MOUNTAINS. 
Thirty-eight eiuptions of Vesuvius are lecorded in his- 
tory up to the year 1806. That of 1779 lias been described 
by Sir William Hamilton as among the most remarkable 
from its exUaordinary and terrific appearance. During tire 
whole of July the mountain was in a state of consider- 
able fermentation, subterraneous explosions and rumbling 
noises being heard, and quantities of smoke thrown up 
■witli great violence, sometimes w'ith red-hot stones, .scoria*, 
and ashes. On the 5th of August die volcano was greatly 
agitated, a wdiite sulphureous smoke, apparently four 
time.5 the height and size of the volcano itself, issuing from 
the crater, at the same lime that vast quantities of stones, 
&c. w*erc throivn up to the supposed height of 2000 feet. 
The liquid lava, having cleared die rim of die crater, 
flowed down die sides of the mountain to the distanetj kif 
four miles. The air was darkened by showers of reddish 
ashes, blended w’idi long filaments of a vitrified matter 
resembling glass. 
On the 7th, at midnight, a fountair of fire .shot up from 
tlie crater to an incredible height, casting so bright a light 
that the smallest objects were clearly distinguishable at any 
place widiin six miles of the volcano. On the following 
evening, after a tremendous explosion, w'hich broke tlie 
windows of the houses at Portici, another fountain of liquid 
fire rose to the suiqirising height of I0,CXX) feet, (nearly 
tw'o miles,) wiiile puffs of the blackest smoke accompa- 
nied the red-hot lava, inteiTupting its splendid brightne.ss 
heie and diere by patches of the darkest hue. I'lie lava 
was partly directed by the wind towards Ottaiano, on which 
so thick a shower of ashes, blended with vast pieces of 
sccaiEe, fell, that, had it been of longer continuance, that 
towm w*ould have shared the fate of Pompeii. It took fite 
in several places ; and liad there been much wind, the 
inhabitants would have been burned in their houses, it 
being impossible for them to stir out. To add to the horror 
of the scene, incessant volcanic lightning darted through 
the black cloud which surrounded tliem, while the sulphu- 
reous smell and heat would scarcely allow them to draw their 
breath. In this dreadful state they remained nearly half 
an hour. The remaining part of the lava, still red-hot and 
liquid, fell on the top of Vesuvius, and covered it.s whole 
cone, together with tliat of La Somma, and the valley 
