ITALY. LETTER XI. 1$$ 



is not to be fquandered away upon any other (tone 

 fpecies. However, they fell at Naples a great 

 many poliihed flones, of almoft every colour, un- 

 der the name of Vefuvian or volcanic gems, and 

 they are accordingly received as fuch in many 

 cabinets , though the before-mentioned hard lava- 

 pebbles did never appear to me but black-green 

 and yellow- coloured : and I am perfectly con* 

 yinced, that even the fofter lava-fherls and artificial 

 coloured glafTes are very ofcen fold by that name. 

 I cannot be greatly concerned or forry for it. The 

 ignorance of thefe gallant purchafers is too invit- 

 ing for the Italian fubtlety ; and why do they tra- 

 vel and meddle with Natural Hiftory, without 

 having inftrucled themfelves in its principles? 



I am now to defcribe as many lavas, and other 

 Vefuvian volcanic Neapolitan productions, as I 

 have had an opportunity to obferve. Some of 

 them are the matrices of the before defcribed Iherls 

 and pebbles. 



cuilom ; that the volcanic-vitrlfication-pebbles, on account of 

 their remarkable hardnefs and fcarcity, might with juftice 

 claim the fame rank ; that the garnets, a merl-fpecies, have 

 been received among the ornamental flones ; that fancy and 

 folly may ennoble many more ; and that, whatever be the 

 natural and minerological differences of fantaftical ornaments, 

 a (hell, a feather, beads, glafs, cryftals, and Hones, are tree- 

 fure or trafh, as cuilom leads, and fancy wills, 



i. Black 



