10 
into the Crater of Mount Vesuvius . 
ing under a torrent of volcanic matters those who follow, 
as the foot, when moved, displaces the ashes, &e. to the 
distance of thirty feet round. 
When we arrived at the two precipices, we were 
obliged to ascend by mounting on the shoulders of a man 
placed at the bottom, and laying hold of a stick held by 
another at the top, and to rest our feet no where but in a 
very gentle manner. At length, by prudence and cau- 
tion, we reached the summit of Vesuvius without any ac- 
cident, but exhausted with fatigue, and so covered with 
ashes and smoke, as to be scarcely distinguishable. Our 
six companions, who had not descended into the crater, 
were overjoyed when they saw us again, and supplied 
us with some refreshments, of which we had great need. 
When one grand difficulty is surmounted, inferior ones 
are overlooked, as of little importance. In less than 
twenty-live minutes we again descended, having confirm- 
ed, after examining various stones, this observation, that 
Vesuvius is the only known volcano which throws up 
from its bowels primordial substances, without being al- 
tered by the fire, and such as are found at present in banks 
and veins. 
At half after eight in the morning we arrived at Forth 
ci, the inhabitants of which were much surprised to see 
us return all safe. Their delicious fruits, and their ex- 
cellent wine called lacryma Christi , soon made us forget 
our fatigue, and we then proceeded to Naples, which we 
reached in safety. 
The result of this excursion, which was only an expe- 
riment, can be of no further use than to show the possi- 
bility of reaching the crater, and to open the way to it to 
philosophers, naturalists, and chemists, who, by explor- 
ing this immense furnace of nature at their leisure, will 
find a variety of matters w hich will afford an ample field 
for the application of their chemical knowledge, and may 
