THE 



PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; 



ABRIDGED. 



J. An Account of a Journey to Mount Etna. By the Hon. tVilliam Hamilton. 

 Dated Naples, Oct. 17, 1 769. p. 1. FoL LX. Anno 1770. 



After having examined with much attention the operations of mount Vesu- 

 vius, during 5 years, and after having carefully remarked the nature of the soil for 

 15 miles round this capital. Sir W. was well convinced that the whole of it has 

 been formed by explosion. Many of the craters, whence this matter has issued, 

 are still visible ; such as the Solfaterra near Puzzole, the lake of Agnano, and 

 near this lake a mountain composed of burnt matter, that has a very large crater 

 surrounded with a wall to inclose the wild boars, and deer, that are kept there 

 for the diversion of his Sicilian majesty ; it is called Astruni: the Monte Nuovo 

 thrown up from the bottom of the lucrine lake in the year 1538, which has 

 likewise its crater, and the lake of Averno. The islands of Nisida and Procida 

 are entirely composed of burnt matter ; the island of Ischia is likewise composed 

 of lava, pumice, and burnt matter ; and there are in that island several visible 

 craters, from one of which, no longer ago than the year 1303, there issued a lava 

 which ran into the sea, and is still in the same barren state as the modern lavas 

 of Vesuvius. After having been accustomed to these observations, he was well 

 prepared to visit the most ancient, and perhaps the most considerable volcano 

 that exists ; and he had the satisfaction of being thoroughly convinced there, of 

 the formation of very considerable mountains by mere explosion, having seen 

 many such on the sides of Etna. 



On the 24th of June 1760, Sir W. and 1 companions left Catania, a town 

 situated at the foot of mount Etna, and passed through the inferior district of 

 the mountain, called by its inhabitants La Regione Piemontese. It is well 

 watered, exceedingly fertile, and abounding with vines, and other fruit trees, 

 where the lava, or, as it is called there, the Sciara, has had time to soften and 

 gather soil sufficient for vegetation, which he was convinced from many obser- 



VOL. XIII. B 



