Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-12-19
Letters from Abroad. No, EEM.

4
| ras it 10 good mile and allup hill work. asone
Of the weaker vessels am provided with a donkey,
all the rest heng good pedestrians make their way
| on foot. Soon firing however with the dull pro.
gresS Of my slow but sure footed little drudge,
took to my feet and led off the file with good speed
and spirit, leaving the patient animal to take his
time. We assembled to the summit Of the cone,
now beautifully green and verdant hill, the era!
ter forming hollow within almost to ito base, as
If all its former varied contents had been scooped
out, leaving it q huge bowl, covered within as
without with bright and vivid green. But as If
to give evidence Of its eidevant dangerous eoncor1-
liant ind vicious propenstes, and belying its pres
emit color and placid seeming, thick sulphurous
smoke was seen to issue from fssores in ito GRASSY
bed. and on one side aheap of chalky and sulphur.
Gus rubbish, had been drawn from the bowels Of
the cone, while dense white vapour was pouring
from its midst This was all that presented itself
here, but another day we made an excursion to
port near the base Of the cone, where were several
pits dug in its side, from whence is procured sui
phur. mercury, yitrol, ammonia, alum. and beau
tiful chalk used by the soldiers in cleaning their
trappings What perfect laboratory nature has
here Of her own! and affording her productions in
such quantities that loaded donkies were constantly
passing US by. Our cicarone next took us to small
building constructed of rorgh boards against the
side Of the cone; this was sulphur bath, and
standing we did on the ground parallel with its
roof were enabled to apply to the top 81 the
low chimney, and could distinctly hear the bpb-
bling Of the hot boiling spring beneath this
were assures or openings to which the guide APP
piled blazing matches switch were instantly extin-
gushed. We extended our walk still farther to
visit the remains Of amphitheatre, then returned
to the town, passing through square ornamented
with antique statues to the water side. Puozzioli
where St. Paul landed on his way from Syracuse,
had formerly one Of the finest ports in Italy; and
on the arches Of its superb mole was constructed
Caligula's famous bridge Remains Of the huge
piers Of the mole may sill be discerncd above the
water. This finished the day; our drive to Ma
pies along the shore Of its bay by the glowing light
Of true Italian sunset was delightful. The morn
ing after, we were early en- route" on our way to
the grOttO del Cane. Our way going and return
ing took us through the wonderful grotto Of Posil
lpo, once perhaps natural grot, but from modern
improvements an almost interminable tunnel Be-
ing near the city, and serving as a common thor
oughfare for the people of the neighbofing villages,
it is always filled with motley assemblage of hor-
ses, mules and ,nies, the dun OK or danntr :,ufa
70. goats and dogs, with equal variety Of bpeds.
men, women and children, carriages, carts, and the
hcn,a Hl,uv fros,n
pitchy darkness, being necessarily lighted by small
gliminering lamps, one might aptly fancy him
sell, not in the hunting grounds Of the rising
sun, that our Indians dream Of, but in some place
in the neither world, appropriated peculiarly to
the noisy Neapolitans. On tho summit OF this
grot, at the end toward Naples, the eye lights up.
on beautiful and picturesque object. no less than
the tomb of Virgil. II is, as said, situated upon
the arch Of entrance. When viewed from the
street below, the eye measures long distance up
ward, before il rests upon the huge grassy mound.
crowned by tall holm oak, festooned with luxuri-
ant vines Of the ivy and laurel which covers the
resting place Of the poet. The ascent is steep
and somewhat difficult; but after attaining the
height and before entering the house of the dead,
your glance is directed to the crowded dwellings Of
the living, which lie clustered on the level be-
neath with many beautiful adjunct, lending love-
illness to the charming landscape, which extends
itself far into the distance and the name Of the
spot bears this beautiful Specification, Cessation
from SORROW" The scene within the mausoleum
is vastly different; can compare it to nothing
better than large oven. It is dome, the interi-
or Of which is covered with brown stucco. There
are two square doors opposite each other; by one
Of these, you enter before the other, on the in
side, 10 placed plain white slab Of marble, with
an inscription, the name Of the poet, and the man
who placed it there. Around the sides Of the
dome are inches for cinerary urns, but empty all
and with the associations arising from the ashes Of
the great songster, YOU have the whole. You may
be sure did not leave the spot without bearing
with me memorial from the " lex canopy Of Vir
gil's Tomb" t,.s.}y g. ,.'i .'-i -.
Arrived at the gr0tto del Cane, we found the
Oacner awaiting Us, and ready to 60 through with
the usual experiments This grot is Of height at
the entrance, sufficient to allow man to stand up
right but its interior is 50 dark that could not,
standing outside, judge Of its extent. The exhibit
tions here are as painful. as curious. The keeper
has two dogs, who 60 through the experiments al
ternatey, when called upon. for the qualification Of
visitors. One OF them is brought just within the
mouth Of the cave; he is then made to lie down
near to the place whence the nephitic air pro-
caoda In few sacnnds he Il oasDinV a. If IN the