VESUVIUS. 183 



together. Occasionally there have been two eruptions 

 within a few months ; and it is well worthy of remark 

 that, during the three centuries which have elapsed 

 since the formation of Monte Nuovo, there has been 

 no volcanic disturbance in any part of the Neapolitan 

 volcanic district save in Vesuvius alone. Of old, as 

 Brieslak well remarks, there had been irregular dis- 

 turbances in some part of the Bay of Naples once in 

 every two hundred years : the eruption of Solfatara 

 in the twelfth century, that of Ischia in the fourteenth, 

 and that of Monte Nuovo in the sixteenth ; but ' the 

 eighteenth has formed an exception to the rule.' It 

 seems clear that the constant series of eruptions from 

 Vesuvius during the past two hundred years has sufficed 

 to relieve the volcanic district of which Vesuvius is the 

 principal vent. 



Of the eruptions which have disturbed Vesuvius 

 during the last two centuries, those of 1779, 1793, and 

 1822, are in some respects the most remarkable. 



Sir "William Hamilton has given a very interesting 

 account of the eruption of 1779. Passing over those 

 points in which this eruption resembled others, we 

 may note its more remarkable features. Sir William 

 Hamilton says, that in this eruption molten lava was 

 thrown up in magnificent jets to the height of at least 

 10,000 feet. Masses of stones and scoriae were to be 

 seen propelled along by these lava jets. Vesuvius 

 seemed to be surmounted by an enormous column of 

 fire. Some of the jets were directed by the wind 

 towards Ottajano ; others fell on the cone of Vesuvius, 



