The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-07-12

IN Il Cor Tie space df a seccnth regret. that lad
not thermometer With me, bat entertain doubt
dat IL Al the boiling point What must be the
internal state OF the earth, which could produce
powerful lcat ,And what must be the dangerous
state of country, undermined by such incessant
and violent fires ihis spring Is how-ver eighteen
nhes distant from Vcsuyirs. and the city CT Naples
i]ftervcncs. Either then the awful phenomena of
VesuvNs extend under the city Of Naples to this
spot, or the city has distinct su5terraneous enemy
on the side Of Bsia as wen AS OF ycsrvius As you
rets!rn from Baia 60 Naples the bay of Baia, you
pass a very considerable mountain called the Monte
Nuovo, and which was wholly the product OF vol.
canoe in the 10th century. The spot, on which it
stands, lake, called the Lucrine lake, and the
country around it was level and fertile. On sud-
den, after the usual presages OF thundcrs and earth
quakcs, most awful volcsnick eruption took place
in very short spacs OF time threw up sufficient mat
ter to form this mountain. Itisarcgular, handsome
hill For nearly century after its formation ITS dry
and arid surface refused sustenaice vegetables
but ,t present is covered with verdant shrbbery,
and forms OF the brightest ornaEcnts OF this en-
chanting bay
Advancing still nearer to Naples, you meet With
one of the most extraordinary hills in this land Of
wonders, II is called Solfatcra from the nature of
its production, which is sulphur. The whole hli is
one vast mass of sulphur and mineral productions.
The very surface and the stones ofa bright sui
phreous colour. The ground is hollow,and resounds
,n2cr you r feet From innllmcrablc crcvccs sui
phureors vapour, Of the fetid nature, pcrpctu
ally ascending. Dig a few inches into tho ground,
and The heat is too ntocrabc 10 permit you keep
your hand in it, Silver is instantly discoloured, If
placed in any such openings In some spots smoke
and fire ascend in sufficient quantities to enable the
workman to prepare the sulphur and the salts, which
they collect here.
Without the least human etertion, that could
perceive, except the erection of stonc or brick!
fiucs, sulphur, alum, and sal ammoniac were col
lccted in q perfect state. ytH
This spot Is not more than five miles west Of Ma
pies II has been in ts state for centuries and only
experiences changes with The phenomena of Vesuvi-
u.s. Il is said, at least that, during tic cruptons Of
that mountain, Sol!aterra cmits unusual quantity
Of smoke. The fact is too material in he natural
history Of this volcano to DO admitted on Sght eyi-
dcnce
think, however, have introduced sufficient suIph.
urcous cxhalatons for letter. so l@Aa defer the
further consideration Of this subject till anotl
or occasion.
On the whole, il Naples has not all the rich variety
Of Rome II has wonders and curosties of another
Species which render it equally interesting wisl,
may succeed in rendering il SO TO my friends
Tie prevalence of cloudy weather has prevented
ms visiting vesuvrs, poinpeia, and the HOLIDAYS
have equally deprived me of the pleasure Of exaInin-
ing the antiquities, collected at Portic There are
more ernbarrassnonts in the way of access to the
cuiosties Of Naples, than I'd those of any part of Eu
rope You cannot enter museum or palace, without
special license from the crown, wIlich can ONLY be
obtained from some diplomatck character owe
my permsions 20 the civ;ty of tie British ambassa-
dour, nation having no mnister here, but since
have obtained them, the publick places have been
cioscd.---This jealously s, in mycpinion, Spanish
trait this family you know being of the royal family
of Spain. the present king Of Naples being the son Of
Charles LIZ. the last king OF Spain. M
III (7o be continaed.)