[ 144 1 
but likewife Pieces of Pumice-ftones, and other 
large Stones. 
Tuefday Night the Pury of the Mountain began to 
abate, fo that on Sunday there was (carce any Fiame 
Icen to break out of the upper Mouth ; and on Mon- 
day but little Smoak and Alhes. T his Day it began 
to rain plentifully, which continued to Tuefday^ 
' and . afterwards for many. Days; A Circumftance 
which has conftantly happen’d after the Eruptions of 
Times pad. . , 
The Damages done in the Neighbourhood by this 
Eruption of Fire and Aihes, are incredible. At Ot- 
tajanOj fituate between four and a half and five Miles 
from Kefuvius, the Afhes on the Ground were four 
Palms high. All the Trees were burnt, (or blafted) 
the People terribly affrighted, . and many Houfes 
crufhed by the Weight of the Afhes and Stones that 
fell. 
After the Defeription of this fiery Eruption, the 
Academy of Sciences [at Naples'] thought proper to 
make an accurate Analyfis of the Matter, and of the 
Salts, that were colleded in great Plenty near the 
above-mentioned Fiffures; and, towards theDifeovery 
of the Truth, they effedually made the following Ex- 
periments : 
Experiment I. 
Some of the Stones of Vefuvius being pounded 
fmall, and the Loadftone applied to the Powder, 
fome few Particles were attradled by it; and the 
fame Powder, put into Aqua-fortiSy caufed a fenfiblp 
Effervefcence ; whence it certainly contains no fmall 
Quantity of Iron : Which was alfo found upon Trial 
