[ 3 l6 } 
fhole ftreams advances about 3 feet and a half in & 
minute, and the other about 3. 
The firft has advanced already one mile into the 
plain, which has a defcent into that of Siena, be- 
tween the tower of Launomiade and Seoflata, and 
tnoves on with a dream of 100 feet broad, and about 
6 feet deep. It has actually gone 4 miles from its 
head or mouth. I approached within 10 feet of this 
river of fire, and put a branch of a tree, juft cut off, 
lb near it, as to be diftant about 3 inches, which it 
inftantly burnt without any lmoke. I had my face 
changed yellow with the fmoak or fteam that ift'ued 
from the lava 5 and this fmoak was fo violent, a& 
to take away my breath, and made me apprehen- 
sive of lofing my life. 
The other lava flows directly towards the village 
of Launomiade, and is ftill advancing. All the in- 
habitants have abandoned that village, fearing it may 
ihare the fate with Herculaneum and Stabia. The 
main ftream ruined in the night, between the 27th 
and 28th, a tracft of half a mile. It has divided 
itfelf into 1 1 branches, according to the fituation of 
the land, and thefe again have united, and become 
one ftream. 
The lava feems to be much more charged with 
metals and fire than any of the former ; and the 
eruption appears to fend out 10 times more matter 
than that in 1737 : but that was much more fright- 
ful, from the continual thunder it made, and by 
the burning matter that it threw to a prodigious 
height ; and which afterwards run down to the foot 
of the mountain, leaving behind it a ridge of fire, 
which, during the night, had an eife< 51 : as furpriling 
as terrible. 
If 
