362 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1739. 



paces, and its top little less than 2 miles in circumference, of an irregular figure. 

 The top, before the year 1 631, was of the form of a basin, but all surrounded 

 with aged oaks, and vastly large chestnut- trees, the fruit of which afforded 

 food sufficient for a number of cattle. In the bottom, a cavern was observed, 

 into which people descended above 200 paces, by difficult and interrupted paths : 

 this was the ancient mouth, which for a long time had constantly cast up great 

 quantities of bituminous matter, and had at the same time burnt a considerable 

 part of the neighbouring country, cultivated by the inhabitants round the hill. 



Concerning the eruptions that have happened heretofore, they are very 

 numerous, as well ancient as modern. Of the first, several are mentioned by 

 Berosus Chaldaeus, Pobybius, Strabo, in the time of Augustus, Diodorus 

 and Vitruvius; and in Trajan's reign the name of the mountain became 

 more famous by the death of Pliny. From that time it is thought the 

 eruptions were less frequent, down to the year IISQ; when, after a con- 

 siderable eruption, it continued quiet somewhat less than 5 centuries ; so 

 that the horrid remembrance of the past ruins was pretty well obliterated 

 out of the minds of the neighbouring inhabitants ; who, vainly flattering them- 

 selves with hopes, that the infiammable matter was spent, planted the whole 

 district round the mountain, which, by its fertility, became the delight of these 

 parts. But they found themselves deceived and frustrated in their expectations: 

 for in the year 1 631, during 6 months space, continual rumblings were heard, 

 and shocks of earthquakes felt : and afterwards, in the month of December, 

 a dreadful fiery eruption happened, which first blew up part of the mountain 

 into the air, in a terrible manner, and then vomited out water, ashes, stones 

 and fire; inundating almost the whole country around to the sea, and for above 

 7 miles in breadth, with the dreadful loss of more than 4000 people. After 

 which the mountain became silent, and remained considerably diminished in 

 its height, from what it had been before. 



It continued quiet for 2Q years ; but having rekindled in l66o, its fire filled 

 the whole capacity of the immense hollow, which remained since the year l63l ; 

 whence, after several less eruptions, a new inountan appeared in l685. 



In 1707, not only the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, but also the whole 

 city of Naples, were put into great terror, on account of the frequent noise 

 and shocks, the fire seen on the top of the mountain, with a vast quantity 

 of ashes, which issuing out with impetuosity, were dispersed all over our he- 

 misphere, and darkened the light of the sun during one whole day. These were 

 all manifest signs of the impending desolation : and yet this dreadful day, 

 which had portended so much mischief, was beyond expectation, and to our 

 great astonishment, followed by another as pleasant as could be desired : for 



