350 Henry Woodward — On Volcanos. 



The lava issued from 15 mouths, and ran towards Portici and 

 Eesina in two streams, and the inhabitants of Torre del Greco 

 (whilst sorrowing for their neighbours) rejoiced, and gave thanks in 

 the churches for their own escape. But these two streams stopped 

 short, and the main body, after all, rushed towards the sea, right 

 through the poor town of Torre del Greco (which had hoped to 

 escape), presenting a fiery front of 1,500 feet. It continued, and 

 entered the sea, advancing into it until the 17th inst. The distance 

 from the outlet to the sea margin is 12,961 feet, which was traversed 

 by the lava in six hours. 



Sixty-six eruptions of Yesuvius occurred from a.d. 79 to 1868. 

 Of these the first, in a.d. 79, was the great historical eruption when 

 Pliny the elder lost his life, and half of the old crater of Somma 

 was blown away. It was this which destroyed Herculaneum, which 

 now lies buried under six outbursts of ashes, liquid mud, and lava. 

 It is situated under the modern town of Eesina, and harder to dig 

 out than Pompeii, which was overwhelmed by an eruption of dry 

 ashes and lapilli. Stabise, the furthest distance removed, was buried, 

 but not so utterly destroyed, by an eruption of dry ashes and lapilli 

 only.. Pliny the younger witnessed this eruption. 



A.B. 472. — Ashes from Vesuvius were spread over Europe as far 

 as Constantinople, causing terror to the inhabitants, who keep up 

 the anniversary on the 8th of November. 



A.©. 1631. — Darkness and great agitation of the sea. Ashes fell 

 at Constantinople. Torrents of rain and mud descended, with stones, 

 ashes, and vapour, accompanied by seven streams of lava. Torre 

 del Greco, Eesina, Granatello, and Portici, were all destroyed, and 

 18,000 persons are said to have perished. 



A.D. 1822. — Eight hundred feet of the modem cone was blown 

 away, and a great discharge took place of ashes and vapour. 



For further accounts of Yesuvius, see Scrope's grand works on 

 Tolcanos, and Prof. Phillips' and Mr, Lobley's works on Yesuvius. 



To these and to Sir Charles Lyell's " Principles " we are largely 

 indebted for most of the facts here recorded. 



Any account of volcanos and volcanic phenomena would be in- 

 complete without some reference to Hot or Thermal Springs. These 

 Springs are most abundant in volcanic districts, but are often met 

 with far away from the f&ci of disturbance. Their waters are more 

 voluminous and less variable than those of ordinary springs. 



Jets of steam, called by the Italians " Stufas," issue at tempera- 

 tures far above the boiling point near Naples, and in the Lipari 

 Isles, and are disengaged for ages unceasingly. 



In old volcanic regions, as central France, the Eifel in Germany, 

 etc., hot springs are frequent. They all give ofi" abundance of 

 gases, and contain earthy matter in solution in great quantities, 

 corresponding in character with those evolved by volcanos. 



The hot well of Bath is an illustration of a thermal spring far 

 removed from any existing focus of volcanic energy, being 400 miles 

 from the Eifel, and 440 from the Auvergne. It gives off 250 cubic 

 feet of nitrogen gas daily, a considerable quantity of carbonic acid 



