566 
NAP 
quantity of that fine fand called allies, and prevented all 
fight of the fire of the volcano. The fun, as it appeared 
above the horizon, prefented a Hill more difmal piiture. 
From the abundance of alhes in the air, it feemed more 
pale than during the Strongest eclipfe; and a black fcarf 
appeared to be fpread over the whole of the gulf and the 
country. At the extremity of the horizon, towards the 
weft, the day was more clear, while the light at Naples 
was fainter than twilight; and, with Pliny the younger, 
one might have faid, Jam dies alibi illic nox omnibus mgriov 
denjiorque. 
“ While one current of lava flowed over the weftern 
fide of Vefuvius, fpreading ruin and defolation ; another 
fell down its eaftern Hope, from an opening of inferior 
height, and a greater diftance from the fummit. This 
current was not vifible at Naples: all that was perceived 
of it was a great light in the atmofphere, produced by 
reflection from the rolling fire. At firft it took an eaftern 
direction, turned afterwards to the fouth, and defcended 
to the fpot called Cognolo. There it fortunately found 
the valley of Sorienta, 65 feet wide, 121 deep, and 1627 
long. This valley the lava filled ; but, as the volcano 
ftill continued to emit frefti matter, the current after¬ 
wards fpread into the plain of Forte, near to Pozzelle, 
where it divided into three branches : one proceeded to¬ 
wards Bofco, another towards Mauro, and the third to 
the plain of Mulara. The length of this current of lava 
was not lefs than an Italian mile; but, as it flowed con- 
ftantly over old lavas, it did but little harm, merely 
laying wafte and occupying a frnall extent of vineyard. 
From the fpot where it diverged from its firft direction, 
it projected a frnall branch in a continued line: falling to 
this point over a very rapid flope, the fpeed with which it 
flowed muft have been confiderable ; and a portion of its 
mafs, preferving its firft impulfe, naturally fell in this 
final) Stream, in which were four mouths in the fliape of 
an inverted cone, the bafe of which is in the furface of 
the lava. This ftream terminates in a frnall and regular 
hill of a conical figure, on the fummit of which are two 
mouths in the form of inverted cones. The dimen¬ 
sions of this fecond current are nearly half thofe of the 
firft; confequently the mafs of the whole is adequate to 
2,8 o 4.;440 cubic fathoms. 
“ The coincidence and perfe6t refemblance of thefe two 
currents of lava fufficiently prove that they had but one 
common origin, and but one cauldron in which the mat¬ 
ter was fufed of which they were compofed. Plow great 
then muft that recipient be in which fuch an enormous 
mafs could be contained ! and what powerful exertion of 
Strength muft have been required to break through the 
mountain in fuch oppofite directions ! The lava agitated 
by the expanfion of elaftic fluids made its firft efforts to 
liberate itfelf on the eaftern fide, and found a paflage ; 
but the refiftance it met with from the mountain no doubt 
occafioned its reflux or rebound againft the oppofite fide. 
The weftern current, taking its departure from a more 
elevated mouth, more quickly terminated its courle; but 
the cauldron chiefly emptied itfelf by the eaftern opening. 
The lava ifl'ued from it very flowly, compared with the 
celerity with which that flowed which proceeded from 
the eaftern mouth, becaufe it was no longer driven for¬ 
ward, or comprelfed by the total mafs, which was already 
greatly diminished. On the morning of the 16th, the 
lava ceafed to flow over the weftern fide, and the mouth 
of the volcano began to refume activity. The whole of 
its cone was covered with a very thick rain of aShes or 
duft, which totally hid it from fight, fo that nothing 
could be distinguished on Vei'uyius, which was wholly 
inacceSfible. In this Slate it continued four days, during 
which many Shocks of earthquakes were felt, and loud 
claps of thunder were heard. Thunders raged in every 
part of the adjacent country, and the fiaSlies of lightning, 
by which they were accompanied at intervals, for an 
anftan.t allowed a view of the mountain through the 
«tarknefs in which it was involved by the rnjn of allies. 
L E s; 
This darknefs was fo prodigiously great, that at Caferto, 
and other places ten or twelve miles from Vefuvius, it 
was impoffiblc to walk the Streets at mid-day without 
torches; and that circumstance was renewed which is 
related by Pliny on the occafion of the eruption in the 
time of Titus ; Faces mnitre, variaque lamina Jblvcbant ob- 
Jcuritatem. It is utterly impoflible to determine with 
precision the quantity of aShes or fand that fell in the 
courfe of thefe days, as it was different in different places, 
according to the direftion of the wind; it is, however, 
computed, on the bafis of observations at different places, 
that fourteen inches and fix lines in depth fell on an area, 
the radius of which is three miles, the fummit of Vefuvius 
being the centre.” 
It would be erroneous to conclude, that all this mafs 
of matter proceeded from the entrails of the mountain ; 
the greater part was the offspring of the ruins of the 
crater, which during the three laft days fell into the abyfs. 
For, after the rain of volcanic fand had ceafed, and the 
mountain became vifilJle, its appearance excited much 
furprife: the fummit had fallen, and its mouth was con¬ 
siderably enlarged. 
Incefl'ant rains followed this eruption, which continued 
to the 3d of July. Whenever a cloud appeared above the 
horizon, it leaned attracted by the volcano; and fcarcel.y 
did it reach its fummit ere immenfe Streams were vifible, 
precipitating themfelves with horrible roarings to the bafe 
of the mountain. Thefe impetuous torrents of water, 
mingled with volcanic powders, overturned the bridges, 
harrowed up-the roads, tore up the trees, and utterly 
devaftated the fields of one of the moft rich and flourish¬ 
ing countries in the world. Mephitic vapours were alfo 
exhaled, which deftroyed all other vegetation, except the 
olive and the pear trees, which retained their verdure 
and Strength. It is remarkable, that during the whole of 
this eruption the barometer at Naples was not fenfibly 
aft'eited, and exhibited no change, although the tem¬ 
perature and moifture of the atmofphere experienced con¬ 
fiderable variation. 
We Shall next mention the earthquake and eruption 
that took place in July and Auguft 1805. On the morn¬ 
ing of the 26th of July the heat was much greater than 
on the preceding days. About fix in the evening a north- 
weft wind arofe, bringing with it fome thick clouds, 
which threatened a ftorm, but which infenfibly dil’perfed. 
At half paft eight the wind began to blow from the north, 
which is called at Naples a land-wind, and which is cold 
and dry in winter, and hot in fummer. It was on that 
day much colder than ufual, and continued for about an 
hour. At three quarters paft nine, the Sea, which had 
been extremely tranquil during the day, began to he dis¬ 
turbed. Several perfons who w r ere bathing felt the earth 
fail them under their feet, and- the fi(h came up to the 
furface of the water, and appeared agitated in an extra¬ 
ordinary manner. At length, at three minutes before ten, 
a Shock of an earthquake was felt, at firft with a flight 
trembling, and afterwards with a Strong undulation, in a 
direction from north to fouth, and which lafted from 
forty-five to fifty feconds. At eleven there was another 
Shock, but weaker; and at three quarters paft twelve a 
third, ftill Slighter. The Sky was perfectly ferene; but on 
the furface of the earth there was a fort of fog, from which 
emanated a Strong Smell of fulphur. From the fummit of 
Vefuvius an immenfe and very thick column of Smoke 
arofe; and between the firft aTid Second Shock two ex- 
plofions were heard, fimilar to thofe which precede vol¬ 
canic eruptions, but weaker. The firft Shock Shook all 
the bells, which rang fpontaneoufly. All the clocks and 
dials in the city, as well public as private, Stopped at 
three minutes before ten, the precife moment of the firft 
Shock. 
Bafifano was thecentreof theearthquake, which extended 
150 miles in circuit: this city became a lake, and 672 per¬ 
fons perished. At Capua, twenty Soldiers perished under 
the ruins of the barracks of Santa Maria; Several horfes 
were 
