MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
MOUNT VESUVIUS: 
 
 A DESCRIPTIVE, HISTORICAL, AND GEOLOGICAL 
 ACCOUNT OF THE VOLCANO, 
 
 A NOTICE OF THE RECENT ERUPTION, 
 
 AN APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 lETTEES BY PLINY THE YOUNGER, A TABLE OF DATES OF ERUPTIONS, AND A 
 LIST OF VESUVIAN MINERALS. 
 
 BY 
 
 J. LOaAN LOBLEY, F.O.S. 
 
 |l(u5tratci> ioitlj llkto, gliij^, iwxii Swtiou. 
 
 LONDON: 
 EDWARD STANFORD, 6 and 7, CHARING CROSS, S.W. 
 
 1868. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The following description of Mount Vesuvius was 
 prepared for the Greologists' Association of London, 
 before which body it was read ; but having been 
 strongly urged to print it, and believing that a brief 
 general and geological account of the volcano, with 
 a notice of the eruption of this year, has not yet 
 ajDpeared, I venture to give these pages to the 
 public. 
 
 The subject has been treated under four heads. 
 In the first chapter, the geographical position of 
 Vesuvius is described, and the various parts of the 
 mountain indicated. In the second chapter is given 
 the history of the volcano, with a resume of the 
 accounts which have come down to us of the most 
 interesting and remarkable eruptions. The third 
 chapter has been devoted to the geological and scien- 
 tific consideration of Vesuvius. And in the fourth 
 and last, an endeavour has been made to give a 
 picture of the aspect which the mountain presents 
 to iliQ eye of the traveller who makes the ascent to 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 the crater, and some account of the phenomena 
 observed during the eruption of the present year. 
 
 The writings of Humboldt, Scrope, Daubeny, 
 Forbes, Lyell, and Mallet, in our days, have left 
 little to be said on the nature and origin of volcanic 
 and earthquake phenomena, until fresh facts have 
 been accumulated and given to the world. For in- 
 formation on this deeply interesting but theoretical 
 branch of the subject, those well-known authors 
 should be consulted. In the j^reparation of this 
 descriptive account of Vesuvius, the narration of 
 generally admitted facts and the results of personal 
 observation, has been alone attempted ; and the 
 object contemplated by the writer will have been 
 accomplished, if the following pages enable the un- 
 scientific, as well as the scientific, reader, to gather 
 without difficulty, some useful information concerning 
 one of earth's greatest wonders. 
 
 London, 
 
 May, 1868. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Preface .. 
 
 Geographical Description of Vesuvius 
 
 History of Vesuvius .. 
 
 Geology of Vesuvius .. 
 
 Ascent of VESu^^:us, and Eruption of 1868 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 24 
 34 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Epistles of Pliny the Younger, containing his Account of 
 
 THE Eruption of a.d. 79 .. .. .. .. ..45 
 
 Table showing Dates of Ordinary and Paroxysmal FnrPTioNs 53 
 List of Minerals found on Vesuvius and Somma .. .. 54 
 
 PLATES. 
 
 View of Vesuvius from Naples (^Frontisjnece) 
 Map of Vesuvius 
 General Section 
 
 PLATE 
 I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION, AND GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OP 
 VESUVIUS. 
 
 Vesuvius, the celebrated volcano of Southern Italy, 
 has been for many centuries an object of great in- 
 terest to the inhabitants of Europe. In ancient 
 times the conspicuous position of the mountain in 
 one of the fairest and most frequented portions of 
 the Roman dominions — the neighbourhood to which 
 resorted the most wealthy, most famous, and most 
 noble of the citizens of Rome — and the terrible 
 character and dreadful results of the eruption of 
 79, combined to render Mount Vesuvius an object 
 of especial interest and wonder. In modern times 
 the proximity of the volcano to one of the greatest 
 cities of Europe, the accessibility to travellers, and 
 many attractions of the romantic coast of Italy, and 
 the frequency and violence of the eruptions, have 
 fixed the attention of mankind upon Vesuvius not 
 less earnestly than in the days of old. 
 
 The mountain to which the general name of 
 
2 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 Mount Yesnvius is given rises grandly to a height 
 of upwards of 4000 feet on the north-eastern side of 
 the Bay of Naples, contributing in no small degree 
 to the world-famed beauty of its classic shores. In- 
 deed the view of the bay would be without its 
 distinctive character were this important feature of 
 the scene wanting ; and a pictorial representation 
 of the city of Naples is at once recognized if the 
 smoking cone of Vesuvius forms the background of 
 the j)icture. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be well to at once point out 
 that although Vesuvius is popularly considered to 
 be a simple and an almost regular cone, yet the 
 mountain has two peaks of nearly equal elevation. 
 To one the name of Monte Somma is given, and to 
 the other, which is the cone, having on its summit 
 the active crater, the name of Vesuvius is more 
 properly applicable. Monte Somma and the cone 
 of Vesuvius are therefore the two peaks of the 
 great mountain known as Mount Vesuvius, and 
 which is at its base about thirty miles in circum- 
 ference. This great base is nearly circular, having 
 the apex of the great cone exactly over its centre, 
 and the ridge of Monte Somma rising on its northern 
 and eastern sides. 
 
 The whole mountain may therefore be described 
 as consisting of a great circular base rising very 
 gradually from the plains, with two comparatively 
 small mountains standing upon it, — one a cone, over 
 the centre of the whole, and the other a semicircular 
 
GENEKAL DESCRIPTION. S 
 
 ridge, a little less in elevation than the cone which 
 it half encircles. 
 
 The outline of the mountain, as seen from Naples, 
 is on its southern side a singularly graceful curve, 
 rising gently from the low grounds, and continued, 
 with a gradually increasing inclination, to the sum- 
 mit of the cone, with, however, a slight elevation 
 above the general curve, at a point about half-way to 
 the summit, called La Pedamentina. On the north- 
 ern side the outline corresponds with that on the 
 south for a considerable distance from the plain, after 
 which it increases rapidly in inclination to the sum- 
 mit of the ridge of Somma, which stands on the same 
 level and at the same distance from the centre of the 
 cone as the Pedamentina. 
 
 The deep semicircular valley lying between the 
 ridge of Somma and the cone is called the Atrio 
 del Cavallo at its northern end, and the Yal del 
 Inferno at its southern extremity. This valley has 
 a level bottom, and extends for a distance of upwards 
 of two miles at the foot of the cone, which rises on 
 its other or seaward side from a comparatively level 
 part of the mountain also. To this portion of the 
 surface, stretching from the entrance of the Atrio 
 del Cavallo to the Pedamentina, the name La Plaine 
 has been given. Fronting the entrance to the Atrio 
 del Cavallo, and with the Fosso dela Yetrana on one 
 side and the Fosse Grrande on the other, rises the 
 Crocelle, the elevation on which stand the Hermitage 
 and the Observatory. 
 
4 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 On the southern side of the Fosse G-rande, the 
 Piano del Grinestre forms the terrace-like commence- 
 ment of the plain at the foot of the cone. 
 
 Below the level of the Fosse G-rande the sides of 
 the mountain are cultivated, and the lower slopes 
 gradually blend on the northern, eastern, and southern 
 sides with the plains. On the south-western side the 
 mountain rises almost from the water's edge, for 
 although the shore of the baj is here lined with 
 villages, or rather towns, they stand upon the lower 
 slopes of the mountain itself, and are built upon the 
 old lavas of the volcano. 
 
 Not only the western side, but the whole base 
 of Vesuvius is skirted by a series of villages, some of 
 which are very populous, especially those on the 
 shore of the bay, where, although the erujDtions of 
 past times have frequently covered the ground with 
 lava, and destroyed the habitations of man, an im- 
 mense population is located, apparently not living 
 in the slightest dread of the very dangerous neighbour 
 whose threatening thunders they so often hear. 
 
 About six miles from the summit, in a direct line, 
 and on the south-eastern side of the mountain, we 
 find the ruins of Pompeii. At the base of the moun- 
 tain, near the shore of the bay, and under the modern 
 town of Resina, Herculaneum lies buried ; while the 
 ruins of Stabice, the third of the cities destroyed in 
 the year 79, are close to Castelamare, at a distance of 
 eight or nine miles from Vesuvius. 
 
 And here it may perhaps not be out of place to 
 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 
 
 remark, that an exceedingly fine view of the moun- 
 tain, and, during the present eruption, of the red-hot 
 lava on its side, may be obtained from various parts 
 of the city of Naples, and especially from the Strada 
 di Santa Lucia, where groups of people each evening 
 congregate to witness the grand and striking scene. 
 
MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 
 
 Before proceeding to the consideration of the geology 
 of Vesuvius, we shall do well to review briefly the 
 history of this very interesting and remarkable 
 volcano, since its internal structure and geological 
 formation will be more readily understood when we 
 have made ourselves somewhat acquainted with those 
 eruj)tions which have largely contributed to the form- 
 ation of the mountain as we now see it. 
 
 During the historic period previous to the Christian 
 era Yesuvius was not an active volcano ; and indeed 
 it was not then generally known to be volcanic in 
 origin, though several among the ancient naturalists 
 suspected it to be so, and its structure, and the litho- 
 logical character of the rocks of Somma, at once 
 reveal to us the fact, that the mountain had its origin 
 in volcanic action, and that although it had been dor- 
 mant for many centuries, yet at a j^rehistoric period 
 erujjtions, perhaps more terrific than any which have 
 occurred in modern times, had covered its sides with 
 red-hot lava, and had ejected from a crater many times 
 the size of the present one, ashes and cinders as now. 
 
 The form of the mountain was, however, during 
 the period of its inaction, very different from that 
 which in our times attracts the eye by its beautiful 
 outline. Instead of a grandly swelling central cone, 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 7 
 
 and a sharp and picturesque ridge standing on a 
 widely spreading bavse, there was then only a trun- 
 cated cone of great width and comparatively small 
 height ; for the present great cone of Vesuvius did 
 not at that time exist, and the semicircular ridge of 
 Somma of our day then extended quite round the 
 area on which the cone now stands, forming a com- 
 plete circle, and being the enclosing wall of the 
 crater of the prehistoric volcano. This crater was 
 no less than seven miles in circumference, with sides 
 both lofty and precipitous. In the times of the early 
 Romans the plain at the bottom of the crater was 
 bare and sterile, while the rocks around were covered 
 with wild vines extending from the top to the bottom. 
 Among the writers of antiquity who noticed the 
 volcanic appearance of Vesuvius may be mentioned 
 Diodorus Siculus and Strabo. The former of these 
 ancient observers was born on the slope of a volcano, 
 having been a native of Agyrium, at the base oi 
 Mount iEtna. And as two eruptions of ^tna occurred 
 during his lifetime, he was well fitted to detect the 
 signs of volcanic action. These signs he observed at 
 Vesuvius, and thus has the honour of having been 
 the first to notice the igneous and volcanic character 
 of the mountain.* Following Diodorus Siculus, 
 Vitruvius writes of Vesuvius, and mentions a tradi- 
 tion that fire had at one time been seen coming forth 
 
 * Diodorus Siculus, in his fourth book (A. 21), says : 
 
 Slvoy-acrOat. Se Koi to Treblov tovto (f)X(ypa.'iou dwo rov Xocpov tov to 
 TvaXaiov liivkeTOv irvp eKcPvaavros, TrafjanXTjaias ti] KaTci ttjv Si/ceXiaj/ AlVi'i;' 
 KoKeiTai Se vvv 6 tottos Oveaovios, ex<^f ttoWcl (rrjiiela tov k{kuv(t6cu kutu 
 Toiis dp)(aiovs XP^''°''J^' 
 
8 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 from the mountain. Strabo, however, like Diodorus 
 Siculus, infers the volcanic origin of Vesuvius from 
 the appearances presented by the rocks around the 
 crater.* During the second Servile war, the crater 
 supplied a place of refuge for Spartacus and his fol- 
 lowers, who encamped within its bounds. 
 
 The mountain was therefore, at the commence- 
 ment of the Christian era, an apparently extinct 
 volcano, having a great general resemblance to many 
 of those large volcanic hills which stud the Phlegraean 
 fields on the western side of the city of Naples. 
 (,1^ The year jS-S of our era witnessed the earliest 
 
 -iijf indications of renewed activity ; and in the early 
 part of that year, we are told by Seneca, that an 
 earthquake occurred, which destroyed a considerable 
 portion of both Herculaneum and Pompeii, and shook 
 all the district surrounding the mountain. In the 
 following year a second earthquake caused consider- 
 able injury to the city of Naples ; and it is said that 
 the theatre in which the emperor Nero had been 
 performing a short time before was thrown down. 
 These premonitory symptoms were followed, during 
 
 * In his fifth book of Geography (E. 4, 8) Strabo writes : 
 NcoXt;? 6e KOI l>iovK€plas Koi 'A;(fppcov, opLuivvfxov KaroiKias ttjs ivepX Kpe- 
 fxoiva, eniveiov i(TTiv rj Ilop.Trr]ta, Trapa rw Sdpi^M 7rora/iw Kat dexofievco to. 
 (popria Kal iK7rep.TT0VTi. vnepKeirai 8i rwv tottcov tovtmv opos to Ovfaoviov, 
 dypois 7repioiKovp.€vov rrayKoXois TTXrjVTris Kopv(ptii' avrrj S eTriVeSos fiev ttoXv 
 pepos eoTiV, uKapnos S' o\rj, eK 8e rrjs o-^ecos ret^pwSrjs, Kal Koikd8as (paivfi 
 err] payy abets iverpav al6aka>8a>v Kara, ttjv x.poav> ^S tiv eK^ejSpcopevcov vno 
 TTvpos, cos T€KpaipoiT CIV Tis TO )(a)piov TOVTo Kaieadai. npoTfpov Kat ex^iv 
 KpaTTJpas TTvpos, a-^fcrdrjvai S' em Xinovcrqs ttjs vXrjs- Taxu be Kat ttjs 
 evKapnlas ttjs kiikXco tovt a'lTiov, acmep iv ttj KuTavr), (fiacri, to koto- 
 Te(f)pci)6ev pepos eK ttjs crnobov Trjs uvevexOeiirris vno tov AiTvaiov nvpos 
 evdpneXov ttjv yrjv i-Tolr](Tev. 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. ^ 
 
 the reign of the emperor Titus, and in the year 79, 
 by the famous eruption which not only destroyed 
 three flourishing cities, but completely altered the 
 form and appearance of Mount Vesuvius. As this 
 eruption was such an important one, not only from 
 the appalling results which followed, but also from 
 its having been the first of the long series of erup- 
 tions which have interested and astonished the world 
 during the historic period, I may perhaps be par- 
 doned for directing the reader's attention to the 
 letters* containing the celebrated account by Pliny 
 the Younger, who was an eye-witness of the awful 
 scene, and whose uncle was one of those who perished 
 by the catastrophe. 
 
 It will be remarked that in this most interesting 
 description there is no mention of lava having been 
 seen ; and this is quite in accordance with the results 
 of modern observation, which has never yet detected 
 any bed of lava of the same age as the ashes which 
 overwhelmed Pompeii. It appears, therefore, that 
 this great eruption was one entirely of ashes, lapilli, 
 and mud, and that the melted rock which is given 
 forth in modern times during nearly every eruption 
 was then entirely wanting. From an examination of 
 specimens brought from the ruins of the ancient city 
 it will be found that the material which obscured the 
 light of the sun as completely as Pliny describes, and 
 buried the city of Pompeii and destroyed it for ever, 
 was light, grey, pumaceous lapilli and ashes, evi- 
 
 * See Appendix, p. 45. 
 
10 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 dently quite dry, from the fact that it is now in a 
 perfectly loose and uncompacted state. The present 
 condition of the numerous frescoes with which the 
 houses of the wealthy inhabitants were adorned affords 
 further evidence of this dryness, since the colours of 
 these, in many cases, beautiful decorations are com- 
 paratively fresh and uninjured. It is probable, 
 however, that the volcano discharged at a later 
 period of the same eruption ashes and lapilli mingled 
 with mud, since we find that the city of Herculaneum 
 is buried beneath a mass of consolidated tuff, and not, 
 as Pompeii, simply covered with loose ejectamenta. 
 This great eruption left the mountain with only half 
 of the walls of the ancient crater remaining, the sides 
 on the south and west having been almost completely 
 blown away. 
 
 It was now that the modern cone of Vesuvius 
 began to rise and give that appearance to the whole 
 with which we are familiar. Successive eruptions 
 accumulated material on this new cone, and so added 
 to its bulk and height, until it at length attained 
 an elevation equal to that of the ancient summit ; 
 and thus we have the double-peaked mountain of the 
 present century. There was, however, left on the 
 southern side a small remnant of the wall of the old 
 crater ; and this, even to the present time, is seen as 
 a protuberance on the side of the mountain, and is 
 the elevation which was before mentioned under the 
 name of the Pedamentina. 
 
 A second eruption, described by Dion Cassius, 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 11 
 
 occurred in the year 203, and one causing great 
 destruction in 472. This latter eruption destroyed 
 the villages which had been built over the buried 
 cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, and ejected ashes 
 to so great a distance that it is said some fell as far 
 from the mountain as Constantinople. 
 
 Many eruptions have occurred from that time to 
 the present of more or less importance ; but it will 
 be sufficient to notice here merely those which are 
 interesting from having modified the shape of the 
 mountain or the character of its surroundings, and 
 those during which some extraordinary phenomena 
 were observed.* 
 
 The eruption of 1036 is important geologically, 
 as the first-recorded fluid lavas are said to have flowed 
 from the new cone in this year. This lava there is 
 good reason for believing reached the sea. 
 
 During the next five hundred years volcanic 
 action was very violent in the neighbouring dis- 
 tricts. Several eruptions of Etna are recorded ; the 
 Solfatara, as well as the volcanic island of Ischia, 
 poured forth streams of lava of great size ; and the 
 northern as well as the southern portions of Italy 
 were convulsed by earthquakes. But during this 
 period Vesuvius itself was comparatively inactive. 
 This circumstance supports the view that all the 
 volcanic vents of Italy have their origin in the same 
 source, that the vent of Vesuvius affords in ordinary 
 times a sufficient means of escaj^e, or safety-valve as it 
 
 * See Appendix, p. 53. 
 
 c 2 
 
12 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 were, in this district for the forces generated in the 
 great interior reservoir, and that when this opening 
 becomes sealed these forces open up other channels of 
 communication with the exterior of the earth. 
 
 For a long time previous to the great eruption of 
 1631 the crater of Vesuvius contained so much vege- 
 tation that it became the resort of wild boars, and 
 cattle grazed on the plain at the bottom. " Within 
 the crater," writes Bracini, " was a narrow passage, 
 through which by a winding path you could descend 
 about a mile amongst rocks and stones, till you came 
 to another more spacious plain covered with ashes. 
 In this j)lain were three little pools placed in a trian- 
 gular form, — one, towards the east, of hot water, cor- 
 rosive and bitter beyond measure ; another, towards 
 the west, of water Salter than that of the sea ; the 
 third, of hot water, that had no particular taste." 
 
 It was during this season of repose on the part 
 of Vesuvius that occurred the extraordinary volcanic 
 phenomenon of 1538. On the last three days of 
 September in that year, Monte Nuovo, between Baia3 
 and Pozzuoli, was thrown up. This hill is about 
 440 feet in height, and encloses a very perfect crater, 
 almost as deep as the mount is high. The formation 
 of Monte Nuovo is especially interesting, as offering a 
 probable explanation of the mode in which the lower 
 portion of Vesuvius was originally formed, for since 
 there was ocular demonstration of Monte Nuovo 
 being a crater of eruption, there does not apjDear to 
 be much difficulty in our supposing the great body 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 13 
 
 of Vesuvius, as well as otlier elevations composed of 
 volcanic matter, to have liad a similar origin. 
 
 At the end of the year 1631 commenced one of 
 the most important of the modern eruptions of the 
 great Italian volcano. In this year the great crater 
 became filled with volcanic matter, level with the 
 brim, and on the IGth December a column of ashes 
 mingled with vapour was ejected from the cone, 
 while great quantities of stones were discharged and 
 volcanic lightning flashed. After this no less than 
 seven streams of lava descended the mountain, and 
 an earthquake caused the sea to recede for half a 
 mile. This great eruption resulted in a most awful 
 destruction of human life, no fewer than 18,000 
 persons having been said to have perished during its 
 continuance. The villages of Torre del Grreco, Resina, 
 Grranatello, and Portici were either wholly or partially 
 destroyed ; and a large space of land was inundated 
 by the torrents of rain produced by the conden- 
 sation of the immense volumes of vapour discharged 
 from the mountain. The lava emitted during this 
 eruption forms a considerable portion of the substra- 
 tum under the road between Resina and Torre del 
 Annunziata, near which latter village I found it to 
 be 20 feet thick, and reposing upon a bed of reddish- 
 coloured volcanic ashes and cinders. It may be seen 
 at many points along the high road, as well as by the 
 side of the railway lying between the road and the 
 sea, and it is quarried for road-material close to 
 the seashore near Resina. It is this lava which covers 
 
14 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 the tuff under which Herculaneum lies buried, and 
 which has rendered the excavations for the purpose 
 of exploring the ruins of that ancient city so costly 
 and so difficult ; while above it stand the modern 
 towns of Resina and Torre del Grreco ; and the beauti- 
 ful gardens of the royal palace of Portici cover a 
 portion of its surface. 
 
 An eruption, remarkable for having thrown up a 
 perpendicular stream of lava, occurred in the year 
 1676; and during the next twenty years various 
 eruptions took place, which much modified the shape 
 of the mountain. At this period it appears that the 
 highest point of Somma was 1200 feet higher than 
 the summit of the new cone. 
 
 A stream of lava four miles in length, and 
 upwards of 100 yards wide, where broadest, flowed 
 from the mountain in 1694, and ran in the direction 
 of San Giorgio a Cremano ; and one, two years after- 
 wards, towards Torre del Grreco. 
 
 During the next hundred years the volcano was 
 in very frequent activity ; and several of the erup- 
 tions which occurred in this period are deserving of 
 notice, on account of the remarkable nature of the 
 phenomena witnessed during their continuance. 
 
 One of the early eruptions of the eighteenth 
 century, that of 1707, was a very violent one ; and is 
 noticeable for the immense quantity of ashes then dis- 
 charged by the volcano. It is stated that the cloud 
 of ashes over Naples was dense enough to involve 
 the city in such complete darkness that nothing 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 15 
 
 could be seen in the streets. The shrieks of women, 
 we are told, filled the air; and the churches were 
 crowded with peojDle, while the relics of S. Januariiis 
 were carried in procession. The wind, however, 
 changing, and the ashes being carried in another 
 direction, the alarm of the people subsided. 
 
 The eruption of 1737 poured forth a stream of 
 lava no less than a mile in width, and containing 
 upwards of 33,000,000 cubic feet. Sir Charles Lyell 
 alludes to the lava of this eruption in his ' Principles 
 of Greology,' in which he mentions that it may be 
 seen near Torre del Grreco, having a columnar 
 structure. The section he sjDeaks of is immediately 
 outside the town of Torre del Grreco, on the road to 
 Torre del Annunziata, and may there be seen pre- 
 senting a surface twelve or fifteen feet in height. 
 This great stream flowed from the side of the moun- 
 tain, but at the same time a stream was emitted from 
 the crater on the summit, which divided into branches 
 taking opposite directions, and causing great de- 
 struction to property. A great quantity of ashes 
 was also ejected, and this ash falling on the trees in 
 the surrounding district, especially in the neighbour- 
 hood of Ottaiano, also occasioned great damage. A 
 curious mephitic vapour was emitted by the moun- 
 tain after the eruption, which destroyed life. 
 
 In 1751, during an eruption which again pro- 
 duced a great flow of lava, the central cone sank, 
 leaving a hollow of great depth and width. 
 
 Much lava was discharged in 1754, the stream 
 
16 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 this year taking the direction of Bosco del Mauro 
 and Bosco tre Case. 
 
 There was a remarkable outbreak in the year 
 1760. The lava of this eruption flowed from new 
 cones which were formed, not on the summit of the 
 mountain, but on its side, not far distant from the 
 monastery of the Camaldoli. Grreat columns of smoke, 
 and immense quantities of ashes, were also given 
 forth by these new cones, which may still be seen. 
 
 The great eruptions of 1766, 1767, and 1770 are 
 graphically described by Sir William Hamilton in 
 his letters to the Royal Society, a short extract from 
 which, having reference to the eruption of 1767, may 
 not be out of place : — 
 
 " I observed, in my way to Naples, which was in 
 less than two hours after I had left the mountain, 
 that the lava had actually covered three miles of the 
 very road through which we had retreated. It is 
 astonishing that it should have run so fast ; as I have 
 since seen, that the river of lava, in the Atrio di 
 Cavallo, was 60 and 70 feet deep, and in some places 
 near two miles broad. When his Sicilian Majesty 
 quitted Portici, the noise was greatly increased ; and 
 the concussion of the air from the explosions was so 
 violent, that in the king's palace doors and windows 
 were forced open ; and even one door there, which 
 was locked, was nevertheless burst open. At Naples, 
 the same night, many windows and doors flew open ; 
 in my house, which is not on the side of the town 
 next Vesuvius, I tried the experiment of unbolting 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 17 
 
 my windows, when they flew open upon every 
 exjDlosion of the mountain. Besides these explosions, 
 which were very frequent, there was a continued 
 subterraneous and violent rumbling noise, which 
 lasted this night about five hours. I have imagined 
 that this extraordinary noise might be owing to the 
 lava in the bowels of the mountain having met with 
 a deposition of rain-water; and that the conflict 
 between the fire and the water may, in some measure, 
 account for so extraordinary a crackling and hissing 
 noise. Padre Torre, who has wrote so much and so 
 well upon the subject of Mount Vesuvius, is also of 
 my opinion. And indeed it is natural to imagine 
 that there may be rain-water lodged in many of the 
 caverns of the mountain ; as in the great eruption 
 of Mount Vesuvius in 1631, it is well attested that 
 several towns, among which Portici and Torre del 
 Grreco, were destroyed by a torrent of boiling water 
 having burst out of the mountain with the lava, by 
 which thousands of lives were lost. About four years 
 ago. Mount Etna in Sicily threw up hot water also 
 during an eruption. 
 
 " The confusion at Naples this night (19 th 
 October, 1767) cannot be described; his Sicilian 
 Majesty's hasty retreat from Portici added to the 
 alarm ; all the churches were opened and filled ; the 
 streets were thronged with processions of saints : but 
 I shall avoid entering upon a description of the various 
 ceremonies that were performed in this capital to 
 quell the fury of the turbulent mountain. 
 
18 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 " Tuesday, tlie 20th, it was impossible to judge of 
 the situation of Vesuvius, on account of the smoke 
 and ashes, which covered it entirely, and spread over 
 Naples also, the sun appearing as through a thick 
 London fog, or a smoked glass ; small ashes fell all 
 this day at Naples. The lavas on both sides of the 
 mountain ran violently; but there was little or no 
 noise till about nine o'clock at night, when the same 
 uncommon rumbling began again, accompanied with 
 explosions as before, which lasted about four hours : 
 it seemed as if the mountain would split in pieces. 
 ***** During the confusion of this night, the 
 prisoners in the public jail attemjDted to escape, 
 having wounded the jailer, but were prevented by 
 the troops. The mob also set fire to the Cardinal 
 Archbishop's gate, because he refused to bring out 
 the relics of Saint Januarius. 
 
 *' Wednesday, 21st, was more quiet than the pre- 
 ceding days, though the lavas ran briskly. Portici 
 was once in some danger, had not the lava taken a 
 different course when it was only a mile and a half 
 from it ; towards night the lava slackened. 
 
 " Thursday, 22nd, about ten of the clock in the 
 morning, the same thundering noise began again, 
 but with more violence than the preceding days ; the 
 oldest men declared they had never heard the like ; 
 and, indeed, it was very alarming; we were in ex- 
 pectation every moment of some dire calamity. The 
 ashes, or rather small cinders, showered down so fast, 
 that the people in the streets were obliged to use 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 19 
 
 umbrellas, or flap their bats, tbese asbes being very- 
 offensive to tbe eyes. Tbe tops of tbe bouses and 
 tbe balconies were covered above an inch tbick witb 
 tbese cinders. Sbips at sea, twenty leagues from 
 Naples, were also covered witb tbem, to tbe great 
 astonisbment of tbe sailors. In tbe midst of tbese 
 borrors, tbe mob, growing tumultuous and impatient, 
 obliged tbe Cardinal to bring out tbe bead of Saint 
 Januarius, and go witb it in procession to tbe Ponte 
 Maddalena, at tbe extremity of Naples, towards 
 Vesuvius ; and it is well attested bere, tbat tbe erup- 
 tion ceased tbe moment tbe Saint came in sigbt of 
 tbe mountain ; it is true, tbe noise ceased about tbat 
 time, after baving lasted five bours, as it bad done 
 tbe preceding days." 
 
 An eruption of no great importance occurred in 
 1776 ; but tbree years after, in 1779, one of very 
 great violence and remarkable character took place. 
 Several great streams of lava were emitted on tbis 
 occasion, and tbe sbowers of asbes were sufficiently 
 dense to produce darkness in tbe vicinity of tbe 
 mountain. Vapours most destructive botb to animal 
 and vegetable life were given off in profusion. But 
 perhaps the most extraordinary feature of tbis ter- 
 rible outbreak was tbe rising of a column of liquid 
 fire, as it is described, to a height which Sir William 
 Hamilton considered to be three times that of tbe 
 mountain. After tbis a black cloud, emitting flashes 
 of lightning, advanced from over Vesuvius towards 
 Naples, spreading consternation and terror among 
 
20 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 the inliabitants of tlie city. The theatres were closed, 
 and the reHcs of San Januarius again carried in pro- 
 cession. The destruction to property caused by this 
 eruption was very great, especially to the vegetation 
 of the district. 
 
 Terrible, however, as was the eruption of 1779, 
 it was exceeded by the appalling outbreak of 1793-4, 
 which lasted from the February of one year until the 
 Midsummer of the next. This eruption produced no 
 less than fifteen mouths, which emitted as many 
 separate streams of lava ; and these uniting formed 
 one vast body of liquid fire, which flowed steadily on 
 towards the sea, cutting in two the town of Torre del 
 G-reco, where it was from twelve to forty feet thick, 
 and actually advancing into the sea to a distance 
 of 362 feet, and presenting a face 1127 feet broad. 
 It was calculated by Breislak that the whole mass 
 contained no less than 46,098,766 cubic feet of lava. 
 The sea was even in a boiling state at a distance of 
 100 yards from the lava. This eruption, as has been 
 the case with the great eruptions generally, was pre- 
 ceded by a falling of the water in the wells of the 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 From this time until 1822 the several eruptions 
 which occurred were not of a very remarkable 
 character; but on the 22nd of October, 1822, com- 
 menced one which must by no means be passed over. 
 On the day following that I have named, the tojD of 
 the cone fell in, and this was succeeded by the emis- 
 sion of a stream of lava nearly a mile in width. So 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 21 
 
 great, too, was the quantity of ashes and cinders 
 ejected, that the country as far as Amalfi, on the 
 Grulf of Salerno, was overshadowed with darkness, 
 and the road between Eesina and Torre del Annun- 
 ziata was blocked up with the fallen ejectamenta. 
 This eruption was remarkable also for the unusually 
 large amount of vapour which issued from the vol- 
 cano. The vapour condensed into rain ; and this 
 was so great in quantity that some districts were 
 inundated. The crater was greatly altered by this 
 eruption, having been by it much increased in cir- 
 cumference and in depth, and the height of the cone 
 correspondingly diminished. The summit was after 
 this eruption estimated to be not more than 3400 feet 
 above the level of the sea, 800 feet of the top of the 
 cone having been blown away. 
 
 The eruption of 1828 produced a small cone in 
 the centre of the large crater formed by the great 
 outbreak of 1822; and in 1831 the summit of the 
 new cone was higher than the edge of the great 
 crater, which had become filled with the ejecta- 
 menta of the volcano. The whole of this new cone 
 was, however, destroyed by the eruption of 1834, 
 during which the volcano poured out a most copious 
 stream of lava, causing the almost total destruction 
 of the village of Caposecco, only four houses out of 
 five hundred remaining. The river of lava which 
 destroyed this village was nine miles long; and so 
 great was its heat, that it is said to have been felt at 
 Sorrento, a distance of nearly ten miles. One stream 
 
22 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 of the lava taking the direction of Pompeii, that 
 ancient city was threatened with another interment. 
 
 Since 1834 the eruptions have been very frequent, 
 and have been especially noticeable from the fact 
 that they have produced lavas containing a greater 
 quantity of leucite than is to be found in the lavas 
 of the previous eruptions of the historic period, and 
 therefore more like the ancient lavas of Monte Somma, 
 in which this mineral is very abundant. We are 
 told by Professor Pilla, that crystals of leucite as 
 large as nuts were not only found imbedded in the 
 lava of 1845, but were thrown out of the crater of the 
 volcano in that year. This fact is interesting, as 
 showing that these crystals of leucite were formed 
 within the vent previous to the eruption. 
 
 The lava of 1850 formed a body no less than 
 a mile and a half broad, which steadily advanced 
 towards Bosco Reale and Ottaiano, consuming the 
 woods of large trees which lay in its way, and threat- 
 ening with total destruction the populous villages 
 lying on that side of the mountain. 
 
 The great eruption of 1855 produced lava which 
 retained its fluidity for such an unusually great 
 length of time, that it flowed in a comparatively 
 narrow stream almost to the suburbs of Naples, run- 
 ning between the villages of Massa di Somma and 
 San Sebastiano, and reaching Cercola. This stream 
 flowed from the side of the cone above the Atrio del 
 Cavallo, into which it poured; and following the 
 course of the Fosso della Yetrana and the Fosso 
 
HISTORY OF VESUVIUS. 23 
 
 Faraone, it divided into two branclies, one of which 
 ran as above indicated to Cercola, the other took 
 the direction of San Jorio, and almost reached that 
 village. The lava, running so far into the cultivated 
 region at the base of Vesuvius, caused a most deplor- 
 able destruction of property, and greatly terrified the 
 inhabitants of the district, who feared it would destroy 
 Portici, and perhaps reach even to the city of Naples. 
 
 Three years after, another eruption occurred ; and 
 it is the lava of 1858 which forms such a conspicuous 
 feature on the side of the mountain when the ascent 
 is made from Resina. This lava was emitted in 
 copious streams from new craters, which opened in 
 the Piano delle Grinestre, and flowed into the Fosse 
 Grande at the base of the Crocelle. 
 
 The last great flow of lava previous to that of the 
 present year occurred in 1861 ; but so low down on 
 the mountain-side did the mouth open from which 
 the stream poured, that it was not more than a mile 
 distant from Torre del Grreco. Besides the opening 
 from which the lava w^as emitted, ten other craters 
 were formed, which ejected great quantities of ashes. 
 Torre del Greco again suffered greatly from this erup- 
 tion, which caused the ground to be rent with fissures, 
 and threatened to at length completely destroy that 
 much-enduring city. 
 
24 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GEOLOGY OF VESUVIUS. 
 
 Bein'G now acquainted with the various eruptions 
 which have modified the form of the mountain, and 
 gradually brought it to its present state, we shall, I 
 think, have little difficulty in forming a tolerably 
 correct judgment of its structure and geological 
 formation. 
 
 We see that the entire mountain may be de- 
 scribed as being made up of three distinct parts, each 
 of a different age — the Grreat Cone, the ridge of 
 Monte Somma, and the great base on which these 
 stand. 
 
 It may be well, perhaps, to consider first the 
 newest portion of the mountain, the Great Cone, 
 and examine it by the light we have received from 
 the history of its formation ; and if we can obtain a 
 clear idea of its structure, we shall have a knowledge 
 of volcanic cones generally, since the cone of Vesuvius 
 is quite a typical one, and may therefore be studied 
 with great advantage. 
 
 This, perhaps, the most interesting part of the 
 mountain, is at the present time a nearly regular 
 cone, standing on a base about three miles in circmn- 
 ference, and having an elevation of about 1400 feet. 
 The regularity and completeness of outline whicli is 
 
GEOLOGY OF VESUVIUS. 25 
 
 now seen has been produced by the present eruption, 
 which has not only filled up the great crater, but on 
 the plain so formed has raised a new cone with only 
 a comparatively small crater. Thus at a short dis- 
 tance from the mountain little or no truncation is 
 perceived ; and the pleasing effect is produced of a 
 beautifully proportioned conical mountain standing 
 on an elevated base, and rising almost to a point. 
 
 The cone, being the result of successive accumu- 
 lations of lava, ashes, cinders, and lapilli, ejected 
 by a great number of eruptions, is composed of a 
 series of layers, or coats, formed of these materials, 
 and lying more or less parallel to the exterior slope, 
 and therefore all having a quaquaversal dip from a 
 central axis, which is the funnel, or neck, of tlie 
 volcano, and through which the lava and vajoours 
 rise from the interior of the earth. The great en- 
 largement of the crater in the year 1822 revealed 
 the inner edges of the beds composing the cone, and 
 the dij) of the lava was ascertained. It was then 
 found that these beds declined outwards, at angles 
 varying from 26° to 30". This, however, is not 
 so great as the inclination of the exterior of the 
 cone, which I found by careful measurement to be 
 40°. But we shall have no difficulty in accounting 
 for this greater inclination, when we remember that 
 the ashes and lapilli thrown out from the crater 
 will lie thicker near the summit, and so tend to 
 increase the inclination of the exterior surface. 
 
 As only a small proportion of the ejectamenta 
 
26 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 discharged perpendicularly falls outside the circum- 
 ference of the base of the cone, the beds in the Atrio 
 del Cavallo are almost entirely formed of lava, and 
 are there horizontal. 
 
 It was found when the examination above referred 
 to took place that the layers of lava were crossed 
 by vertical dykes of very compact basalt. These 
 had doubtless been formed by the filling up of the 
 channels through which the lava had at various 
 times risen to the surface. The effect of these dykes 
 or walls of basaltic rock will be to strengthen the 
 whole structure of the cone, and so to enable it to 
 withstand the rending and tearing force of the great 
 eruptions. 
 
 On looking at the section, Plate III., we shall per- 
 ceive how very simple and how very regular is the 
 structure of a volcanic cone. It must not, however, 
 be supposed that each layer or coat is carried round 
 the cone, as sometimes there would be a deposit on 
 one side and sometimes on another. The result, 
 nevertheless, would give, were a section of the cone 
 exposed, an appearance of regularity, as a layer ex- 
 tending only partially round the cone gradually 
 becomes attenuated, and blends with the edge of the 
 next which may be deposited on the contiguous 
 portion of the exterior surface. 
 
 The mouth of the central volcanic vent and axis 
 of the great cone, and to which the name of the 
 crater is given from its cup-like form, varies in size 
 and shape with almost every eruption. Sometimes 
 
GEOLOGY OF VESUVIUS. 27 
 
 it is a great yawning abyss of half a mile or more in 
 diameter, and upwards of a tliousand feet deep, as 
 after the eruption of 1822, and sometimes it is a 
 very small opening of not more than a hundred feet 
 wide, as at the present time. After a great and, to 
 to use Mr. Scrope's term, a paroxysmal eruption, the 
 crater is very large. Minor eruptions following 
 tend to fill up this great cup-shaped hollow by the 
 accumulation of the ashes, stones, and lava which are 
 given forth from the central vent. A cone is formed 
 in the middle of the great crater, and this gradually 
 becomes larger, until its apex is seen above the sur- 
 rounding rim ; thus the large crater is at last quite 
 filled up, and a cone rises above it with a small crater 
 at its apex. When this has occurred, the neck of the 
 volcano is almost choked up, and so it remains, re- 
 pressing as it were minor volcanic efforts, until the 
 internal forces overcome the resistance, another great 
 and paroxysmal eruption takes place, the whole of the 
 top of the mountain is blown away, Vesuvius clears 
 its throat, and we find again a vast and profound 
 abyss descending into the very heart of the mountain. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be proper here to refer to the 
 composition of the lavas of which the cone is to so 
 large an extent made up, and which are chemically, 
 mineralogically, and lithologically different from the 
 ancient lavas of Monte Somma. 
 
 The modern lavas of Yesuvius, or those which 
 have been emitted since the commencement of its 
 renewed activity in the year 79, are remarkable for 
 
 D 2 
 
28 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 containing very little free leucite, and for yielding 
 not more than six or seven species of minerals. 
 These modern lavas are basalts or dolerites, being 
 composed of augite and labradorite, with ferruginous 
 matter, blended together in a compact and homo- 
 geneous mass, and forming a hard dark-coloured rock. 
 It should, however, be noted that the lavas which 
 have flowed from the volcano in deep and copious 
 streams are very different in appearance from those 
 which have issued in small streams, the former being 
 much more compact than the latter, which, having 
 cooled more rapidly, under little pressure, and with 
 great exposure to the atmosphere, are very scori- 
 aceous and spongiform in texture, and have an 
 extremely harsh and trachytic feel. 
 
 Augite, titaniferous iron, hornblende, sodalite, 
 mica, breislakite, and leucite are sometimes found in 
 these lavas in detached crystals. Cotunnite was found 
 after the eruption of 1822 inside the crater, and was 
 also deposited in chinks in the lava of 1855 by sub- 
 limation. It is a chloride of lead, and contains 
 upwards of 74 per cent, of the metal. 
 
 Monte Somma, the second of the three great divi- 
 sions of the mountain, is, as has been previously 
 shown, the remaining portion of the enclosing wall 
 of the great and ancient crater which existed before 
 the Christian era. The western and southern sides 
 having been blown away, we find the ridge of Somma 
 forming a semicircle, with its inner side facing the 
 great cone on the north and east. 
 
GEOLOGY OF VESUVIUS. 29 
 
 It has been calculated that the centre of the 
 Lase of the modern cone is exactly coincident with 
 the centre of the circle of which the escarpment of 
 Somma forms a part. "\Ye thus see that the vent of 
 the modern Vesuvius was also that of the pre-historic 
 volcano, and that there has been no change in the 
 position of the axis, such as has been the case in 
 the island of Yulcano, off the coast of Sicily, where 
 there are three eccentric craters. 
 
 The escarpment of Somma, extending for a dis- 
 tance of upwards of two miles, is more than a 
 thousand feet high, and presents a face almost per- 
 pendicular. The upper edge is very irregular in 
 outline, and is in fact a line of peaks of more or less 
 angularity. 
 
 Unlike the great craters of the Campi Phlegra^i, 
 which are enclosed by cliffs of pumaceous tuff, the 
 ancient crater of Vesuvius was encircled by walls 
 formed of successive layers of lava, alternating with 
 beds of scoriaceous and tuffaceous deposits, and tra- 
 versed by dykes of basalt. The various layers of 
 lava appear to be horizontal ; but they are in reality 
 not so — the appearance of horizontality being derived 
 from the edges of the beds only being seen. These 
 beds dip away from the exposed section at an angle 
 of 26°, and so form the basis of the exterior slope 
 of this part of the mountain, which has an inclina- 
 tion of about 30°. 
 
 The dykes crossing these beds are generally nearly 
 perpendicular, though some may be seen rising at so 
 
30 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 low an angle as 45°. The basalt of which these dykes 
 are composed is very similar to that of the beds of 
 lava ; but, as far as I could ascertain, is more homo- 
 geneous in texture. 
 
 The lavas of Somma are very hard and compact 
 dolerites of a bluish grey colour, and contain, in 
 addition to the augite and Labrador feldspar which 
 form their essential constituents, the accessory mine- 
 ral leucite in great abundance. Leucite is a silicate 
 of alumina and potash, and is an opaque white 
 mineral with a specific gravity of 2 • 48 and 5 ' 5° of 
 hardness. It crystallizes in the cubical or mono- 
 metric system, and is often found here in detached 
 and perfect trapezohedrons half-an-inch and some- 
 times more in diameter. 
 
 It is a remarkable and a suggestive fact, that 
 although so few minerals have been found in the 
 modern lavas of Vesuvius, upwards of 300 species 
 have been enumerated as having been discovered in 
 the ancient lavas of Somma. It should, however, be 
 stated that the critical examination to which these 
 minerals have been subjected by Professor Scacchi, 
 of Naples, has resulted in reducing the number of 
 distinct species, in the opinion of that eminent 
 mineralogist, to about 40. The variety and abun- 
 dance of the minerals found associated with the rocks 
 of Somma, and their scarcity in the more recent 
 productions of the volcano, very distinctly separate 
 the ancient from the modern lavas. The minerals 
 of Somma being so numerous, it Avould be out of 
 
GEOLOGY OF VESUVIUS. 31 
 
 place here to particularize them, and I will there- 
 fore only mention the more common sj^ecies.* 
 
 Besides leiicite, angite, hornblende, sodalite, and 
 the other minerals found in the modern lavas, Somma 
 yields idocrase in beautiful crystals, olivine, hujnite, 
 nepheline, or sommite, garnets, apatite, aragonite, 
 and glassy feldspar. 
 
 Underlying the lavas and beds of scorise and 
 ashes of which the Grreat Cone and Somma are formed, 
 we find the volcanic tuff of which the whole of the 
 lower portion of the mountain is composed, and which 
 is almost identical in mineral composition and litholo- 
 gical character with those vast accumulations forming 
 the hills which lie around the city of Naples, as well 
 as the elevations lining the bay on its northern side, 
 extending from Naples to Misenum, and through 
 which the great grotto of Posilipo is excavated. Of 
 this tuff are also formed the encircling walls of the 
 craters of the many extinct volcanoes of this extra- 
 ordinary region ; and it is evidently the oldest 
 volcanic ejectamenta of the district. It has been 
 well described by Dr. Daubeny, who says : " The 
 basis of this tuff is for the most j)art of a straw- 
 yellow colour, dull and hard to the feel, with an 
 earthy fracture, and commonly a loose degree of con- 
 sistency. It seems to be made u]d of comminuted 
 portions of pumice, obsidian, trachyte, and many 
 other varieties of compact, as well as of cellular lava, 
 
 * A complete list will be found in the Appendix, p. 54. 
 
32 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 the softer kinds often rounded, the harder mostly 
 angular. It is regularly stratified, and alternates 
 with beds of loose uncemented pumice, of ferruginous 
 sand, of loam, and in one or two cases of calc-sinter, 
 in which fragments of limestone are impacted." 
 
 This tuff then forms the third, the oldest, and the 
 largest of the great divisions of Mount Yesuvius, and 
 can be seen as high up the mountain as the observa- 
 tory which stands upon it, the whole ridge of the 
 Crocelle being composed of this rock. It may also 
 be seen on the lower part of Somma ; but the western 
 and southern sides of Yesuvius being so much en- 
 crusted with lavas from various eruptions, it does 
 not appear on these, the most accessible parts of the 
 mountain. 
 
 There can be no doubt that this mass of tufa, 
 forming the great and spreading base of Yesuvius, 
 was originally thrown out from a volcanic vent ; and 
 perhaps I may go further, and say that before the 
 lava-formed ridge of Somma had any existence, it 
 enclosed a great crater like those of the Phlegreean 
 Fields. But into the vexed question, as to whether 
 craters such as these are craters of elevation or of 
 eruption, my limits will not permit me to enter. For, 
 though I have no hesitation in saying I am strongly 
 inclined to the opinion so ably advocated by Mr. 
 Scrope and Sir Charles Lyell, and disposed to regard 
 the raising of the great body of the mountain, as well 
 as of Somma and of the cone, as being due to erup- 
 tion, yet Professors Forbes and Daubeny, not to speak 
 
GEOLOGY OF VESUVIUS. 33 
 
 of foreign investigators, were such accurate observers 
 and careful reasoners, and their opinion in favour of 
 the elevatory theory consequently entitled to so much 
 respect, that, in order to discuss the question fairly, 
 the arguments on both sides must be very fully 
 stated. The recent researches of our distinguished 
 countrymen. Professors Phillips and Tyndall, will 
 doubtless result in giving to us new and valuable 
 data for the future discussion of this interesting 
 question. 
 
 There cannot be, however, much doubt that by 
 whichever way the lower portion of the mountain 
 was raised, the tuff composing it was, in part at 
 least, deposited under water; for, besides the fossil 
 leaves which have been found, several genera of 
 recent and tertiary marine mollusca have been taken 
 from either this or the similar tuff of the neighbour- 
 ing district. Ostrea, Peden, and Cardium were found, 
 according to Monticelli, in the tuff of Pozzuoli; Ostrea 
 and Pectunculus are mentioned by Professor Pilla as 
 having been taken from the similar rock at the castle 
 of St. Elmo, Naples ; and the tuff forming the pro- 
 montory of Posilippo has yielded the genera Ostrea^ 
 Cardium f Patella, and Buccinum. 
 
 The whole mountain reposes on the fundamental 
 rock of the district, the Apennine Limestone, which, 
 since it contains Hipjmrites, may be considered to be 
 of cretaceous age, and the probable equivalent of the 
 chalk of the British Islands. 
 
34 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 CHAPTER ly. 
 
 ASCENT OF VESUVIUS AND ERUPTION OF 1868. 
 
 Having considered Vesuvius geographically, histori- 
 cally, and geologically, let us now ascend the moun- 
 tain and observe the appearances presented during 
 the continuance of the present eruption.* 
 
 The ascent of Vesuvius is usually made from 
 Resina, one of the towns near the shore of the bay, 
 and about four miles from Naples. This town, built 
 over the ancient city of Herculaneum, is on the great 
 southern road from Naples, and has Portici with its 
 royal palace on one side, and Torre del G-reco, which 
 has so repeatedly suffered from eruptions, on the 
 other. The places I have named are rather parts of 
 one long and populous town, and this again is con- 
 nected with the city of Naples by continuous lines of 
 houses and other buildings, forming a suburb of great 
 size. The road, therefore, from Naples to the base of 
 the mountain is lined with houses the whole distance, 
 and is an exceedingly busy and noisy thoroughfare, 
 abounding with scenes and objects calculated to arrest 
 the attention of the lover of the picturesque, as well 
 as of the student of national characteristics. 
 
 * During the continuance of the recent eruption a series of very inter- 
 esting letters, giving a detailed account of the outbreak and of the changes 
 which occurred from time to time in the phenomena observed, ajjpeared in 
 the pages of the ' Athen.-eum.' 
 
ASCENT OF VESUVIUS, 35 
 
 As we ascend from the towns at the base and get 
 clear of the houses, we find the sides of the mountain 
 covered with vineyards and gardens in which the 
 choicest fruit is grown. Indeed, the wine produced 
 by these vineyards on the flanks of Vesuvius is famous 
 for its quahty, and so much is it esteemed by the 
 Italians, that it has obtained the name of ^^Lachryma 
 Ckristi.'' The soil here is remarkably fertile, and is 
 cultivated very highly. This great fertility is due 
 to the feldspathic matter which it contains, and which 
 has been derived from the decomposition of the 
 underlying lava. The belt of cultivated land is about 
 two miles broad, and this being passed, we reach the 
 lava of 1858, and in a little time are in the Fosse 
 Grrande. 
 
 Here the scene which presents itself is in most 
 striking contrast to that which gladdened the eye 
 at the commencement of the ascent. In place of 
 beautiful gardens in which the orange, the lemon, 
 the almond, the fig, and the vine flourish in per- 
 fection, and in which roses and camellias bloom in 
 profusion, we have around us a black sterile waste, 
 covered with huge folds, waves, and unshapely masses 
 of rough lava. 
 
 It is difiicult to convey to those who have not 
 seen a volcano a clear idea of the extraordinary 
 aspect of the part of the mountain covered by the 
 lavas of the last twenty years ; but it may, perhaps, 
 be imagined, if we can suppose a stormy sea of 
 boiling pitch to have been suddenly cooled so as to 
 
36 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 retain, in a solid form, all the roughness, angularity, 
 and irregularity which the surface had while liquid. 
 In some places the lava has assumed the appearance 
 of great coils of thick black ropes, in others sharp 
 and rugged ridges rise, while in others again huge 
 blisters cover the surface. This region of desolation 
 is about a mile in breadth, and extends around the 
 mountain at the base of the Great Cone and Monte 
 Somma, which rise from it. 
 
 The path now ascends the Crocelle, on the summit 
 of which stands the hermitage of S. Salvatore, where 
 travellers may obtain rest and refreshment, and 
 where there is a well of good water. The streams of 
 lava which have at various times descended the part 
 of the mountain near the Crocelle, have flowed at one 
 side or other of this ridge, and so its summit has 
 hitherto afforded a safe position for a habitation, 
 while all around has been covered with a sea of 
 liquid fire. Attached to the hermitage there is a 
 sanctuary, with an altar and the shrine of the saint, 
 whose remains lie beneath. 
 
 On account of the commanding position of this 
 ridge, and its comparative immunity from danger, it 
 has been selected as the site of an Observatory, built 
 by the King of Naples, for the purpose of facilitating 
 the observation and study of volcanic and earthquake 
 phenomena. In this Observatory there is a collection 
 of the minerals found around Vesuvius, which is 
 shown to visitors by the intelligent and obliging 
 custodian of the establishment. The Observatory is 
 
ASCENT OF VESUVIUS. 37 
 
 under the direction of Professor Palmiri, who has 
 devoted great attention to Yesuvian phenomena. 
 
 I would strongly advise all who intend paying a 
 visit to Vesuvius to at least ascend to the observatory, 
 as it may be reached without difficulty, and the view 
 which it commands gives a better idea of the whole 
 mountain than can be obtained at, perhaps, any other 
 point. 
 
 It is on that part of the mountain which lies 
 under the eye of the observer while standing on the 
 Crocelle and looking southwards that, during the 
 present eruption, the streams of liquid lava may be 
 found. At a little distance from these streams, in the 
 daytime, no redness will be perceived ; but the position 
 of the hot lava is marked by the white fumes which 
 rise from its surface. The atmosphere over a large 
 extent may be seen glowing with heat ; for the whole 
 of this part of the mountain is covered with lava, 
 which, though solidified, is still hot. 
 
 The lava of the present eruption has chiefly flowed 
 from the summit of the Grreat Cone, and spread over 
 the region at its base ; but at the period of my visit, 
 in the early part of March, there was no lava visible 
 on the slope of the cone, as a crust had hardened 
 round the stream, and so formed a tube through 
 which the lava descended. On reaching the base of 
 the cone, the fluid lava broke through the crust in 
 many places, and was emitted in a great number 
 of small streams. These streams rise from amongst 
 the masses of hardened lava quite noiselessly, and 
 
38 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 flow slowly away towards the lower slopes. The 
 lava, however, is of such great consistence, and cools 
 so rapidly, that these small streams do not flow more 
 than a hundred yards before they lose their fluidity, 
 and break up, at a dull red heat, into cindery masses, 
 which fall over the end of the ridge formed by the 
 stream and roll down, becoming, on further cooling, 
 of a dark-brown colour and vesicular and scoriaceous 
 texture. 
 
 I have mentioned a ridge as being formed by the 
 stream, and this is strictly correct ; for although for 
 a short distance from the source the lava cuts for 
 itself a channel, yet by giving off those portions 
 which, having come first into contact with the atmo- 
 sphere, have cooled and solidified, it soon piles up a 
 ridge, on the top of which it flows slowly along. 
 This ridge, being nearly level, becomes as it lengthens 
 higher and higher above the surrounding surface ; 
 and so at its termination it has a considerable ele- 
 vation, and resembles very much the end of a railway 
 embankment in process of formation. The solidified 
 lava, on being pushed by the stream behind it to the 
 end of this ridge, falls over, and so adds to its length. 
 The rate at which the lava was flowing I found to be 
 about 300 yards per hour, and the consistence so 
 great that small stones thrown on to it would not 
 make any impression or remain on its surface, and a 
 considerable amount of force has to be used to detach 
 a portion of the mass by means of a stick. Though 
 the heat given off is very great, yet the stream may 
 
ASCENT OF VESUVIUS. 39 
 
 be approached quite closely and impressions of coins, 
 &c., taken from it. Medallion portraits of Victor 
 Emanuel and Graribaldi are produced, by means of 
 moulds attached to long handles. 
 
 The neighbourhood of the hot lava is exceedingly 
 rough and difficult to traverse, being covered with 
 very sharp and variously-sized masses of partially- 
 cooled lava, which scorch the boots and render very 
 careful walking necessary. 
 
 At the commencement of the eruption, and again 
 quite lately,* a magnificent stream of lava flowed 
 down the exterior of the cone ; and descending in a 
 fiery cascade, and then dividing into two branches, it 
 produced a very grand effect, especially when seen 
 at night. Besides the lava which has been flowing 
 during the last three months on the north side of 
 the cone, a stream descended the opposite side of the 
 mountain, and ran towards the woods attached to 
 the casino of the Prince of Ottaiano. This stream 
 has, however, only flowed occasionally, and not con- 
 tinuously like that on the north side. 
 
 From the Observatory the path continues along 
 the ridge of the Crocelle, and then descends a little, 
 after which it gently rises to the level of the Atrio del 
 Cavallo, into which we now enter, having the steep 
 and rugged sides of the great cone on our right hand, 
 and the still more steep and rugged cliffs of Somma" 
 on our left. The scene is here desolate in the ex- 
 treme. On either side and in front we see only the 
 
 * April, 1868. 
 
40 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 dark and sterile surface of lava, entirely without ver- 
 dure or vegetation of any kind, while we are hemmed 
 in by vast and sombre walls forming a valley, fully 
 justifying the name Yal del Inferno given to a por- 
 tion of this gloomy solitude. 
 
 We now commence the ascent of the cone, which 
 is most difficult and laborious, for although the incli- 
 nation is not more than 40°, the looseness of the very 
 rough and angular masses covering the surface, and 
 the consequent uncertainty of the footing, cause great 
 fatigue. The assistance and encouraging exhorta- 
 tions of the guides, with constant effort on our part, 
 enable us at length to reach the terrace at the summit 
 of the old and the base of the new cone. We are 
 here greatly excited by the proximity of the mouth 
 of the volcano and by the deeply-interesting pheno- 
 mena now seen ; and spite of the warnings of the 
 guides, we press on to ascend the new cone and gain 
 the edge of the crater. This new cone is about 
 200 feet high, and has a comparatively smooth sur- 
 face, with an inclination of about 30°. 
 
 The present small crater is oval in shape, with the 
 northern lip much depressed ; but its entire outline 
 cannot be seen owing to the dense clouds of vapours 
 which conceal the side towards which the wind 
 may happen to blow. Besides the principal crater 
 there is a smaller one on the side of the new cone, 
 and a still smaller one on the terrace at the summit 
 of the great cone. From these craters arise volumes 
 of vapours charged with sulphurous fumes, and from 
 
ASCENT OF VESUVIUS. 41 
 
 the principal one stones and cinders of most irregular 
 and various shapes are discharged with loud noises 
 almost every minute. The stones and cinders rise to 
 a great height, and if there he not much wind the 
 greater number fall back again into the crater. The 
 wind, however, usually carries a considerable joro- 
 portion of the ejectamenta in its direction, and this 
 falls on to the cone and so increases its bulk. Some 
 of the stones, and these too of large size, fall at a 
 considerable distance from and on the windward side 
 of the crater ; it is therefore scarcely safe to be near 
 the crater, even when the side from which the wind 
 may be blowing is chosen. 
 
 Great quantities of vaj^ours rise from the sides of 
 the new cone, especially near the top, and these fumes 
 depositing sulphur and various salts, cover the surface 
 with variously and beautifully-coloured incrustations. 
 
 On gaining the edge of the crater, and looking 
 into its interior, a very curious and interesting scene 
 is presented. Rolling clouds of dense white fumes 
 are to be seen covering the whole of the bottom, and 
 almost hiding the sides, while from the more distant 
 part of the abyss the cinders and stones before men- 
 tioned are discharged. No flame or fluid lava was 
 to be seen in these craters, but on looking down the 
 smallest one the fumes were found to be illuminated, 
 doubtless by the red-hot lava below. 
 
 The most interesting scene witnessed during the 
 ascent is perhaps that seen from the top of the old cone, 
 since at this point we are near to the crater, and we 
 
 E 
 
42 MOUNT VESUVIUS. 
 
 see the various volcanic phenomena with great dis- 
 tinctness, while we are startled hy the loud noises pro- 
 duced in the interior of the mountain, and feel the 
 tremor of the ground which the explosions occasion. 
 
 But the warnings of the guides must not be too 
 much disregarded, and we prepare to leave the sum- 
 mit, though most reluctantly, for we cannot fail to 
 experience the attractive power of the novelty and 
 sublimity of the wondrous scene. 
 
 I cannot conclude this notice of Mount Vesuvius 
 without a reference to the views to be obtained from 
 its summit and its slopes. For the eye ranges over 
 an expanse of sea and land which, for variety and 
 picturesque outline of its general features, and for 
 brightness and richness of colouring, is perhaps 
 unsurpassed. The elegant curve of the shore line, 
 extending from the promontory of Misenum to the 
 base of the rugged heights above Sorrento, separates 
 the blue waters of the Mediterranean from the vine- 
 covered plain of the Campania. On our right the 
 noble city of the Siren, with its long white arms, 
 embraces as it were its own lovely bay, while the 
 rocky isles of Iscliia, Procida, and Capri stud the 
 azure surface of the sea. On our left, and at our feet, 
 lie the ruins of once rich and populous cities, which, 
 with the other remains of ancient greatness with 
 which the classic land of Italy abounds, give an addi- 
 tional charm to this most interesting, most remark- 
 able, and singularly beautifid portion of the surface 
 of our globe. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 B 2 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 LETTEKS OF PLINY THE YOUNGEE, 
 
 COKTATNING AX AcCOUST OF THE ERUPTION OF A.D, 79. FeOM ' ThE 
 
 Letters of Pliny the Younger.' Bt John Eaul of Orrery. 
 
 Plinius C-aECiLiirs Secundus (Caius) io Cornelius Tacitus, 
 (Book Vr., Epistle XVI.) 
 
 You are desirous that I should giye you an account of the death 
 of my uncle, that you may be enabled to transmit it to posterity 
 with the greater truth. I return you thanks. I foresee that 
 his death when celebrated by you must procure eternal honour 
 to his name ; for although his fall was attended by the destruc- 
 tion of most beautiful territories, seeming, as it were, destined 
 to be remembered equally with those nations and cities who 
 perish by some memorable event; although he had compiled 
 works both numerous and lasting, yet the immortality of your 
 writings will lengthen out the character which he has estabhshed 
 to himself. I consider it as a blessing to be possessed of endow- 
 ments which either qualify us for actions worthy of public record, 
 or inspire us to write anything worthy of public attention. But 
 I think those persons peculiarly favoured from heaven who obtain 
 both these qualifications. My uncle by his own works and by 
 yours may be numbered among these last, for which reason I 
 more readily undertake, and even wish for, the employment that 
 you enjoin. 
 
 He was at Misenum, where he had the command of a fleet 
 which was stationed there. On the ninth of the calends of Sep- 
 
46 APPENDIX. 
 
 tember, about the seventli hour, my mother informed him that a 
 cloud appeared of unusual size and shape. After having reposed 
 himself in the sun, and used the cold bath — he had tasted a slight 
 repast, and was returned to his studies — he immediately called 
 for his sandals, and repaired to a higher point of view, from 
 whence he might more plainly discern this prodigy. The cloud 
 (the spectators could not distinguish at a distance from what 
 mountain it arose, but it was afterwards found to be Yesuvius) 
 advanced in height ; nor can I give you a more just representa- 
 tion of it than the form of a pine-tree, for springing uj) in a 
 direct line, like a tall trunk, the branches were widely distended. 
 I believe, while the vapour was fresh, it more easily ascended ; 
 but when that vapour was wasted the cloud became loose, or, 
 perhaps oppressed by its own gravity, dilated itself into a 
 greater breadth. It sometimes appeared bright, and sometimes 
 black, or spotted, according to the quantities of earth and ashes 
 mixed with it. This was a surj)rising circumstance, and it de- 
 served, in the oi)inion of that learned man, to be inquired into 
 more exactly. He commanded a Lihumian galley to be pre- 
 pared for him, and made me an offer of accompanying him if I 
 pleased. I rei^lied it was more agreeable to me to pursue my 
 studies ; and, as it happened, he had allotted me something at 
 that time to write. He went out of the house with his tablets 
 in his hand. The mariners at Ketina being under consternation 
 at the approaching danger (for that village was situated under 
 the mountain, nor were there any means of escaping but by sea), 
 entreated him not to venture upon so hazardous an enterprise. 
 He continued firm to his resolution, and performed, with great 
 fortitude of mind, what he had at first undertaken from a thii-st 
 of knowledge. 
 
 He commanded the galleys to put off from land, and em- 
 barked with a design not only to relieve the people of Eetinae 
 but many others in distress, as the shore was interspersed with 
 a variety of pleasant villages. He sailed immediately to places 
 which were abandoned by other people, and boldly held his 
 course in the face of danger, so couqiosed as to remark distinctly 
 
ArPENDIX. 47 
 
 the appearance and progress of this dreadful calamity and to 
 digest and dictate those remarks. 
 
 He now found that the ashes beat into the ships much 
 hotter and in greater quantities ; and as he drew nearer, pumice- 
 stones, with black flints, bm-nt and torn up by the flames, broke 
 in upon them. And now the hasty ebb of the sea, and ruins 
 tumbling from the mountain, hindered their nearer approach to 
 the shore. Pausing a little upon this, whether he should not 
 return back, and instigated to it by the pilot, he cries out, 
 " Fortune assists the brave : let us make the best of our tvay to 
 PoMPONiANUS," who was then at Stabiae, and lay opposite to a 
 bay into which the sea, creeping gently along that winding 
 coast, insinuates itseK. Pomponianus, although not in imme- 
 diate peril, yet seeing it plainly and finding it approaching 
 fast, was putting his baggage on board some vessels, with a 
 design of making his escape by sea whenever the contrary wind 
 should abate. My uncle, arriving with a fair wind at this place, 
 embraced, comforted, and encouraged his trembhng friend ; and 
 to efiect this, seemed himself to be under no kind of apprehen- 
 sion, but ordering his servants to carry bun to the bath, when 
 he had bathed, went to supper, either with a real cheerfulness, 
 or, what is equally the sign of a great mind, the appearance 
 of it. 
 
 In the meantime flames issued from various parts of Mount 
 Vesuvius, and spreading wide and towering to a great height, 
 made a vast blaze, the glare and horror of which were still 
 increased by the gloominess of the night. 
 
 My uncle, to move the general fear, said that the blaze was 
 occasioned by the villages being on fire which were now deserted 
 by the country people. Then retiring to take his rest, he 
 enjoyed a sound sleep ; for being of a gross and corpulent habit 
 of body, he was heard to snore by those who waited upon him. 
 The com't beyond which was his apartment by this time was 
 so filled with cinders and pumice-stones that had he continued 
 any longer in his room his passage from it would have been 
 stopped up. Being awakened therefore, he quitted his chamber 
 
48 APPENDIX. 
 
 and returned to Pomponianus and the rest, whose fears had 
 hindered them from sleeping, and who had been upon the watch. 
 They consulted together whether it would be more advisable to 
 keep under the shelter of that roof or retire into the fields ; for 
 the house tottered to and fro, as if it had been shaken from the 
 foundation, by the frequent earthquakes. On the other hand, 
 they dreaded the stones, which, by being burnt into cinders, 
 although they fell with no great weight, yet fell in large quan- 
 tities. But after considering the different hazards which they 
 run, the advice of going out prevailed. In others, one kind of 
 fear conquered another ; in my uncle, one prudential reason only 
 succeeded to another. 
 
 They covered their heads with pillows bound with napkins : 
 this was their only defence against the shower of stones. And 
 now, when it was day everywhere else, they were surrounded 
 with darkness blacker and more dismal than night, which how- 
 ever was sometimes dispersed by several flashes and eruptions 
 from the mountain. They agreed to go farther in upon th(3 
 shore, and to look out from the neighbouring land if they might 
 venture to sea ; but the sea continued raging and tempestuous. 
 Then my uncle, laying himself down upon a cloth spread on the 
 ground, called twice for some water, and drank it ; but the flames 
 and a stench of sulphm- which preceded them obliged others to 
 immediate flight and roused him. He raised himself upon his 
 feet, supported by two servants ; but his respnation beiug 
 stopped, he immediately dropped down, stifled, as I imagine, by 
 the sulphur and grossness of the air. His lungs, as he was 
 narrow chested, were natm-ally weak and subject to inflam- 
 mations. "When the light returned, which was not till the third 
 day after his death, his body was discovered, untouched by the 
 fire, without any visible hurt, in the dress in which he fell, 
 appearing rather hke a person sleeping than like one who was 
 dead. 
 
 My mother and I still continued at Misenum. But this has 
 no relation to the history, nor did you desire any particulais 
 except those of my uncle's death. I shall therefore finish my 
 
APPENDIX. 49 
 
 letter, adding only that I have sent you all the circumstances 
 which I either saw myself or were communicated to me at a time 
 when the truth of every single incident could be easily recol- 
 lected. From hence you will select such passages as you shall 
 think proper ; for it is one thing to write a letter, another to 
 compile a history: nor is the diflference less between writing 
 to a friend in particular than to the world in general. FareweJl. 
 
 Plinius C^ciLrcrs Secundus (CAros) to Cornelius Tacitus. 
 (Book VI., Epistle XX.) 
 
 You tell me that my former letter, which at your own desire I 
 wrote to you concerning my uncle's death, has tempted you to 
 inquire not only into the terrors, but the distress I suffered 
 while I was left at Misenum, for with that particular my letter 
 concluded. 
 
 " I will restrain my tears, and briefly tell." When my uncle 
 was gone from us I employed my time (having stayed behind 
 for that pm-pose) at my studies. I bathed, went to supper, and 
 had a very imperfect and restless sleep. We had for several pre- 
 ceding days together felt an earthquake, which, being common 
 in Caiujjania, did not much alarm us ; but the shocks were so 
 violent this particular night that all things around us were not 
 only moved, but seemed upon the brink of destruction. My 
 mother hastened into my bed-chamber, at the moment of time 
 when I was rising with an intention to awaken her if I had found 
 her sleeping. We retired into a httle court which lay between 
 the house and the sea. I am in doubt whether my conduct 
 ought to be called fortitude or thoughtlessness upon this occa- 
 sion, for I was then but eighteen years of age. I called for a 
 " Livy," and read it as if I had been quite at ease ; and, in the 
 manner I had begun, went so far as to select passages from that 
 author. 
 
50 APPENDIX. 
 
 A friend of my uncle's, who was lately come from Sj^ain on 
 purpose to see him, finding my mother and me sitting thus 
 together, and taking notice that I was reading, reproved the 
 patience of her temper and the indifference of mine. However, 
 I still continued intent upon my book. It was now six o'clock 
 in the morning, yet there was but a faint and glimmering light. 
 The house shook violently; and though we were in an open 
 court, yet, as it was very narrow and built almost all round, we 
 were certainly in great danger. We then thought it expedient 
 to leave the town : the people, distracted with fears, followed us, 
 and (such is the nature of fear which embraces, as most pru- 
 dential, any other dictate in preference to its own) they pressed 
 upon us and drove us forward. When we were out of reach of the 
 buildings we stopped ; our astonishment was great, nor were our 
 apprehensions less, for the carriages which we had ordered out of 
 the town were so violently shaken from side to side, although 
 upon plain ground, that they could not be kept in their places 
 even when propped by heavy stones. The sea, too, seemed to 
 be forced back upon itself, repelled as it were by the strong con- 
 cussions of the earth. It is certain that the shore was greatly 
 widened, and many sea-animals were left upon the strand. 
 
 On the land side a dark and horrible cloud, charged with 
 combustible matter, suddenly broke and shot forth a long trail 
 of fire, in the nature of lightning, but in larger flashes. Then 
 my uncle's friend, the same who came out of Spain, said to us, 
 with great vehemence and eagerness, " If your brother and yom* 
 uncle be still living, his wishes are employed for your safety. If 
 he has lost his hfe, he was desirous yours might be saved. Why 
 then will you not immediately leave this jDlace ?" We answered 
 that we were not so sohcitous for our own as for my uncle's 
 preservation. He then hastily withdrew, running with the 
 utmost expedition from danger. Not long after, the cloud 
 descending covered the whole bay, and we could no longer see 
 the island of Caprea or the promontory of Misenum. My 
 mother now began to beseech, advise, and command me to make 
 my escape in any manner I could. She observed that as I was 
 
APPENDIX. 51 
 
 young I might easily take my flight ; but that she, who was in 
 years and less active, could patiently resign herself to death, 
 in case she was not the occasion of my destruction. My answer 
 was, "I will never attempt at safety if we are not together." 
 And then, leading her by the hand, I assisted her to go faster ; 
 she yielded with regret, still angry at herself for delaying me. 
 
 The ashes now fell upon us ; however, in no great quantities. 
 I looked back. A thick dark vapour just behind us rolled along 
 the ground like a torrent, and followed us. I then said, " Let us 
 turn out of this road, whilst we can see our way, lest the people 
 who crowd after us trample us to death." We had scarce con- 
 sidered what was to be done, when we were surrounded with 
 darkness, not like the darkness of a cloudy night or when the 
 moon disappears, but such as is in a close room when all light 
 is excluded. You might then have heard the shrieks of women, 
 the moans of infants, and the outcries of men. Some were 
 calling for their parents, some for their children, some for their 
 wives : their voices only made them known to each other. Some 
 bewailed their own fate; others the fate of theu" relations. 
 There were some who, even from a fear of death, prayed to 
 die. Many paid their adorations to the gods ; but the greater 
 number were of opinion that the gods no longer existed, 
 and that this night was the final and eternal period of the 
 world. There were others who magnified the real dangers by 
 imaginary and false terrors. Some afiii'med that Misenum 
 was burnt to the ground. The report, although not true, 
 gained credit. 
 
 A httle gleam of hght now appeared. It was not daylight, 
 but a forewarning of the approach of some fiery vapour — which, 
 however, discharged itself at a distance from us. Darkness 
 immediately succeeded. Then ashes poured down upon us in 
 large quantities, and heavy, which obhged us frequently to rise 
 and brush them off, otherwise we had been smothered or pressed 
 to death by their weight. 
 
 I might boast that not one sigh or timorous word broke from 
 me through all this distress, had I not fortified myself vnth one 
 
52 APPENDIX. 
 
 great consolation — a miserable one indeed — that all nature was 
 perishing with me. 
 
 At last this darkness, which now was drawn into the thinness 
 of a cloud or of smoke, went off; true day appeared. The sun 
 shone forth, but pale, as at the time of an ecUpse. All objects 
 that offered themselves to our sight (which was yet so weak that 
 we could scarce bear the return of hght) were changed, and 
 covered with ashes as thick as snow. At our retm-n to Misenum, 
 after having refreshed ourselves, we remained in that suspense 
 and doubt of mind which hope and fear inspire ; fear indeed was 
 most prevalent ; for the earthquake still continued, and several 
 enthusiasts, by dreadful prophecies, increased their own fears 
 and the fears of others. But although we had undergone many 
 dangers, and dreaded still more, yet we could not be persuaded to 
 quit the town till we had received some intelligence concerning 
 my uncle. 
 
 You will read this account without any intention of making 
 it a part of your history, of which it is by no means worthy ; 
 and you must blame yourself for requiring it from me, if you 
 think it not worthy of a letter. Farewell. 
 
 ERUPTIONS OF VESUVIUS. 
 
 From the renewal of the activity of Vesuvius, a.d. 79, to the 
 present time, sixty-six eruptions have been recorded, of which 
 fifty-three were of an ordinary character, the remaining thirteen 
 being consideral by Mr. Scrope to have been great or paroxysmal 
 eruptions. The eruption which excavated the great crater of the 
 ancient mountain, and which occurred in prehistoric times, must 
 also have beeji paroxysmal and of terrific force and violence, as 
 well as, very probably, of long dm'ation. 
 
 The following Table gives the dates of the various historic 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 53 
 
 eruptions of the volcano, asterisks indicating the years in which 
 paroxysmal emptions took place. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 
 A.D. 
 
 
 *79. 
 
 Pompeii, Herculaneiim, and 
 
 1770. 
 
 
 
 Stabia destroyed. 
 
 1776. 
 
 September 22. 
 
 *203. 
 
 
 1779. 
 
 August 3, peri^endicular 
 
 *472. 
 
 
 
 column of lava. 
 
 *512. 
 
 
 1783. 
 
 August 18. 
 
 *685. 
 
 
 1784. 
 
 October 12 and December. 
 
 983. 
 
 
 1786. 
 
 October 31. 
 
 *993. 
 
 
 1787. 
 
 December 21. 
 
 *1036. 
 
 First recorded fluid lava. 
 
 1788. 
 
 July 19. 
 
 1049. 
 
 
 1789. 
 
 September 6. 
 
 *1138 
 
 or 9. 6 Kal. Jau. 
 
 *1794. 
 
 June 15, great flow of lava, 
 
 *1306. 
 
 
 
 Torre del Greco suftered 
 
 1500. 
 
 
 
 great injury. 
 
 *1631. 
 
 Great flow of lava— 18,000 
 
 1799. 
 
 February. 
 
 
 persons i:)erished. 
 
 1804. 
 
 August 12 and November 22. 
 
 1660. 
 
 
 1805. 
 
 July. 
 
 1676. 
 
 Perpendicular column of lava. 
 
 1806. 
 
 May. 
 
 1682. 
 
 
 1809. 
 
 December 10. 
 
 1694. 
 
 March 12, with feeble re- 
 
 1811. 
 
 October 12. 
 
 
 currences till 1698. 
 
 1811. 
 
 December 31. 
 
 1698. 
 
 
 1813. 
 
 May to December. 
 
 1701. 
 
 
 1817. 
 
 December 22 to 26. 
 
 1707. 
 
 May 20, with feeble recur- 
 
 1818. 
 
 
 
 rences till August. 
 
 1819. 
 
 April 17. 
 
 1712. 
 
 February 18, eruption con- 
 
 1819. 
 
 November 25. 
 
 
 tinued till following year. 
 
 1820. 
 
 
 1717. 
 
 June 6, continued as before. 
 
 *1822. 
 
 800 feet of the cone blown 
 
 1720. 
 
 Eruption of ashes without 
 
 
 away ; great discharge of 
 
 
 lava. 
 
 
 ash and vapour. 
 
 1727. 
 
 July 26. 
 
 1828. 
 
 
 1730. 
 
 February 27. 
 
 1831. 
 
 August 18. 
 
 1737. 
 
 May 14, great flow of lava. 
 
 1834. 
 
 August. 
 
 1751. 
 
 October 25. 
 
 1838. 
 
 Minor eruptions of scoria. 
 
 1754. 
 
 December 2. 
 
 1845. 
 
 Ditto. 
 
 1758. 
 
 
 1850. 
 
 
 *1760. 
 
 December 23, new crater on 
 
 1854. 
 
 
 
 mountain side opene<l. 
 
 1855. 
 
 Lava very fluid. 
 
 1766. 
 
 March 25. 
 
 1861. 
 
 
 1767. 
 
 October 23. 
 
 1868. 
 
 
54 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 fH Q 
 
 r^ 
 
 CO 
 
 o 
 
 fi 
 
 H 
 m 
 
 f« 
 
 o 
 
 -) 
 
 W 
 
 1-1 
 
 H 
 
 <i 
 
 
 w 
 
 fe 
 
 F^ 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 nr 
 
 w 
 
 N 
 
 Pi 
 
 S 
 
 QQ 
 
 <5 
 
 H 
 
 <^ 
 
 m 
 
 H 
 
 o 
 
 W 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 
 Z 02 
 
 
 
 -< 03 
 
 
 W 
 
 
 02 fe 
 
 
 P O 
 
 
 g£ 
 
 P 
 
 QQ 
 
 !h 
 
 H kH 
 
 g 
 
 b> « 
 
 Zl 
 
 < 
 
 la 
 O 
 
 .2 -3 
 S-2'o- 
 
 o "S ^ "S 
 
 2 .s 
 
 -3 a 
 
 g g 
 
 rid 
 O 
 
 .2-g.2-g^.3^ 
 
 ,1^ 
 
 >H -S fH -3 ^ -r, fl 
 
 a 
 
 0^ S <D y a O O 
 
 
 H g S 
 
 Nj-lS 
 
 "a; -2 P ns 
 
 Nl' 
 
 
 
 © CD 
 
 
 .^5^ 
 
 ^. -ri 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 55 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 g £ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r; ^ 
 
 
 T3 ^3 
 
 
 d . d . .J 
 
 J2 <^ ^ -^ 
 
 .2 
 
 
 . Ill 
 
 o 
 
 So a 
 
 d 
 
 metri 
 
 clinic 
 
 trie. 
 
 metri 
 
 clinic 
 
 clinit 
 
 trie. 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 - -Co 
 
 - g 
 
 
 o o o o c c o 
 
 CQQ aP-( 
 
 
 c 
 
 Eho 
 Mon 
 Dim 
 
 O fl O 
 
 
 s s s fl a s a 
 o o.S o O 0.5 
 
 ■S^ = ^ 
 H S 
 
 P 
 
 g 
 
 
 «fiPH 
 
 ^ 
 H 
 
 + 
 
 + 
 
 CO ■^Tjiw.minm'm 
 
 %^ 
 
 
 
 S ^ i5o 
 
 a s S ^ 
 
 ~, S o » 55^ 
 
 ^ SSisi 
 
 t, 3 .^ .T; ID o 
 
 >-, ,5 O CO -w -w -1-5 
 
 h-l h-i M 
 
 S C: 
 
 a bc.2 =; 
 
 CS ct Cj O 
 
 
 .2 .s.=pir £ s 
 
 
 O Hh 
 
 P5^ 
 
 .9-3 gi5_2 
 
 
 2 ^ S = S S 
 
 p o 2 tc g : g 
 
 02 X P- 3C 
 
 " a : : 
 
 l> 9 
 
 OQ a2 
 
 fa 
 
 "Kg 
 
LONDON : 
 PRINTED BY EDWARD STANFORD, fi & 7, CHARING CROSS, S.W. 
 
^r^i - ^o^H