MEMOIR OF PLINY. 



uncle, as his own writings and your history will 

 prove, may justly be ranked. - It is with extreme 

 willingness, therefore, that I execute your commands ; 

 and should indeed have claimed the task, if you had 

 not enjoined it. He was at that time with the fleet 

 under his command at Misenum. On the 24-th of 

 August, about one in the afternoon, my mother de- 

 sired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a 

 very unusual size and shape. He had just return- 

 ed from enjoying the benefit of the sun ; and after 

 bathing in cold water, and taking a slight repast, 

 was retired to his study. He immediately rose and 

 went out upon an eminence, from whence he might 

 more distinctly view this singular phenomenon. It 

 was not, at that distance, discernible from what 

 mountain this cloud issued, but it was found after- 

 wards to proceed from Mount Vesuvius. I cannot 

 give you a more exact description of its figure than 

 by comparing it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up a 

 great height in the form of a tall trunk, which spread 

 at the top into a sort of branches ; the cause of which 

 was, I imagine, either that the force of the sudden 

 gust which impelled the cloud upwards had de- 

 creased in strength as it advanced ; or that the cloud 

 being pressed back by its own weight, expanded it- 

 self in the manner I have mentioned. It appeared 

 sometimes bright, and sometimes dark and spotted, 

 just as it was either more or less impregnated with 

 cinders. This uncommon appearance excited my 

 uncle's philosophical curiosity, to take a nearer view 



