40 
MEMOIR OF PLINY. 
but scanty materials for judging. He appears to 
have been as amiable and affectionate as he was 
learned and studious. Everywhere he expresses his 
about the crater, already rendered sterile by so many pre- 
vious streams of lava. On Monday, the 25th, the eruption 
appeared to have abated, but on the following day the scene 
changed in a sudden and terrible manner. Since the year 
1828, the inner part of the volcano had formed anew crater, 
which had gradually filled the vast chasm almost half a 
league in length, which was the consequence of the erui> 
tion of 18*22, and at length rose above the old crater to the 
height of 200 feet, and was very perceptible from Naples. 
The little Vesuvius, as people called it, on the morning of 
the 2Cth, fell in with a most terrific noise, and in its place 
a thick black cloud, which, threatening danger, mounted 
aloft higher and higher, darkened the sun, and, with a pe- 
netrating fine shower of ashe.s, covered not only the imme- 
diate neighbourhood of the volcano, but even Naples and 
Pausilippo. The glowing lava, too, for which the vessel 
containing it had now become too small, sought and found 
an opening about the middle of the mountain, about three 
miles from the top. With indescribable fury the lava 
burst out of this new outlet, and In less than three hours 
had travelled more than six miles, and in its career had 
destroyed gardens, forests, and houses. On the 27th this 
avalanche of fire had attained the height of from 15 to 16 
feet; its breadth was about half a mile. The countiy'-house 
of Prince Ottnjana, in which, on the same morning, an Eng- 
lish lady was drawing, was in the evening a formless ruin. 
The small village of San Giovanni, consisting of about 
eighty-six houses, exists no more. In Capo Secco Torcino, 
about 100 houses were destroyed by the fire. On the 28th 
the eruption had assumed a still more terrific character. 
The inhabitants of Scafati and Sarno expected every mo- 
ment that the terrible visitant would nrrive at their gates. 
Six streams of lava threatened at one time Torre dell An- 
lumciato, Bosco Tre Case, and Bosco Reale. The terror 
was general, when on the 29th, the violence of the eruption 
