93 



tain the whole night bet ween the 23d and 24th. Houses, 

 gardens, and every thing in its way, were consumed. 

 And ashes were still thrown out, which lay deep on the 

 ground for several miles about, and reached as far as 

 the sea-coast. 



On the 25th also there was an eruption of liquid fire, 

 with a shower of stones, and a huge noise. In several 

 parts this stream was fifty spans deep. The mountain 

 meantime continued to roar, and thick ashes fell like 

 rain over the whole country. 



On the 26th both the mountain itself, and the hills 

 lately produced, sent forth stones and ashes ; the bellow- 

 ings were still heard, but with intermissions : and out of 

 the five apertures, two only continued to emit stones, 

 ashes, and fire. 



On the 2?th only one fiery stream remained, and that 

 began to cool, and to loose its brightness, appearing 

 more dusky, like burning coals ready to go out. On the 

 28th the stream ran much slower, and no more burning 

 stones were cast out. The height of the chief hill raised 

 thereby was about two hundred spans; and its cir- 

 cumference about two hundred paces. The motion of 

 the lava in front was very slow ; it gained ground only 

 on the sides. The hill, where the last aperture was, 

 burst, and fire issued from all the fissures. 



On the 29th, the lava having ceased, appeared to have 

 reached about a mile in breadth and four miles in length. 

 The new-raised hills were now quiet ; but the top of 

 Vesuvius still cast out ashes and smoke, and some show- 

 ers of stones. About eight at night the new hill was 

 overturned with a great crack, and on the 30th emitted 

 nothing. But from the mouth of Vesuvius clouds and 

 ashes came in great abundance. From the whole it ap- 

 pears, that the inflammatory contents take fire at a great 

 deptlj in the cavern, and it is highly probable, it is the 

 sea-Mater which feeds this subterraneous fire, by means 

 of some communications which the volcano has with the 

 Mediterranean. 



Although the fiery eruptions of Mount Vesuvius strike 

 the neighbourhood with horror; yet as even noxious 



