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I. A Letter from hhExceUency'^icold.s-Mid^xzzl 
d’Aragona, Prince of Caffano, and F. R. S. 
to the Prefident of the Royal Society, 
containing an Account of the Eruption of 
Veruvius in May 1757. Eranflated from 
the kalian by T. S, M. D. F, R. S. 
SIR, 
A S your extraordinary Talents, and excellent 
Taftc, in a true Examination of Natural Ef- 
teds, and in Difcoveries relating to Experimental 
Philofophy, are fo well known, that you have, with 
Juftice, been elcded into the moft celebrated Aca- 
demies of Europe, and to the PreEdentfhip of the 
Royal Society of London in particular; 1 re- 
lolved, with good Reafon, to offer you a fhort Ac- 
count of the Taft great, dreadful and pernicious Erup- 
tion of our Vefuvius\ to the End that, if you are 
pleafed to inveftigate the Caufes thereof, the Re- 
public of Letters might reap fome general Advantage, 
as it does daily, by means of its Members of the hrft 
Rank in Merit. 
Mount Vefuvlus is generally efteenVd about feveri 
Miles diftant from Maples. It rifes in the Middle 
of a large Plain, which furrounds it on every Side, 
It is better than four Miles from the Sea; and the 
Foot of the Mountain is feen to begin from the Sea- 
Coaft, which growing gradually higher, reaches the 
firft Plain, to which one can eafily ride on Horfe- 
back. The Figure of the Plain is almoft circular, 
being about five Miles in Diameter, and half a Mile 
H h per- 
