Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-16
NO. $50

centre he saw mass Of matter which
rose in the shape Of a cone, to the
height ofabout sixty feet.
On the vastness and beauty Of the
prospect, from the summit Of Etna, all
authors agree; and Spallanzani observes
that their is not, perhaps, any elevated
region on the whole globe which offers
at one view so fine an extent of the sea
and land. NJ. Houel was stationed
there at sun rise, when the horison was
clear, and without single cloud. The
coast of Calabria, was he says, undis-
tinguishable from the adjoining sea
but in short time fiery radience be-
gan to appearfrom behind those Italian
bills which bounded the eastern part of
the prospect. The fleecy clouds which
generally appear early in the morning,
were tinged with purple; the atmos-
phere beams strongly Illuminated, and
rejecting the rays Of the sun, seemed
to be filled with bright refulgence of
fame. Although the heavens were
thus enlightened, the sea still retained
its dark azure, and the fields and for
ests did not yet reflect the rays Of the
sun. The gradual rising Of this lumi-
nary, however, soon diffused light over
the hills which lie below the peak of
Etna. This last stood like an island
in the midst of the ocean, with lumin-
Gus points multiply every moment a.
round, and spreading overa wider ex-
tent with the greatest rapidity. Itwas
he said, as if the world had been obser-
we'd suddenly to spring from the night
of non-existence. si
Ere the rising sun
Shone Ger the deep, or mid the vault ofnight
The moon her silverlig ht suspended: ere
The wales with springs were watered, or with
groves
OF oak or pine the ancient hills were crown'd;
Then the great spirit whom his works adore
Within his own deep essence viewed the
forms.
The forms eternal of created things.
The radient sun; the moons nocturnal lamp;
The mountains and the streams, the am
pie stores
Ofcarth, of heaven, fnature. From the first,
On that full scene his lore divine he fxed.
His admiration. TilIiH time complete,
What he admired and loved his vital power
Unfolded into being. Hence the breath
Oflfe informing each organic frame:
Hence the green earth, and wild resounding
Hence light and shade, alternate warmth and
cold;
And bright autumnal skies, and vernal show
es,
And all the fair variety Of things.
The most sublime object however
which the summit of Etna presents,
is the immense mass of its own colos-
sal body. Its upper region exhibits
rough and craggy cliffs, rising perpen-
dicularly, fearful to the view, and sur
rounded by an assemblage OF fugitive
clouds, 10 increase the wild variety OF
the scene. Amidst the multitude OF
woods in the middle or temperate re-
gion, are numerous mountains, which,
in any other situation, would appear
of a gigantic size, but which compar-
ed to Etna, are mere mole hills. Last
" the eye contemplates with admira-
ton the lower region, the most extern
sive of the three, adorned with elegant
villas and castles, verdant hills and
flowery fields, and terminated by the
extensive coast, where to the south,
stands the beautiful city catania, to
which the waves of the neighbouring
sea serve as mirror.
Etna has been cflebrated1as a vol
cano, from the femotest antiquity. E
ruptions are recorded by Diodorus
Siculus as having happened 500 years
before the Trojan war, or 1898 years
before the Christian era.
Etna roars with dreadful thunders nigh, }
Now hurls bursting cloud of cinders high,
Involved in smoky whirlwind to the sky; }
With loud displosion to the starry frame,
Shoots fiery globes, & furious floods ct harnei
Now from her believing caverns burst sway
Vast piles ofmelted rocks in open day,
Her shattered entrals wide the mountain
throws,
And deep as hell her flaming centre glows
WARTON.
In 1869, the torrent of burning lava
inundated space fourteen miles In
length, and four in breadth, burylng
beneath it part Of Catania, till at length
it precipitated itself into the sea. FOR
.aueroI ,non,hs before the lava broke
out, the old mouth or crater Of the
summit, was observed to send forth
much smoke and flame, and the top
had fallen in, so that the mountain was
much lowered.
Eighteen days before, the sky was
very thick and dark, with thunder,
lightning, frequent conclusions Of the
earth, and dreadful subterraneous bel
| iowings. On the nth Of March, about
sun set an immense gulf opened in the
mountain, into which when stones were
Il L. sod