise, and in its place 

 a thick black cloud, which, threatening danger, mounted 

 aloft higher and higher, darkened the sun, and, with a pe- 

 netrating fine shower of ashes, covered not only the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of the volcano, but even Naples and 

 Pausilippo. The glowing lava, too, for which the vessel 

 containing it had now become too small, sought and found 

 an opening about the middle of the mountain, about three 

 miles from the top. With indescribable fury the lava 

 burst out of this new outlet, and in less than three hours 

 had travelled more than six miles, and in its career had 

 destroyed gardens, forests, and houses. On the 27th this 

 avalanche of fire had attained the height of from 15 to 16 

 feet ; its breadth was about half a mile. The country-house 

 of Prince Ottajana, in which, on the same morning, an Eng- 

 lish lady was drawing, was in the evening a formless ruin. 

 The small village of San Giovanni, consisting of about 

 eighty-six houses, exists no more. In Capo Secco Torcino, 

 about 100 houses were destroyed by the fire. On the 28th 

 the eruption had assumed a still more terrific character. 

 The inhabitants of Scafati and Sarno expected every mo- 

 ment that the terrible visitant would arrive at their gates. 

 Six streams of lava threatened at one time Torre dell An- 

 nunciato, Bosco Tre Case, and Bosco Reale. The terror 

 was general, when on the 29th, the violence of the eruption 



