620 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1780. 



thick cloud of smoke and minute ashes: a horrid clashing noise was heard in the 

 air, and presently fell a deluge of stones and large scoriae, some of which scoriae 

 were of the diameter of 7 or 8 feet, and must have weighed more than 100 

 pounds before they were broken by their fall, as some of the fragments of them 

 still weighed upwards of 6o pounds. When these large vitrified masses either 

 struck against each other in the air, or fell on the ground, they broke in many 

 pieces, and covered a large space around them with vivid sparks of fire, which 

 communicated their heat to every thing that was combustible.* In an instant 

 the town, and country about it, were on fire in many parts; for in the vineyards 

 there were several straw huts, all of which were burnt. A great magazine of 

 wood in the heart of the town was all in a blaze, and had there been much 

 wind the flames must have spread universally, and all the inhabitants would have 

 infallibly been burnt in their houses; for it was impossible for them to stir out. 

 Some who attempted it with pillows, tables, chairs, the tops of wine casks, &c. 

 on their heads, were either knocked down, or soon driven back to their close 

 quarters under arches, and in the cellars of their houses. Many were wounded, 

 but only 1 persons died of the wounds they received from this dreadful volcanic 

 shower. To add to the horror of the scene, incessant volcanic lightning was 

 whisking about the black cloud that surrounded them, and the sulphureous 

 smell and heat would scarcely allow them to draw their breath. 



In this miserable and alarming situation they remained about 25 minutes, 

 when the volcanic storm ceased all at once, and the frightened inhabitants of 

 Ottaiano, apprehending a fresh attack from the turbulent mountain, hastily 

 quitted the country, after having deposited the sick and bed-ridden, at their own 

 desire, in the churches. Had the eruption lasted an hour longer, Ottaiano must 

 have remained exactly in the state of Pompeia, which was buried under the 

 ashes of Vesuvius just 1700 years before, with most of its inhabitants, whose 

 bones are to this day frequently found under arches and in the cellars of the 

 houses of that ancient city. The palace of the Prince of Ottaiano is situated 

 on an eminence above the town, and nearer the mountain, the steps leading up 

 to it, being deeply covered with volcanic matter, resembled the cone of 

 Vesuvius, and the white marble statues on the balustrade made a singular 

 appearance peeping from under the black ashes, which had entirely covered both 

 the balustrade and their pedestals. The roof of the palace was totally destroyed, 

 and the windows were broken; but the house itself, being strongly built, had 

 not suffered much. 



They had an opportunity of seeing here exactly the quality of the dreadful 



* These masses were formed of the liquid lava, the exterior parts of which had become black and 

 porous by cooling in the long traverse they had made through the air, while the interior parts, less 

 exposed, retained an extreme heat, and were perfectly red. — Orig. 



