MOUNT VESUVIUS.

A VOLCANO is the name given to a burning mountain, of which there are many in different parts of the world, although none in our own country. The number is considerably more than one hundred, which are well known by travellers. Vesuvius is one of the most striking and remarkable of all, because its eruptions have been exceedingly violent at various times within the period of history, and even of the memory of man. This mountain, indeed, is seldom altogether free from smoke or fire.

The eruption of a volcano is, perhaps, the most magnificent and dreadful sight that can be witnessed in the works of God. No description can give a correct idea of it; although the many exact accounts we have may enable us to imagine something of the scene presented. A vast mountain throws forth immense columns and clouds of smoke, then displays the appearance of a vast conflagration, flaming into the sky, like a huge river of living fire, casting up amazing blocks of stone, and showers of ashes, covering the country round for many miles. In the midst of this dreadful burning there flow from the mouth of the opening enormous streams of a liquid called lava, which is nothing less than melted rock, of more than the heat of boiling water; and this flows over all the sides of the mountain into the valleys below, scorching and destroying all the vegetation, and overwhelming vineyards, villages, and cities, in its course. As soon as this has become cool it forms one of the hardest substances we know, much harder than common stone, and somewhat like granite. An idea may thus be gathered of the intensity of the heat beneath, which could melt such a substance, and pour it forth in a liquid state like the stream of a river. In addition to this, large masses of rock are hurled into the air to a distance of some thousand feet, and many of them appear like globes of fire, of a red or a white heat. The enormous power exerted to raise up these stones is beyond all the calculation of man. Such vast pieces of lava are to be seen on the top of Vesuvius and Lipari, that the force by which they have

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been thrown out appears scarcely to be believed. No person can suppose that they were laid there by any human means, and the appearance of them proves that they have been cast up from the bottom of the volcano. A piece of lava lies at the top of Etna of more than a cubic fathom in size, whose weight cannot be less than sixteen tons. What an amazing force must it then have required not only to raise this enormous mass from the depths of the mountain, but to make it rise into the air to such a height, that it fell to the ground at a distance of three miles from the mouth of the crater, or opening of the volcano! When we consider how much the centre of the fire is below the base of the mountain, that the mountain itself is ten thousand feet high, and that there must therefore have been a power sufficient to raise this mass twelve thousand feet in height, the boldest imagination is lost in astonishment. The cause of these most wonderful mysteries of Nature is wholly unknown to man, although it cannot be doubted that one of the most probable conclusions to be drawn from them is, that the centre of this earth on which we live is in a fiery and burning state. There is not indeed any proof of this in the Holy Scriptures, but there are many reasons which lead the reflecting mind to some such opinion. And there is nothing in the Bible that in any way contradicts it; on the contrary, the revealed truth, that the world will hereafter be destroyed by fire, is in a great degree confirmed by our discovering that it is already only by the power of God prevented from being consumed by this very element, which is hidden in its bowels, and in many places bursts forth to warn and terrify the nations of the earth!

The celebrated volcano of Vesuvius, the desolating eruptions of which have been so often and so fatally experienced, is in Italy, about seven miles distant from Naples. It rises upon a vast plain, having two summits, the highest of which is the mouth of the volcano, which almost constantly emits smoke. Its height above the level of the sea is 3900 feet, and it may be ascended by three different roads, all very steep and difficult, from the conical form of the mountain, and the loose ashes,

which slip from under the feet: from the base to the summit the distance is about three miles, and the platform at the top is about a mile across. For nearly twothirds of its height the mountain is cultivated, and has by no means a gloomy appearance; but here all verdure ceases, and the top is perfectly barren. Upon the lavas which the volcano long ago threw out, and which extend into the plain and to the sea, like great furrows, are built houses, villages, and towns. Gardens, vineyards, and cultivated fields surround them, but a feeling of sorrow, mixed with fear, about the future, arises in the recollection that, beneath a soil so fruitful and so smiling, lie buildings, gardens, and whole towns swallowed up. In the year after Christ 79, after a long interval of repose, the volcano suddenly burst forth, casting forth thick clouds of ashes and pumice stones, beneath which Herculaneum and Pompeii, two large and celebrated cities of antiquity, were completely buried. Thirtyeight eruptions of Vesuvius are recorded in history up to the year 1806. That of 1779 has been described as among the most remarkable, from its extraordinary and terrific appearance. During the whole of July the mountain was in a state of considerable fermentation; subterraneous explosions, and rumbling noises, were heard, and quantities of smoke thrown up with great violence, sometimes with red-hot stones and ashes. On the 5th of August the volcano was greatly agitated, a white smoke issuing from the crater, at the same time that vast quantities of stones were thrown up to the supposed height of 2000 feet. The liquid lava having cleared the rim of the crater, flowed down the sides of the mountain to the distance of four miles, and the air was darkened by showers of reddish ashes. On the 7th, at midnight, a fountain of fire shot up from the crater to an incredible height, casting so bright a light that the smallest objects were easily seen at any place within six miles of the volcano. On the following evening, after a tremendous explosion, which broke the windows of a town at the foot of the mountain, another fountain of liquid fire rose to the surprising height of 10,000 feet (nearly two miles), while puffs of the blackest smoke accompanied the red

hot lava. The lava was partly directed by the wind towards the town of Ottaiano, on which so thick a shower of ashes fell that, had it been of longer continuance, that town would have shared the fate of Pompeii. It took fire in several places, and had there been much wind, the inhabitants would have been burned in their houses, it being impossible for them to stir out. The rest of the lava, still red-hot and liquid, fell on the two summits of Vesuvius, and the valley between them, forming one complete body of fire, which could not be less than two miles and a half in breadth, and casting a heat to the distance of at least six miles around. Another eruption happened on the 15th of June, 1794, at ten o'clock at night, and was announced by a shock of an earthquake, which was felt at Naples. At the same moment a fountain of bright fire, attended with a very black smoke, and a loud report, was seen to issue, and rise to a considerable height, from about the middle of the cone of Vesuvius, other fountains succeeded, and streamed down the sides of the mountain. The houses at Naples were for several hours in a constant tremor, the doors and windows shaking and rattling incessantly, and the bells ringing. At this awful moment the sky, from a bright full moon and star-light, became darkened; the moon seemed eclipsed, and was soon lost in obscurity. The murmurs of the prayers and lamentations of the people, forming various processions, and parading the streets, added to the horrors of the scene. On the following day a new mouth was opened on the opposite side of the mountain; from this aperture a considerable stream of lava issued, and ran with great swiftness through a wood, which it burnt; but stopped, after having run about three miles in a few hours, before it reached the vineyards and cultivated lands. The lava which had flowed from several new mouths on the south side of the mountain reached the sea, into which it ran, after having overwhelmed, burnt, and destroyed the greater part of Torre del Greco, through the centre of which it took its course. This town contained about 18,000 inhabitants, all of whom escaped, with the exception of about 15, who through age or infirmity were