The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-09 00:00:00

THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS.

NAPLES, MAy 31.
Since Saturday the eruption has proceeded with
constantly increasing violence, and has presented
at night a more and more magnificent spectacle.
[n my last letter I mentioned that there issued
from the great basin of fire in the Atrio a single
stream of lava, which, after a tortuous course, was
descending the declivity of the mountain. This
stream has continued its course, varying in breadth
according to the accidents of the ground, and seems
now to direct itself to a point between Portici and
Torre del Greco, but much nearer the latter than
the former. It approaches close to the scattered
farmhouses which lie above the towns at the foot
of the mountain, many of which it can scarcely fail
to destroy.

In the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday two
other streams of lava broke out of the great basin,
and are descending the mountains towards the
neighbourhood of Portici. These streams seem to
follow the direction of ravines, which run nearly
parallel to the ridge on which the Observatory and
the Hermitage stand. These buildings have been
hitherto saved from submersion by the lava by
their great elevation, the fluid naturally following
the direction of the lower ground at either side of
them.

Last night the spectacle was peculiarly grand
and imposing. The lava was poured in increased
quantity along each of the streams already esta-
blished, and being in a high state of incandesence,
presented a peculiarly splendid appearance.
At about 8 o'clock an immense torrent of lava
broke over the ridge which confines the basin of
craters, in the direction of the Somma ; it flowed
down the declivity of the Somma as an immense
torrent of liquid fire, and with such extraordinary
rapidity that in less than an hour it had descended
through a considerable portion of the mountain.
Its progress was then retarded, partly by the dimi-
nished steepness of the ground, and partly by
transverse ravines which must be filled before the
fluid can advance. Nothing could exceed the
splendour of this torrent of liquid fire, forming the
fourth principal stream of lava ; but the most ex-
traordinary burst of splendour which has been pre-
sented since the commencement of the eruption
took place soon after 9 o'clock, when all the mouths
seemed to be simultaneously called into violent
action, and to vomit forth such torrents of lava
that the entire mountain seemed one blaze of fire ;
the varied colours produced in different parts,
owing probably in part to reflection, presented a
beautiful and striking appearance. The lurid ligbt
diffused from this enormous burning mass rendered
visible the subjacent country, the towns,-the coast,
and the bay.

On each night several thousands of persons of all
ranks, from the peer to the peasant, urged by cu-
riosity, repair to the scene of this extraordinary
spectacle. The darkness being complete, and the
route in many parts difficult, each party is fur-
nished with a torch, and the view of these hun-
dreds of tc robes flitting about between the streams
of lava is most curious, presenting the appeararloe'
of multitudes of fireflies. .
The Hermitage, which is close to theireat bag°, -
of craters and rivers of lava, is approached by
tolerably good carriage road, and, asiniy be sup'
posed, hundreds of vehicles of every descriptions.
from the caleche of the millionnaire to the humble'
coricolo, are collected there towards midnight'
Donkey parties abound, of which ladies do not fear
to form a part.

JUNE 1.
he eruption is splendid ! There are three
streams of lava, which begin just between Vesuvius
and Somma ; we went as near as possible ; We
climbed to the top of a ridge of lava which b
begun to cool, but it required all the carefulness 0'
our guides to prevent our burning our feet off. °l3
our way down we went to the top of the Observe,'
tory, whence the view of the lava was splendid ;
the middle was flowing as fast as water ; there was
a rayed reflection in the smoke which was just like
the Aurora Borealis in Scotland. The eruption
began last Wednesday night ; the lava begins where
it did in 1855. There were thousands of peopleol!
the mountain ; it was an extraordinary scene.
the end of one of the streams of lava, that on
Castellamare side of the Hermitage, there was '
ceremony, I suppose to stop the lava. There were
a saint and some priests in attendance.

Country Markets.

LIVERPOOL, JUNE 8.

- -
There was a limited attendance of buyers this mornia►.
and, as a consequence, the business was dull, and the wall
ket closed at a reduction from Tuesday last of about 2d
per bushel on wheat, 6d to is per barrel and sack on ft°ll%
ld per bushel on oats, 6d per load on oatmeal, 2d Per
bushel on barley, and about 6d to is per qr on beans, Wl4
and Indian corn.