into the Crater of Mount Vesuvius . 11$ 
ilirows up. This volcano has the form of a truncated 
cone, and a part of its base, which is altogether three 
leagues in circumference, is washed by the Mediterra- 
nean; its mouth, or upper base, which is a little inclined to 
the axis, is 5722 feet in circumference. The earth from the 
base to half the height consists of vegetable mould mixed 
with lava and stones which have not been attacked by the 
tire, tufas, pumice, and calcareous stones, different in their 
nature and colour according to the different degrees of 
impression which have been made on them by the fire. 
The half of the height next the summit is composed 
chiefly of pure ashes, but coarser than our common ashes. 
Till the present time, there have been twenty-four erup- 
tions recorded in history. The first took place in the 
year 79 after the Christian era : by these eruptions volca- 
nic matters have been successively accumulated, but by 
that of 1799 the situation of the crater and of the aperture 
was entirely changed. The focus or crater is now sunk 
W'O feet below the upper edges of the mouth of the vol- 
cano. 
To arrive at the crater, and to observe the numerous 
spiracles, long crevices, and fires which issue from them 
in several places, and also the variegated and still smok- 
ing matters of which the crater is composed, it was neces- 
sary to pass over this space of 200 feet. 
The inner sides of the volcano are nearly perpendicu- 
lar, or exceedingly steep, and composed of ashes, lava, 
and large calcareous stones ; but these lava and stones, 
as they form no connection with the ashes, cannot serve 
as any point of support; and when any one is so impru- 
dent as to adhere to this kind of rock, the least motion, 
the least displacement of any part, makes the whole 
crumble to pieces. Besides, from the summit of Vesu- 
vius to the crater, the declivity, being exceedingly rapid, 
cannot be traversed but on all fours, and suffering your 
