HERCULANEUM AND POMPEII. 947 



Having now described the principal phenomena attending vol- 

 canic eruptions, and the nature of the erupted materials, we pro- 

 ceed to describe briefly %ome of the more remarkable effects of 

 volcanic agency. Southern Italy, being inhabited by a cultivated 

 people, and in very early times the scat of literature and science, 

 as well as the grand European seat of volcanic action, claims 

 particular attention. Here are three active volcanic vents. Ve- 

 suvius near Naples, Stromboli on the Lipari Isles, and Etna in 

 Sicily. The whole region is subject to earthquakes, and abounds 

 in thermal springs impregnated with calcareous matter, and from 

 certain fissures deleterious gasses and sulphureous flames issue. 

 The ancient name of Vesuvius, was Somma; it is now a broken 

 and irregular coue about 4000 feet in height. We have already 

 given the description of this mountain as it appeared before the 

 eruption of 1631. It is said that its cone was formerly of a regu- 

 lar shape, with a flat summit, containing the remains of an an- 

 cient crater, and covered with wild vines. After a slumber of 

 ages, Vesuvius in the year 63, began to exhibit some symp- 

 toms of internal agitation, by an earthquake which occasioned 

 considerable damage to some of the neighboring cities. It is 

 somewhat remarkable that the memorials of this convulsion 

 have beenfljreserved, and made known, through the agency of 

 another more terrible convulsion, that of August 24th in the year 

 79, when a tremendous eruption occurred, and the pent up melt- 

 ed materials of the volcano burst out, overwhelming three cities 

 and many of their inhabitants. Two of these cities, Herculane- 

 um t and Pompeii, have since been exhumed. The former was 

 fir&t discovered ; but they had long been forgotten. The eruption 

 which destroyed these cities was witnessed by both the Plinys, 

 and indeed, it was from his too venturesome curiosity to observe 

 this magnificent natural exhibition, that the elder Pliny lost his 

 life, being suffocated by the sulphureous vapors. The account 

 which Pliny the Younger has left of this eruption, is very full 

 and minute ; but he makes no allusion to the overwhelming of 

 the two cities. In 1713, Herculaneum was accidentally discov- 

 ered, having been buried in lava for 1634 years. Some fiag- 

 ments of marble were observed in sinking a well; and subse- 



