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XL VIII. An Account of the Eruption of 
Mount Vefiivius, from its firfl Beginning 
to the 2 %th of October 1751, in a Letter 
from Mr. Richard Supple, communicated 
by Mr. Benjamin Wilfon, F. R. S. 
Read Dec. 1 9, N the 23d of September 1751, at 
I751 " V_-A 11 in the morning, there was an 
earthquake, which was felt more or lefs, as we were 
nearer or farther off from the mountain. It laded 
near 2 minutes very fenfibly in the city of Naples ; 
but moft fo in that part, which lies neared the. 
mountain. We make no doubt but it was at this 
inftant, that the eruption of burning matter or lava 
was made. 
The mouth, from which this lava idiied, was dis- 
covered on the 24th in the evening, as it run out, 
and down into a deep valley between the canal of 
and the tower of Launomiado. The 
lava did not appear on the face of the valley, which 
it had juft filled, till the 26th in the morning. Then 
it took a ferpentine courfe through feveral antient 
chanels, where the lava had run, and appeared on 
the lands. 
On the 27th in the morning, the lava having run 
two miles from the mouth whence it iffued, it ad- 
vanced with a breadth of 300 feet, and 30 deep, 
and pretty flow. 
From this frightful mafs of burning matter there 
blue two principal dreams of lava, that have filled 
two valleys, "which are near 200 feet deep. One of 
R r 2 thofe 
