Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-24

state-a young gentleman now IN Europe, aud
where he has been for several years, to COM
plete bis studies in the medical art.
april 20, 1919.
begin my letter to you on the era
ter Of Mount Vesuyius. The extreme
heat of the river of lava, by the light Of
which wrote the above, prevented my
continuing. We have descended about
$50 fees--our guides would go no farther.
Our company have gone to Naples. FL.
and myself have determined to pass this
night here, and are now writing by the
Hight of torch on warm lava, that flowed
/ 7 days ago. An eruption Of some conse-
Iquence took place last night, and the la
va is running in stream of about feet
vide, a: the rate OF aban. three miles an
hour. Nothing can possibly be imagined
more sublime--the smoke issuing from
the glowing torrent, is like cloud Of
fire-part of the mount seems on fire,
while below it appears the very centre of
desoIation and gloom. At break Of day
we mount again, to descend further into
the crater, aud see the sun rise from its
mouth. may perhaps Try more expert
ments. ] have written your name 10 the
burning lava. and it has cooled--the piece
is beside me. l also put in five franc
piece--the impression is good, and you
shall one day see it. Our torch is about
going out, and | must stop to finish to-
morrow at Naples. Two distinct eFup-
tons have just taken place, and cast out
heated stones TO the height of 100 or $50
feet.
| Naples, 22d.-I scarcely know what
you will Think when you come 10 open
this letter. If ii was not for the sake Of
the place where | began il, you should
never see it. We passed the night very
we'll on the mountain. Our guides cleared
away the large stones, and left us none
bigger than eggs-we spread our great
coats 10 this little hollow, and were com.
Portable enough. We required no cover
ing-at our feet issued small column OF
heated air-heneath us too, warm air
oozed up !; but the great coats prevented
our being steamed. H. found that he was
too warm, and got up to walk about. i
laid quiet, to enjoy the superb sight be-
fore me. Some provisions were sent to
us by the party-it arrived about eleven
O'clock. Fatigue was good opiate, and
our sleep was sweet. Our guides slept on
4 the bare stones beside us. At 3 we took
some bread and wine, and began again
the ascent. Our route now lay in another
direction. 1t was not so difficult as what
we had assembled the evening before. Be-
fore 5 we were at the top, and waited
only few minutes TO see the purple
! tinge of the horizon gradually change iuto
frightened gold. A sea Of clouds floated
far beoeath us-it resembled an unduiated
plain of cotton, whose edges were tinged
and FURNISHED by the first rays of the
morning. scenery below was lost
nought appeared but the fiery summit on
which we stood, and the tops Of lofty
mountains around that rose above the
clouds that settled on their sides.
We continued our labor, and got near
the mouth of the crater-the wind drove
the smoke towards US, and we were obliged
to descend and try the other side. We
rose to the highest point, and thence a
gradual descent took US to the mouth Of
the largest crater. It's shape constantly
! varied-at present there are two fountains,
| whence issue the smoke and stones. We
could not observe the bottom very plain
/ ly-to descend was impossible. The
smaller crater has three of these nostriIs or
breathing holes, smaller than the first, but
/ more active. The wind drove the smoke
4 in such manner, that we saw the bottom
on the other side. Our guides we're urg-
| ing us to descend-a shower Of hot stones
aud cinder had more influence than their
/ entreaties. The lava is seen in neither
crater, but flows through subterranean
canal, almost horizontal and does not
appear till it forces through the crust
about SO yards from the crater. 1t forms
at once river about seven feet wide, and
/ flows at the rate Of between 81 and 3
miles an hour; its depth cannot be told.
The present stream issued ia this spot
seven days ago, and continues still run
/ ning-it resembles flowing liquid iron,
running in gutter, which it seems to
have formed, having on either side per-
pendicular wall of lava, about three inches
thick, serving as Kind Of raceway. A.
bout mile from the orifice, it spreads
into large bed or lake, and there cools,
gradually becoming black on the surface,
and still glowing beneath. Occasionally
the river changes its course-this gave an
4 opportunity of breaking several times the
crust that covers the stream, to see the
hot lava below. 10 some places, where
all was cold, we broke it and found ii
quite hollow beneath, by The extrication
!, Of the gas. Usually heavy wind breaks
the crusts, and then they fall ia every
i direction, giving the whole mountain a