jrEMOIR OF PLINY. 
31 
uncle, as his own writings and your histoiy will 
prove, may justly be ranked. It is with extreme 
willingness, therefore, that I execute your commands ; 
and should indeed have claimed the task, if you had 
not enjoined it. He was at that time with the fleet 
under his command at Misenum. On the 24th of 
August, about one in the afternoon, my mother de- 
sired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a 
very unusual size and shape. He had just return- 
ed from enjoying the benefit of the sun ; and after 
bathing in cold water, and taking a slight repast, 
was retired to his study. He immediately rose and 
went out upon an eminence, from whence he might 
more distinctly view this singular phenomenon. It 
was not, at that distance, discernible from what 
mountain this cloud issued, but it was found after- 
wards to proceed from Mount Vesuvius. I cannot 
give you a more exact description of its figure than 
by comparing it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up a 
great height in the form of a tall trunk, which spread 
at the top into a sort of branches ; the cause of which 
was, I imagine, either that the force of the sudden 
gust which impelled the cloud upwards had de- 
creased in strength as it advanced ; or that the cloud 
being pressed back by its own weight, expanded it- 
self in the manner I have mentioned. It appeared 
sometimes bright, and sometimes dark and spotted, 
just as it was either more or less impregnated with 
cinders. This uncommon appearance excited my 
uncle’s philosophical curiosity, to take a nearer view 
