44 
Account of a Descent 
self to glide down amidst a torrent of ashes and lava. But 
the most dangerous obstacles are those awful excavations, 
which cannot he passed over without great trouble and 
difficulty. 
Disregarding the terror with which the Neapolitans 
endeavoured to inspire us, after having received their 
adieus, as if our separation had been likely to be eternal, 
we set out in a carriage, at half after eleven at night, on 
the 18th of July, from the hotel of the French ambassa- 
dor, fourteen in number, furnished with ropes and other 
articles which we supposed might be necessary, and all 
in a state of the highest spirits, which never forsook us, 
even at times of the most imminent danger. We arrived 
about midnight at the foot of Vesuvius; and, having quit- 
ted our carriage, mounted well experienced mules, and 
proceeding one after the other, with adjutant Dampierre 
at our head, amidst the thick darkness of night, reached 
half w ay to the steep summit of the mountain. We had 
a numerous body of guides, and their lighted torches gave 
to our expedition a mysterious and solemn air, which 
formed a striking contrast with the mirth and gaiety of 
the company. 
When we had ascended about half way, we were 
obliged to alight, and to clamber up the steepest and most 
difficult part of Vesuvius, wading through the ashes up 
to the knees, till, exhausted w ith fatigue, and covered,' 
with sweat, we reached the summit at half past two in the 
morning. 
The first thing that struck us as soon as the morning 
began to dawn, was a most magnificent spectacle— a su- 
perb view of the city and port of Naples, the beautiful 
hills which surround them, and the vast extent of the sea 
by which they are washed. After walking round part 
of the aperture of the volcano, that we might choose the 
most commodious place for descending, adjutant Dam- 
