The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-02

could recollcct whole poems Of eir Efschatds, AID
transmit them from age TO age unmpaired; ii the
Had of Homer was In the sarSe manner preserved
by the Greeks for several hundred years. as has been
often asserted 1t Is surely emarkable that these
awful plirnomena, which have occurred but hbcrt
twenty times since the birth ofo Saviour, should be
as faith fully recorded, and the history ofthcm trans
ntted by those who live IN the perpetual terrour OF
their recurrence.
The lava Of l77s and Of 1894 make the most con-
spicuous figure. 10th of them proceeded from
breaches in the side Of the mountain, and ran to-
words the sea, distance Of four Eve miles, de-
sroying every object which they encountered in their
way What indeed human terrestrial, could with
stand these liquid torrents of fire, rolling along with
slow, but unvarying pace, extending several hun
drcd yards in width ard seventy feet in height
wherever they have taken their course nourniul
face of desolaton is visible, which centuries only
can charge but which the art and industry of man
cannot nssten, or e1cn affect
The lava presents surface harder 4 ian rock,
surface which ressts the hardest metals. unless ac-
coinpanicd with great cxertions or art itaiords
no pabuum for vegetation, and thousands of acres,
which issued more than cent,wypast are still dcsti-
tute of vcrdant spirc. Succeeding eruptons some
times cure tbeyery evil which proceeding ones occa-
stoned. When the eruption does not proceed to ex-
tremcs but only terminates in the emission OF ashes
and other light volcanick substances, these form
lodgincnt uponthe naked lava and soon produce soil
capable ofproducing and supporting vegetation IN the
most laxuriat degree. ipassed through rich and fer
tile VINEYARDS on the side ofthe mountain, planted over
the bosom of IN apcicnt body of lava, but which had
been covered BY the succeeding eruption of ashes No
lands are supciour those which are formed in this
manner
& A more dismal and gloomy prospect cannot be
found, than that which Immediately surrounds you
as you approach to Vesuvius The perpendicular part
OF the hill itself is one vast body OF black cndcrs n
tcrmingled with pumcc stones, and other volcanick
particles, unrelcycd by a single living plant.
At the foot of this little hill vast streams OF ancient
lava taking various courses, the valles or incqual-
i,ies Of the ground directed, present aspect equal
Iy dreary, and vastly more tremendous.
These bodies of laya arc generally Of dark brown
colour, resembling in appearance ard construction OF
the parts the cinders of backsmitls coal Although
the great body of the lava is perfectly ytried and
when cold forms an Opaque and solid ponderous body,
more compact than any stone, yet the external SUR
face consists invariably Of scorix, ntcrminglcd with
pumice stones, and other light bodies exhibiting the
appearance have just stated The surface Of the
lava is also extremely unequal Itresembes the sea
in storm, or as the would look if It's waves were
in the moment Of conyulsion congeacd or pctrGed.
These great inequalities have been attributed by
philosophers to the swelling Of the lava, when in
state offus;on This is certain, that it is in that state
subject to great convslsions.
(Lefisr 14th 10 be continued