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a vaft column, as black as the mountain itfelf, fo 
that the fhadow of it was marked out on the furface 
of the fea ; continual flafhes of forked, or zig-zag 
lightning fhot from this black column, the thunder 
of which was heard in the neighbourhood of the 
mountain, but not at Naples ; there were no clouds 
in the iky at this time, except thofe of fmoak ifluing 
from the crater of Vefuvius. I was much pleafed 
with this phenomenon, which I had not feen before 
in that perfection. 
Monday 26th, the fmoak continued, but not fo 
thick, neither were there any flaflies of the mountain 
lightning. As no lava has appeared after this column 
of black fmoak, which mud have been occafloned 
by fome inward operation of fire, I am apt to think 
that the lava, which fhould naturally have followed 
this fymptom, has broke its way into fome deeper 
cavern, where it is filently brooding future mifchiefj 
and I fhall be much miftaken if it does not break out 
a few months hence. 
Tuefday 27th, no more black fmoak, nor any 
figns of eruption. 
Thus, My Lord, I have had the honor of giving 
your Lordfhip a faithful narrative of my obfervations 
during this eruption, which is univerfally allowed to 
have been the mod violent of this century j and I 
fhall be happy if it fhould meet with your approba- 
tion, and that of the Royal Society, if your Lcrd- 
fhip fhould think it worthy of being communicated 
to fo refpe&able a body. 
I have juft fent a prefent to the Britifh Mufeum 
of a compleat colledtion of every fort of matter pro- 
duced by Mount Vefuvius, which I have been col- 
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