Chap. 47.] Eruptions <f Mtm. 329 



beauty, and its former appellation. But in the dread- 

 ful eruption of 1669 it was again reduced to the mod 

 deplorable fteriiity, fince which it is once more known 

 by the name which denotes its wretchednefs. The 

 eruption that firft deilroyed this beautiful country, 

 ifllied from Montpelieri, which it then formed. It 

 deftroyed a great number of villages and palaces, and 

 in particular two noble churches, which are extremely 

 regretted on account of three ftatues, confidcrcd, at 

 that time, as the mod perfect in the ifland. They have 

 attempted to recover them, but in vain, nor is it be- 

 lieved they ever can ; for the churches were builc of 

 lava, which is fuppofed to melt as foon as it comes into 

 contact with a torrent of newly erupted matter. Mafia, 

 a Sicilian author of great credit, affirms, that in Ibme 

 eruptions of ./Etna, the lava has poured down with fuch 

 a fudden impetuofity, that, in the courfe of a few- 

 hours, palaces, churches, and villages, have been en- 

 tirely melted down, and the whole run off in fufion. 

 It is however probable, that the impetuous force of 

 the torrent, rather than its incorporating with the old 

 mafs, may in many of thefe inftances have occifioned 

 this devastation. Thus much at leaft is certain, that 

 if the lava has had any confiderable time to cool, this 

 Singular effect never happens. 



The contraft between the different regions of 7E:n.i 

 is extremely ftriking. On entering into the romantic 

 forcds of the Regiona Sylvofa, a new creation feems 

 to arife. -The air, which before was hot and fultry, 

 is cool and refrefhing, and every breeze loaded with 

 deli-clous perfumes from the aromatic plants, with 

 which the whole ground is covered. Indeed every 

 beauty, and every horror in nature, feems to be united 

 on this wonderful mountain, and the mod oppofite 

 and diffimilar objects are promifcuoufly blended toge- 

 ther. 



