Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-21

| micn edgcrneSS, ana NOT more frequently
resting, we soon became tired and when
we had proceeded about half of tie way,
| found myself so much exhausted thai
it appeared impossible to proceed. We
ali felt excessively sick at the stomach h,
probably owing to our having eaten some
| fruit at the foot of the mountain. My
companions felt relieved by vomiting,
| but nv system was reduced below the
"emetic point" | recined with my
back against the steep but rugged lava,
| with the hottest sun ever felt shining full
in my face unable to articulate, with
palpitation which threatened my exis-
tence. My suffering was now so great
that all inclination for seeing the burn
ing mountains ceased, and would will
llngly have returned ; but to retrace our
steps was impossible the only way for
descending must be gotten into at the
top OF the mountain. However, after
Il long rest, the tumuituous action of my
heart subsidized, and felt so far restored
that was enabled TO advance few steps
ut a time, taking care TO halt often. In
this manner / reached the summit. 1t
presented the most awful appearance in
nature.-Ihere are now two craters,
which appear TO be from different sour
ces. One continually throws out melted
lava, with white alkali while the other,
which is distant ii few rods, at intervals of
ten or fifteen minutes, belches out i'm
mense volumes ofblack smoke, accom-
panied with great quantities of rock and
hardened lava, attended with a horrid
noise which shakes the whole mountain.
In viewing tins CONFUSION of nature,
you stand on all immense rock of lava,
on level with the mouths of the iurna-
ces, and not more than fifty feet distant
\, ,
from danger The rocks that are emit
ted, though they generally fall again in
the mouth of the crater are sometimes
thrown out obliquely, and frequently fall
far beyond YOU. A sudden shift of wind
would place a person in The most immi-
nent danger but this is not to be appre-
hended i'll clear weather, as during that
time the land and sea breezes blow with
the greatest regularity. Smoke issues
through the lava i'll all directions, and oc-
casionally fame bursts ont. Owing to
tins circumstance, one of our guides had
his clothes set OH fire. BY pushing down
stick IN any place, it is burned. There
is fine view from this eminence of the
country for a great distance around, in
GLIDING about dozen populous towns.
In all directions down the mountain,
are seen extensive sea of dross ola black
bling newly ploughed earth. In fine,
what saw amply compensated me for
all the fatigue fmy journey. The scene
was interesting and sublime beyond des
cription, and the recollection OF it will ne
yer be eifaced from my memory. The
most correct idea of this mountain is Civ
ell by kolzebue i'll his travels. The des-
cription of his ascent is admirable.
wish You would look over that part of his
book which relates to,Vcsuvius.
Many curiosities are seen i'll the ruins
ofPompeii. Several Gifts streets are now
cleared out and the walls of the houses
stand entire.--Seme of the paintings on
them appear as fresh as if the artist had
just left his work. The fable Of Action
who accidently saw Diana when bath
| ing, is viewed as a mast r-pIece. The
immense ampitheatre dugoutby MURAT,
has many paintings and INSCRIPTIONS
The tombs, with their inscriptions, re-
main perfect. The Mosaic work which
forms the floors of several houses, pre-
sent the most lively and beautiful colours
when mOistenCd. There is an extensive
wine cellar, in which the jars continue in
their original order fountain in one of
the theatres throws out d stream of fine
water, conveyed from now unknown
source. There are many fine pieces of
sculpture taken from this place and shewn
in the museum at Naples. The Gods are
precisely such as described by mythoIo-
| gists, and readily recognized. Mercury
and Hercules seem 20 have been their ia
vorites, as more of these figures are found
| than any others. The urns containing
| the ashes Of tile dead, with lamps hung
around them are deposited in strongly
| arched house, which has rot been bro
ken through by the weight of The ashes,
which crushed the roof of those that were
| differently constructed. Nothing eau
| give rise TO more nelanchol, reflections
| than viewing these ruins-wlicI appear TO
have been just deserted by their original
inhabitants, though they have been buried
nearly eighteen centuries.
| The Grotto del Cane is about three
miles from Naples, and agrees with the
| description which has been so often Civ
| ell. A torch burns brilliantly unless pa-
ced within eighteen inches ofthe ground,
or bottom, when it becomes instantly
extiDguished. The air above and that
! below is SO separated, that the blaze from
| the wick of lighted candle would burn
| freely at top, aud be put out at the part
next 10 tic candle. The fact that carbo-
mic acid gass is heavier than atmospheric
| air, will hardly explain this phenomenon.
! The cruel experiment Of holding down the
| head Of a dog, was tried. The animal
! followed his master TO the cave With re-
Il