522 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSCATIONS. [anNO I762. 



part of it; but soon after it dispersed and covered all the mountain, and a great 

 portion of the sky in that quarter. The ashes that fell from it resembled the 

 falling of a heavy shower, seen at a distance, and must have done great mischief, 

 if any living thing was under them, as is but too probable. The drift of this 

 storm was towards the south-east, the wind being nearly north west. Portici 

 might be within its influence, but the body of the smoke seemed to go beyond it. 

 At the same time that this smoke broke out, they observed two large columns of 

 smoke arising at the foot of the mountain, on the south-east side of it, which 

 bespoke eruptions in that part: and this has proved true; for the first smoke 

 from the top soon after decreased, probably from the event obtained at the foot ; 

 and ever since sun-set they have seen the foot all on fire. The direction of the 

 line of fire was from the mountain towards the sea. 



IX. Another Account of the same Eruption of Mount Vesuvius. By Sir Francis 

 Haskins Eyles Stiles, Bart., F. R. S. Dated Naples, IQth Dec. I760. p. 41. 



He went with others on the 24 th to take a nearer view of the eruption ; they 

 took the great road to Salerno, and about 10 miles from Naples, about mid-way 

 between Torre del Greco and Torre del Annuntiata, they were stopped by the 

 stream of lava which had crossed the road, and was making for the sea. The 

 mouths of the eruption were about a mile and half, or better, to the left, and 

 were raging in a very frightful manner, as the noise of the explosions, which 

 succeeded each other, at the interval of only a second or two, was equal to a 

 storm of thunder. The flames were very bright after it was dark; and the ac- 

 censed stones, which were thrown up in vast quantities at every explosion, re- 

 sembled the springing of a mine, as they call it, in a fire-work. The lava has 

 not yet reached the sea, though it was said to be within half a mile of it when 

 they were there. A small rising of the ground before it has obliged it to spread 

 in breadth, and its progress for the shore is very slow. The mouths are said to 

 have been 14 in all at first, afterwards reduced to 8, and now much fewer. There 

 are 3 hillocks, large enough to be distinguished at Naples, that are formed by 

 the stones and matter thrown up at these mouths, and one of them is already a 

 young mountain. Some imagine the eruption will last many months, as the 

 lower eruptions have generally lasted longest; and this is it seems a great deal 

 lovser than any that ever happened. 



X. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Robert Mackinlay, dated at Rome, Jan. Q, 

 1761, concerning the late Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and the Discovery of 

 an Ancient Statue of Venus at Rome. p. 44. 



There has been a most terrible eruption lately of mount Vesuvius, about the 

 latter end of last month, but the accounts hitherto arrived are not very distinct; 

 however, they all agree that there were 9 new mouths or openings towards the 



