Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-05-31

kening eXtremities ofwhich the eye could not clear
ly distinguish either from the mountains or the sea-
" till the majestic sun rose in fire, and reduced ev
cry object to order" Chaos seemed to unfold it.
self, where no four footed beast no bird interrupt
ed the solemn silence Of the formess void
"Wo sic kencn Toden bcgruben, uud kono cratohn wrd"
as Klopstock says Of the ice encircled pole
No dead arc buried there nor any there will rise"
"Etna cast his black shades over the gray dawn
of the western atmosphere, while round him stood
his sons, but far beneath, yet volcanic mountains
all, in number six and thirty, each a Vesuvus. To
the north, the east and the SOUTH Sicily lay at our
feet with its hills, and rivers and lakes and cities
In the low deep, the clouds, Hinged with purple,
were dispersed, and vanished from the presence of
the golden sun; while the shades flying before the
west wind, were scattered over the landscape far
and wide"
Mr. Hughes's description is at once minuter. and
still more effective. AT length" says he faint
streabs Of light, shooting atbwart the horizon.
which became brighter and brighter, announced the
approach Of the great hminary; and when he
sprung up IN his naJesty, supported on throne Of
radiant clouds, that fine scrptural image of the g
ant rejoicing TO run his course flashed across nv
mind. As be assembled in the sky, the mountain
tops began to stream with golden light and new
peaules succos7iy7,y dc eloped themselves, until
day dawned upon the Catanian plains. Sicily then
lay expanded like a map beneath our eyes, present
ing very curious effect nearly all its mountains
could be described, with the many cities that sur
mount their SUBMITS; more than half its coasts
with their bays, Intentions towns pronontorics
could be traced well the entire course of riv-
ers, sparkling like silver bands that encrce the val
leys and the plains. Add to this the rich tints OF
so delightful an atmosphere add the dark blue
tract Of sea, rolling its mysterious waves as it we're
into infinite space; add that spirit of antiquity
which fingers IN those charming scenes, inlusng
soul into the features Of nature as an expression
lights up a beautiful counenancc, end where will
you lind scene to rival that which is viewed from
AItna?
Compare this spectacle with one of the great
eruptions, and the agonizing days that precede it.
Smoke and earthquake commence them. The
days are darkened, the nights sleepless and horri
bic, and seem ten times as long usual. People
rush to the churches in prayer, or crowd in their
doorways, (Which arc thought the safest places or
remain in boas carriages out of DOORS Religious
professions move in terror through the streets.-
Sometimes the air is blackened with powder
sometime with ashes, which fall and gather every
where, such us Pompeii was buried with. Light
nlngs play about Etna the sea rises against the
dark atmosphere in ghastly white pillows; dread.
iul noises succeed, accompanied with thunder, like
batteries OF artillery the earth rocks: land slips
take place down the hill Sides carrying whole
ileds and homcsteads into other mems grounds
cities are ovcrthrown, burying shreking thousands
and at length the mountain bursts out in flame and
lava, perhaps in forty places at once, the principal
crater throwing ont hot glowing stones, which have
been known to be carried eighteen miles, and the
trlghtful mineral torrent running forth in streams
OF fiery red pouring down into the plains, climb
ing over walls, effacng estates, and rushing into
and usurping part of the bed of the sea. A river
oil 1t has been known to be fifty feet deep and four
miles broad. Fancy such stream coming towards
London, the whole width of Oxford street, Bays
water and Kensington, as far as Shepherds Bush.
by degrees, it cakes into black and rustling half
ilquld, rather pushed along than flowing; though
Its heat has been found lingering after lapse of
years And when the survivors Of all these horrors
gather breath, and look back upon time and place,
they lind houses and families abolished, and have
to begin, as it were, their planned existence a
new.
Yet they build again over these earthquakes
they inhabit and delight in this mountain; and
Catania, the city at its foot which has been several
times demolished is one of the gayest in Italy.