The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. (Washington City [D.C.]), 1802-07-07 00:00:00

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER,
AND WASHINGTON ADVERTISER.
Vol. II.
WASHINGTON CITY, PRINTED BY SAMUEL HARRISON SMITH, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
No. CCXIX.
FIVE DOLLS. PER ANN.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 7th, 1802.
PAID IN ADVANCE.
ACCOUNT of a DESCENT into the CRATER of MOUNT VESUVIUS by Light FRANCESCO, on the Night between the 18th and 19th of July, 1801.
This article first appeared in the Journal de Physique.
To ascend to the summit of Mount Vesuvius, which is elevated 3600 feet above the level of the sea, is an enterprise of great difficulty, as it is necessary for nearly half the height to climb an exceedingly steep declivity up to the knees in ashes. Some philosophical men of eminence, however, as Spallanzani, Dolomieu, De Saussure, &c. have overcome all these difficulties. Sir William Hamilton, who cast a great many views of Vesuvius to be designed during his long residence in Naples, ascended to the summit of it sixty-two times; but no one at least since the eruption in 1779, ever ventured to descend into the crater of this volcano, not even Sir William Hamilton, who considered it under so many points of view, and who visited it so many times. It was reserved for eight Frenchmen to hazard this dangerous enterprise, and to succeed in it completely, notwithstanding the timidity of their guides, the impossibility which the Neapolitans attached to it, and the instances they mentioned of rash travellers, who had lost their lives in the attempt, and been swallowed up by the volcano.
To be able to appreciate the danger of this enterprise, it will be necessary to have a correct idea of the form and position of Vesuvius, and of the matters which it throws up. This volcano has the form of a truncated cone, and a part of its base, which is altogether three leagues in circumference, is washed by the Mediterranean; its mouth, or upper base, which is a little inclined to the axis, is 5722 feet in circumference. The earth, from the base to half the height, consists of vegetable mould mixed with lava and stones which have not been attacked by the fire, tufa, pumice, and calcareous stones, different in their nature as colour, according to the different degrees of impression which have been made on them by the fire.
The half of the height next the summit is composed chiefly of pure ashes, but coarser than our common ashes. Till the present time, there have been twenty-four eruptions recorded in history. The first took place in the year 79 after the Christian era: by these eruptions, volcanic matters have been successively accumulated, by that of 1779 the situation of the crater and of the aperture was entirely changed. The focus or crater is now sunk 200 feet below the upper edges of the mouth of the volcano.
To arrive at the crater, and to observe numerous spiracles, long crevices, and fires which issue from them in several places, and also the variegated and still smoking matters, of which the crater is composed, it was necessary to pass over this space of 200 feet.
The inner sides of the volcano are nearly perpendicular, or exceedingly steep, and composed of ashes, lava, and large calcareous stones; but the lava and stones, as they form no connection with the ashes, cannot serve as any point of support; and when any one is so imprudent as to adhere to this kind of rock, the least motion, the least displacement of any part, makes the whole crumble to pieces. Besides, from the summit of Vesuvius to the crater, the declivity being exceedingly rapid, cannot be travelled but on all fours, and suffering yourself to glide down amidst a torrent of ashes and lava. But the most dangerous obstacles are those awful excavations, which cannot be passed over without great trouble and difficulty.
Disregarding the terror with which the Neapolitans endeavoured to inspire us, after having received their adieux, as if our separation had been likely to be eternal, we set out in a carriage, at half after eleven at night, on the 18th of July, from the hotel of the French ambassadors, fourteen in number, furnished with ropes and other articles which we supposed might be necessary, and all in a state of the highest spirits, which never forsook us, even at times of the most imminent danger. We arrived about midnight at the foot of Vesuvius; and, having quitted our carriage mounted well-experienced mules, and proceeding one after the other, with Adjutant Dampierre at our head, amidst the thick darkness of night, reached half way to the steep summit of the mountain. We had a numerous body of guides, and their lighted torches gave to our expedition a mysterious and solemn air, which formed a striking contrast with the mirth and gaiety of the company.
When we had ascended about half way, we were obliged to alight, and to climb up the steep and most difficult part of Vesuvius, wading through the ashes up to the knees, till, exhausted with fatigue, and covered with sweat, we reached the summit at half past two in the morning.
The first thing that struck us, as soon as the morning began to dawn, was a most magnificent spectacle—a superb view of the city and port of Naples, the beautiful hills which surround them, and the vast extent of the sea by which they are washed. After walking round part of the aperture of the volcano, that we might choose the most commodious place for descending, Adjutant Dampierre and G. Wickart first descended, without any accident, at the determined point. When they had got about a third of the way, they were absolutely stopped by an excavation of fifty feet, which it was necessary to pass. As they found that it was impossible to obtain any fixed point of support on ashes so moveable, and being convinced that the friction of ropes would have soon destroyed both the point of support and the neighbouring masses to a great distance, they resolved to return. Besides, while deliberating on the means of descending, some stones rolling down from the summit occasioned a general agitation wherever they passed: Adjutant Dampierre found the ground, on which he had scarcely quitted it, calling out to G. Wickart to follow him, when it disappeared. Soon after, indeed, the whole place where they had stood, and all the neighbouring small eminences, crumbled down successively, in the course of half an hour, & were precipitated to the bottom of the crater with an awful noise.
Before we renounced our enterprise to return to Naples, deserted on account of not having succeeded, we once more walked round the mouth of the crater, and at last discovered a long declivity, pretty smooth, though very steep, which conducted to the focus. Without examining the precipices, which it might be necessary to pass, before it could be reached, G. Debeer, the ambassador's secretary, accompanied by a Lazzaroni, set out first to attempt the passage. When they had got half-way, amidst a torrent of ashes, which the impression of their feet made to roll down along with them, they found means to fix themselves on the edge of a precipice, twelve feet in height, which it was necessary to pass before they could reach the lower declivity. The Lazzaroni, frightened, refused to proceed; but being promised a double ducat, avarice got the better of his timidity; he speedily made the sign of the cross over his whole body, and, having invoked the Madonna and St. Anthony of Padua, threw himself, along with G. Debeer, to the bottom of the first precipice: soon after, they arrived at another, but being of less height, it was passed with more ease. At length, amidst a continual torrent of falling lava, ashes, and stones, they arrived at the bottom of the crater, and stretched out their arms to us, sending forth shouts of joy, which we returned with the utmost satisfaction and enthusiasm.
G. Houdouart, engineer, immediately followed G. Debeer, and, after encountering the same difficulties, and passing dangerous precipices, joined him at the bottom of the crater. Being there both convinced of the almost insurmountable difficulty of ascending, they threw themselves into each other's arms, like two friends reduced to the necessity of terminating their lives together in a desert island without any hope of escaping from it.
They then began, but with cautious steps, to walk round this immense furnace, which still smokes in several places. The intrepid Wickart, who was very desirous to participate in their fate, called out to them to send some one to assist him in the two cliffs; but seeing no one coming, and growing impatient, he rushed forward, and rolled down towards them, amidst a torrent of stones, ashes, and volcanic matters. Adjutant Dampierre, C. Baguerts, physician to the army, Mellinet and Andras, French travellers, and Moulin, inspector of posts, soon followed, and arrived at the crater, after having incurred the same danger.
Wickart immediately sat down on a heap of stones, and, with that superiority of talents for which he is distinguished, sketched out in pencil, with a perfect resemblance, the portraits of the eight Frenchmen who had descended. Each then formed a small collection of the different volcanic matters which appeared to be new or curious, and endeavoured to make a few observations.
Had we been allowed to depend on ourselves, we had been in our preparation by our guides, and if
some of us, having only just arrived at Naples, had not been straitened in point of time, our descent should certainly have been much more useful, and the results more satisfactory. However, though ill furnished with means, the following are the observations we were enabled to make.
Reaumur's thermometer, the only instrument we possessed, stood at 12 degrees on the summit of Vesuvius: the air was cold, and somewhat moist: in the crater, the quicksilver rose to 16 degrees, and we experienced the mildest temperature.
The surface of this place, which, when seen by the naked eye, looking down from above, appeared entirely smooth, exhibited, when we were at the bottom, nothing but a vast extent ofasperities. We were constantly obliged to pass over lava exceedingly porous, in general pretty hard, but which, in some places, and particularly those where we entered, was still soft, and yielded under our feet. The spectacle which struck us most was the numerous spiracles, which, either at the bottom of the crater, or the interior sides of the mountain, suffer the vapours to escape. When we arrived at the crater, we were desirous to ascertain whether these vapours were of a noxious quality: we walked through them, and inspired them several times; but felt no inconvenience from them. The thermometer, placed in one of these spiracles, indicated 54 degrees, in another it rose only to 22. In all these experiments, our instrument was covered with a humid matter, which was soon dissipated in the open air, without leaving any traces.
In traversing the surface of the crater, we perceived a focus, half covered by a large mass of pumice-stone, and which, from its whole circumference, emitted a strong heat. The thermometer, placed at first at the entrance of it, and then immersed to as great a depth as the nature of the ground and the heat would admit, never rose higher than 22 degrees. This singularity surprised us, but we were not able to explain it.
The volcanic productions which we observed in the whole crater were lava, exceedingly porous, and which the fire in certain places had reduced to scoriae. It was of a dark brown colour, and sometimes reddish, but it is rare to find any white. The substances nearest the spiracles are all covered or impregnated with sulphur. This mineral is found very often in a state of oxygenation. It is sometimes white, and sometimes of a yellowish colour, & the sharp and pungent impression it leaves on the tongue sufficiently indicates the state in which it is. The burning focus, of which we have spoken, produces the same results. Some balsaltic lava is also found, but in small quantity; one specimen only, of a considerable weight and beautiful polish, attracted our attention.
On the north side of the crater there are two large fissures, one of which is twenty feet in depth, and the other about fifteen. They are shaped like an inverted cone. The matter with which they are covered is entirely similar to that on the rest of the surface. They emit neither smoke nor heat; yet some sulphurous productions plainly shew that the fire in these places has not long been extinct.
When we had finished these few observations, it was necessary that we should think of returning. The descent is far less laborious than the ascent; for it is difficult to climb eminences where the points of support are so moveable. Besides, people cannot ascend but one at a time in succession, after long intervals, for fear of burying under a torrent of volcanic matters those who follow, as the foot, when moved, displaces the ashes, &c. to the distance of thirty feet round.
When we arrived at the two precipices, we were obliged to ascend by mounting on the shoulders of a man placed at the bottom, and laying hold of a stick held by another at the top, and to roll our feet no where but in a very gentle manner. At length, by prudence and caution, we reached the summit of Vesuvius without any accident, but exhausted with fatigue, and so covered with ashes and smoke, as to be scarcely distinguishable. Our six companions, who had not descended into the crater, were overjoyed when they saw us again, and supplied us with some refreshments, of which we had great need.
When one grand difficulty is surmounted, inferior ones are overlooked, as of little importance. In less than twenty-five minutes, we again descended, having continued, after examining various stones, this observation, that Vesuvius is the only known volcano which throws up from its bowels primordial substances, without being altered by the fire, and such as are found at present in banks and veins.
At half after eight in the morning we arrived at Portici, the inhabitants of
which were much surprised to see us return all safe. Their delicious fruits, and their excellent wine, called lacryma Christi , soon made us forget our fatigue, and we then proceeded to Naples, which we reached in safety.
The result of this excursion, which was only an experiment, can be of no further use than to shew the possibility of reaching the crater, and to open the way to it to Philosophers, and chemists, who, by exploring this immense furnace of nature at their leisure, will find a variety of matters, which will afford an ample field for the application of their chemical knowledge, and may enable them to make discoveries interesting to the arts and the sciences.
The names of the eight Frenchmen, in the order in which they descended, are as follows: Debeer, secretary to the ambassador Alquier; Houdouart, chief engineer of bridges and causeways, attached to the army of Italy; Wickart, painter; Dampierre, Adjutant-commandant; Baguerts, physician to the army of observation; Mellinet and Andras, French travellers; and Moulin, inspector of posts.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
[We have been furnished with the following important document, by the hon. John Brown. By it our readers will be enabled to discover the motives which actuated the American government in negotiating the convention with Great Britain, for the payment of £600,000 sterling, in discharge of all claims which might arise under the 6th article of the treaty concluded by Mr. Jay. It will be seen by this convention the United States are exonerated from all responsibility for upwards of £5,000,000 sterling, which might have been claimed under the 6th article of the British treaty.]
Aurora.
The resolutions of the board of commissioners, under the 6th article of Jay's treaty, embrace the following propositions, as appears from a letter from John Read, jun. agent of the United States, to the Attorney General, dated 25th of April, 1801.
1st. That the laws passed by the state of North-Carolina, generally called installment laws, are lawful impediments, within the meaning of the 6th article of the treaty of amity.
2d. That certain laws in the state of Virginia, the period of whose limitation did not expire till after the peace, and which were afterwards continued in force, operated as lawful impediments, within the meaning of the treaty; unless the United States can shew that the delays, loss of value and security, were occasioned by other causes, which would have equally operated, had not those laws existed since the decision of the question respecting war-interest. This stands unaffected by the proviso, in all cases, except where the debtor can be proved to be insolvent at the peace, which is a good defence against the claim.
3d. That interest during the war, is to be paid in all cases, except when it is not part of the contract, or there are special circumstances in the case.
4th. That the difference between the value of payments in paper money, accepted by the creditors or their agents, during the war, and the sterling value of the money, in which the debt was contracted, is a loss within the meaning of the treaty of amity.
5th. The payments into the treasury as loan-fesses of the states, during the war are lawful impediments to the recovery of debts to the extent of such payment.
6th. That creditors are not required to proceed in chancery, or otherwise, to get aside conveyances fraudulently made by their debtors.
7th. That creditors are excused from bringing suits now, for the recovery of debts, for which compensation is claimed.
8th. That creditors are not bound by the treaty of amity, to prove the solvency of their debtors, at the peace, but the United States are to prove their insolvency.
9th. That claimants attainted of high treason, whose debts are confiscated for crimes, and who, deserting the American side, joined the British, and continued on that side until the peace, are creditors within the meaning of the 6th article of the treaty of peace.
A recapitulation of the amount of each description of debt, which would result from the principles adopted by the board, as made by Mr. Read, and including interest, to different dates within the year 1798.
   l. s. d. q.     The interest during the war alone, 120,645 11 1 1-4   For payments into the treasury and loan-office, 171,797 00 6 1-2   For impediments by installment laws of S. Carolina, 337,868 2 6   For alleging unlawful decisions of courts. 24,658 4 3 3-4   By fines, in part citizens of the United States, 162,483 12 4 3-4   Debts due from states, late provinces of the United States, 4,838 14   All descriptions of refugees, except N. Carolina, 753,132 4 2 1-2   D-bts discharged in depreciated money, 205,795 15 5 3-4   Proprietary debts, 296,775 13 8   Legal impediments, generally, 3,560,585 10 4 1-4   Total sterling, 5,638,629 8 1   24,309,969 37 dollars.   Claims to compensation for spoliations preferred under the 7th article of the treaty, amounted to £. 1,250,000 sterling.  
MUSEUM NEWLY ARRANGED.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania, to encourage an institution, which promises to become not only a lasting benefit to the citizens of Philadelphia, but to the public in general, have granted the State-house for a display of the Museum.
The subscriber has now, at considerable expense, so arranged the various natural subjects composing his museum, that they may be seen to much greater advantage than heretofore, one of the rooms being 100 feet in length.
There cannot be a better mode, to diffuse a general knowledge of the various animals of this and other countries, than by preserved specimens, disposed in systematic order. It is obvious to every one, who has thought on the subject, that more accurate knowledge can be acquired in a few hours, by examining a well chosen collection of minerals or other subjects, disposed in a good classical arrangement, than can otherwise be had in years of hard study. Nature is uniform in all her works, and the great creator has stamped certain characters on every order of beings, that distinguish them from each other; and the more we know of the laws, the more we must admire the wisdom and beneficence of the divine author. The establishment of a museum of the works of nature and art, is of vast importance, and deserving of the encouragement of all good men. Therefore feels the citizens of the United States to aid my labours, and in a few years more, we may reasonably hope this will become a great seminary of useful knowledge, branching out with infinite splendor, and be a continual source of much wisdom and virtue.
Although so extensive a repository as is here contemplated, embracing specimens of all that is found in the air, earth and seas, cannot be well supported in each of the States, yet those who should attempt making collections, may here receive lessons of improvement. And Philadelphia being a central situation, will be visited by citizens of the other states, it would thus diffuse rays of light to the most distant parts of the Union. Books on natural history, are a desirable appendage to this institution to compare description with nature; learn the economy and manners of various animals; to illustrate what is worthy of remembrance, and to correct false opinions.
Models of implements, and machines, useful in agriculture and manufactures, as well as specimens of natural productions of every description, will be judiciously received and carefully disposed in a manner to present their use, in the best mode that can be devised by
C. W. PEALE.
Museum, June 26, 1802.
It will be obliging if printers of Newspapers in the different States will insert the above a few times in their papers.
Commanders of vessels, and American travellers abroad, can do much towards enriching the museum from foreign countries.