The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-12-14
gisfeUsniee.
MOUNT VESUV:US.
Napi.t, Aug,tN I

Napi.t, AEgnyF 49,
Yeitcrdav ffays letter. O O'Clock at nigh. the
eruption of Veiuvus of which the earthquake fcen-
ed to be the forerunner, took place. We going
to Wifi the Crater, when the cries of tie people, and
volume of flame informed US that the volcano had
penet The lava precpitated itleif in three iecon.s
from the a1 peak of the mountain. and tool, drec-
ton towards the valley fitua,ed !" tween Tore del
Greco and Tore del rAnnuHziata, two towns on the
Tea coaf beyond Portici, and feven or eight miles
from Naples.
We fet off Immediately to fee this wonderful and
tremendous phenomenon nearer. From the place of
our departure, we faw the whole courle Of the lava
which extended already miles from thc Crater, to
the huuies that l''in the two towns The fight was
the mott magnificenty frghtfu that could be leen.
contemplated the caicades Of fame pouring from top
Of the mountain, and fhuddered at feeling immenlr
torrent OF fire ravage the inet fields overthrow hol-
les and defroy in a few minutes the hopes and re-
fources OF hundred families.
"A line Of fire marked the profile Of the mountain
cloud o! fnoke, which jeenei 20 fend forth from
time to time faihes Of lightning, hung the feene,
aud the moon appeared to be pale. Nothing can a.
d"guatey defcribe the grandeur of the fcene or give
al. accurate idea Of the horror of it, Aswe approach
ed the ipot ravaged by This river of hell ruined iDha-
bitauts having Quilted their houfes--defolated fami-
lies trying to fave their furniture provions atf and
feeble reicurcean immenfe crowd of curious perio,s
retreatog, itep by tep from the advancing lava, and
teAifyg, by extraordinary cries, their wonder, fear
and pity--the frightfu believing Of the mountain
the frequent exploGons which burft from the bofon
o! the torrcnt the cracking Of the devoured by
the flames, the nofe Of the walDsfaIliug, and the n
gubroas found Of hell, which the religious of the
GanalduIes, iioated little hill, and furtoundes
by Of fire, rang in their dilrefs :fuet
The details Of the rightful feene which was
witnefs.
The moment arrived the lava wa. crolfidg
the great road below rorredel Greco. To fee i
| better we got into beautiful homie on the roac
| iide--from the terrace Isw the fire at no more
| than 8 PAGES from us--in a minute we defended
and twsnty minutes afterwards there remaGed u
;he houfe bat three large walls. approached a
meas as the heat aid flow Of the current would per
nit me. I attempted at different times 10 burn tn
end of my handkerchief IN til could only do it h
| tying to my cane. The lava does not run in Ii
qrd waves i, rele.nbles a. ir,menfe quantity %
Goals Oh FIRE, whch an invncihlt treng,h had heape
ny AID pulled on with violence. When il met wit
wall it collected to the height Of Ieven or e
feet, burnt il, add oyerihrew it at once. fi,
foTc walls 4 red hot ike iron, and melt, III ma
ufe the expre5or u,n the lava. IN It's ereateG free
sad ON d hDrzon'al road. rcckored that The torrer
travelled at the rare Of in,hes minute. Its fine
relembed that OF iron rel hot"
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