New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-08-12
THE TRIBUNE.
aetters from Europe. No. XIV.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Tribune.
ASCENT OF vEsUvIUs.

i aiming was bright and clear, ana lhe io"0 "
4 ,a,o the bay of Naples. We made short stop
/ ,fPortici, where the King has palace. 1t is a
. .sptful situation, with gardens, promenades'
,,5dl the laxuries that royalty can so easily al
4. The taste and beauty of the interior, how
~, are chiefly owing to Madam Murat, the
! ,.Quecn Of Naples who reformed not only this
n all the royal palaces Of the city, When the
4 1,h,oned Ferdinand returned from Sicily, he was
,,ceedingly pleased with the Improvements his
.ucneror had made, and very good humor-
n, remarked that "Murat was an excellent
] ,,bo,serer." The portraits Of Napoleon's and
ur,at,s families arc still there, and said to be
| ,,,elent lkenesses. The whole palace is II c1-
silent taste, but the only thing remarkable |
,,ieed was porcelain room, the walls and cell
ms of which were covered with china from the
,sIebrated mandatory Of Capo di Mont, spcci-
mems of which arc now seldom found. These
porcelain panels are painted with landscapes
md bordered with wrcaths in alto relieve colorcd,
Ike Life, and as large, with squirrels and birds
mingled in charming confusion. The frames OF
he mirrors and chandeliers were of the same
MATERIAL and the effect of the whole was singular
md pleasing. | hurried through the rooms, anx-
;ous 10 be on the side of Vesuvius
We soon came to the place where horses and
6nkeys are taken for the ascent, and here a
rambling and squaling and quarrelling COM
nenced that would not have disgraced a
understanding at New York. In the morn
:sg when we started, mani mounted the box Of
4scarriage with the driver d if he owned 1t. [
aked him what he was doing there. He wanted
b know if did not wish guide. | replied,
yes, Of course, to ascend tile mountain" Sup
posing all was right, we went on. But here |
discovered that a horse could not be had without
guide to accompany him. ! turned to my
friend Of the coach-box and asked what this
meant, and why he had presumed to fasten HIM
elf on me in this way. He seemed to be
amewhat hustered, but replied with great deal
olsuavity, ooh, sir, to sec you arc not cheated,
and to have every thing arranged on your re-
un." " | can take care of that" said ] 81
don't mean tobe cheated by you or others either"
But the day was advancing, and this was no
place or time to quarrel with him, for it would
only swell the Babel that already clattered around
me- My friend at length mounted cookbook
ing horse while the most viilainous donkey that
ever went unsheared was LED up to ne. ! asked
ny supernumcrary guide if this was the animal
he had come thus far to provide me with. He
sad he thought it was an excellent beast. | re-
Piled was sorry could nosiagree with him, and
deliberately walked away,s The owner then
threw himself before me, wiki his demurc, shay
y, long cared friend, determined | should take
LIN. | asked him if he called that horse
No, your exceency, but an ecellentissimo
ASS No. said |, very coolly, ''yoll are mis-
taken; 1t is neither an ass nor horse" He
looked in establishment at ms, as much as to say,
What do you mean what il it then The 9TH
en had become quiet by ibis time, and stood
waiting the issue. Why,f said |, do mt you
see IT'S rat-a large ,catet-rat-yoi are wish
asme to ride 7" The men Cooked at each ether
astonishment for a monlent, and then burst
MO loud laugh Seeing was not to be duped,
lsy led me forth a very nice grey pony, which
mounted and galloped off,
The guide, with a strong stick in one hand,
Naed my friends horse by the tail, and trottcd
@sr' The ascent for Some time was gradual,
ne foad passing through vineyards from which
Acafyna Christi, tears Of Christ Gas certain
IND of wine is called is made The scene
gradually grew drearer until we came to the re-
gea Of pure lava. can convey to you no idea
u 'ne feelings this utterly barren lava desert at
-asl eScites There it spreads, black broken and
''lssa, Just as 1t cooled in its slow and troubled
"'A'en Tor the sea. Here it met an obstacle and
Use into barrier; there it fell off into ridges
Ns' cracked and broke into fragments, till the
'aole inclined plane that spreads oft from the
sT Of the cone, appears as If theicarth had been
gently shaken I'LL all the large and loose por-
Ss mad risen to the surface. Sometimes YOU
@4a trace for some distance sort of circular
III OF cooled lava, behind which the redhot
Sean had gathered and glowed like a brow of
Yah. Nothing could be more dreary and desc
NE Through this was passing in narrow
.a. Ny eye wandered hither and thithcr over
~e scathed and backencd mass, but always came
''sS to the solemn peak from whose top silently
~'ended a heavy column of smoke. From this
sswese to ascend ridge of earth that the vol
'$ao had spared, and on which stood the hermit
60 Before reaching it we could see on its mar
Tow top, extending nearly to the base of the peak
~ iotms Of mules and horses slowl y marching
iAaian file and carrying company IN advance
Us 10 the same destination. Their appearance
'aal distance and above us, cast IN bold relic
= s"i's' The clear sky, was novel and picturesque
oio not stop at the hermitage, but pushing
4sn' on soon reached the field of lava through
-sa our animals picked their way with mos