into the Crater of Mount Vesuvius . 15 
pierre and C. Wickar first descended, without any acci 
dent, at the determined point. When they had got about 
a third of the way they were suddenly stopped by an ex - 
cavation of fifty feet, which it w as necessary to pass. As 
they found that it was impossible to obtain any fixed point 
of support on ashes so moveable ; and being convinced that 
the friction of ropes would have soon destroyed both the 
point of support and the neighbouring masses to a great 
distance, they resolved to return. Besides, w hile delibe- 
rating on the means of descending, some stones rolling 
down from the summit occasioned a general agitation 
wherever they passed: adjutant I) am pierre found the 
ground on which he stood shake beneath Ms feet; and he 
had scarcely quitted it, calling out to C. Wickar to fol- 
low him, when it disappeared, Soon after, indeed, the 
whole space where they had stood, and all the neighbour- 
ing small eminences, crumbled dow n successively in the 
course of half an hour, and were precipitated to the bot- 
tom of the crater with an awful noise. 
Before we renounced our enterprise to return to Na- 
ples, dejected on account of not having succeeded, we 
once more walked round the mouth of the crater, and at 
last discovered a long declivity, pretty smooth though 
very steep, which conducted to the focus. Without ex- 
amining the precipices which it might be necessary to 
pass before it could be reached, C. Debeer, the ambassa- 
dor’s secretary, accompanied by a lazzaroni, set out first 
to attempt the passage. When they had got half way, 
amidst a torrent of ashes, which the impression of their 
feet made to roll down along with them, they found means 
to fix themselves on the edge of a precipice twelve feet in 
height, which it was necessary to pass before they could 
reach the lower declivity. The lazzaroni, frightened, 
refused to proceed ; but, being promised a double ducat 
avarice got the better of his timidity ; lie speedily made, 
