The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-06-26
THE LAST DAYS OF HERCULANEUM

escaped our nOuce.
THE LAST DAYS OF IERCULANEUM
Taken from review in Baldwin's London MAG
azine, OF Poem on the " last days of Hercu-
laneum,' by MIR. Atherstone.
A great city-situated amidst all that nature
could create of beauty and profusion or art col
lect OF science and magniicence-the growth
OF many ages-the residence of enlightened null
ttudes-the scene OF splendor, and festiyity, and
happlness-ln one moment withered as by a spell
Its palaces, its Streets its temples, its gardens
glowing with eternal spring. and its inhabi-
tantS IN the full enjoyment of all ifes BLESSINGS.
obllerated from their very place in creation, not
by war, or famine, or disease, or anv of the nat
ural causes of destruction to which earth had
been accustomed-but in a single night as if by
magic, and amid the Confagration, as it were. of
nature itself, presented a subject on which the
widest imagination might grow weary without
equalllng the grand and terrible reality.-Tbe
eruption OF VesuVius, by which Herculane UNI and
Pompen were overwhelmed, has been chiefly
described to US in the lettersof Piny the Younger
TO IacItus, giving an account his uncles fate.
and the situation of the writer and his mother
The elder Phny had just returned from the bath.
or cloud, which seemed to ascend from Mount
Nesuvius attracted his attention. This cloud
gradually increased, and at length assumed the
shape OF pine tree, the trunk of the earth and
vapOur, and the leaves red cinders' Plny or
dered his galley, and, urged by his philosophiC
spirit, went forward TO inspect the phenomenon.
In short time however, philosophy gave wav
to humanity, andhe zealously and adventurouslv
employed his galley IN saving the inhabitants of
the various beautiful villas, which studded that
enchanting coast Amongst others he went out
to the assistance OF his friend Pomponianus, who
was then at Stable. The storm of fire. and the
tempest of the earth increased; & the wretched
inhabitants were obliged, by the continual rock
ing of their houses, to rush out into the fields
with pillows tied down by napkins upon their
heads, as their sole defence against the shower
of stones which fell on them. This in the conrse
of nature, was in the middle of the dav: but
deeper darkness than that of a winter NIGHT had
closed around the Inflated inmates Of Herculane-
um. This artificial darkness continued for three
days and nights, and when, at length. the sun
again appeared over the spot where Herculane-
um stood, his rays fell upon an ocean oflaya =
There was neither tree, nor shrub, nor field nor
house, nor living creature nor visible remnant
of what human hands had reared-there was
nothing to be seen but one black extended sur
face still steaming with mephitic Yapour. and
heaved into calcnel waves by the operation Of
fire. and the fluctuations of the earthquake! Plinv
was found dead upon the sea shore, stretched up
on cloth that had been spread for him. where il
was conjectured he had persisted early, his corpu
lent and apopectic habit rendered him an easv
prey to the sutfocating atmosphere"
In the House or Commons on the 18th Of Nav,
the Marquis Of Londonderry made spontaneous
communication, respecting the views of Russia
and Austria, He said that he had received of
hcial information that the Russian army would
not pass its own frontiers. He also entered in
70 further explanation of the reasons which
mad led to the advance of the Russian troops.
and strongly repealed the insnuations that mo-
hves OF political ambition had any influence in
the transaction. He distinctly stated. that
though ne could not make himself answerable
Tor The conduct Of any individual, yet, from his
knowledge of the character of the Emperor of
Russia, he believed him to be too deeply i'm
pressed with true sense of his own glory, TO
seek for any further aggrandisement, either on
the side Of Turkey or of SPAIN
A new Convention is said to be concluded be-
tween Austria and Naples, according to which
only $4,000 men are to remain in Naples The
kingof Naples was at Rome.
The march Of Russian troops has been stopped
by the Emperor Alexander and it is said that
he intends to preserve a strict neutrality be-
tween Turkey and the revolted troops. 1t is
universally believed at Paris that the allied pow
ers have determined to leave Spain and the
Greeks to themselves.
The Sandman minister has announced to the
Cove # France the accession Of Charles
Fe4- s OF Sardinia,