Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-08-23
TO The Editors Of The Enquirer:

New York, AuGusT 5yH 1850.
Gentlemen IL reached here on Friday about o'clock in
the Canada from Liverpool During absence from Rich
mond have visited the Southern parts of France going
from Paris BY the overland route 10 Chalous thence by the
river Rhone To Asgnon, and thence by railroad to asclcs
here the Mediterranean approached through novel
bay into which the wind blows for eight months in the
The hedged in BY rocky mountains in the and is
closely built The dust most annoying almost every
menr day and night The place which OF any
Meet is in Piedmont, and celebrated for its
Council Now is pleasant resort during the winter and
Tor such purpose its appearance IS bewchng whilst IT,
temperature is remarkably pleasant and dry Just in It's rear
rises the Mount MouSrALBASo one OF the spurs oil the Alps
which my road lay The whole oi the road from This
place 10 Genoa unbroSen succession OF grandeur and
beauty Genoa is The most interesting town the edlte
ranean excepting Naples Wy next point Icglorn and
thence Pa and Florence and then Civa Yeccha and
Naples. | will attempt little description of mr
10 Fesuvis and reserve any remarks about Rome Till my
leisure may tempt After riding up road constructed
through lava and sand and ashes winding deep
aud mp treacerous mounds for some i've miles, we reached
the base Of the volcano itself The sun was nearly down
and when got down of Of our horses but two things
except those We had brought win us looked Ike man had
been The spot before ana those wo chairs tor
carrying ladies up the crater. To the left NJ some miles
OIL a mountain, sharp aud perpendicular NJ
points gorged and deep others marking clearly
the outlines of volcanic mountain. Here We were all
brought together, and The following the party sol
der who had been brought guard from the Hermitage
(thc resting place you up from Nafles)a boy ~
III IS old with mis- bottles Of wine, one Of
and Of brandy, few dozen apcots three eggs
and straw in basket his shoulder-a guide with
black velvet round coat the large pockets his
coat H. had The remains al nl of bread and
We had left the Hermitage We had three attending
guides besides these Ny companion and myself made u
The partycach OF whom had leather strap his shout
der, the end ot which loop. Thus arranged after
rolling up pantaloons and sullng them into boots
we through sand and pebbles that had been
melted and nced By the volcano and poured down its
sides For fifty steps did not need the assistance al
the TO along but suddenly the ascent became
steep and difficult cw steps and brandy needed
excite TO the task OF climbing few steps Here
exhausted and only few steps made and with tho vast
h,,
low rough sides OF barren Wilderness al lava, with III"
n sprig Of vegetation OF any kind, exhausted and out
done, the sensation was most appalling; but e rest
few monhius OF bread and sausage. apricot glass Of
brandy and wafer, and stood up put my hands into the
loop the strap the back 81 my guide and taking is
steps safest placed my feet The rough lava and pulled
up few steps more, with guide behind watching my
steps and showing ne up Here again. another rest and an
other pause-thc perspation rushing from every pore.
took my coat oil and folded and placed in the basket
The shoulders OF the boy who had the wine brandy
Adjusting again my pantalocns the top Of my boots
which had fallen down from the violent exertions coming
up another effort made 20 ascend and after making
few steps again drank brandy and and again rested
and then made ew steps Here life itself seemed
exhausted After resting here time heard the voice
OF guide saying lie was the top. | looked up 10
him. looked below me upon the waste precipory OF Gin
ders and rocks. desponding glance every thing
about me- saw the god OF day retiring from sight; the
deep dark ellis of the adjacent mountains; the NANTES Of
darkness running fearful outline the before
and painting with prostraon and overcome with cxcron
nj last summoned up al my courage and made the
all things, that al last had reached ,;iic level resting
ground ran eyes rapidly the objects around me-
curve turned up and myself in the bottom, smoking
Of sulphur smelling it's odours and summoning up
Elections upon the guph Of eternal peIdon here in this
spot rested long and then began my walk towards the
ter took The arm of my guide began be stied with
the smlphurhc stopped suddenly show the fire IN
der the crevses %. the T1ch here liz aro;d seemed chiefly
sand, VITA here and there stone, and then again, a large
Jlddns rock Passing 10 the left still the border oi
crater along narrow pathway ridge between the
on one side and the desp avne towards pompc the other
was carried down hill into small hollowhere the smell
and odour was terrific the fires burning all the opposite
sides OF the crater like log fires ain in the spring
OF the year Here the which God gave me- began
10 give way and terror and fear took possession OF
my guide dragged Inc along the chief of these awful fires
and thrust my cane and burnt it, and pulled red ho
stones urged him 10 return land little He cried
out broken English danger and brought along the
sides OF the crater 10 the starting ponhere again drank
and eat and the boy roasted The eggs in the fires and
them The whole ground s hot below you put your hand
into The sand and will burn youyour feet feel scorched
BY the heat OF the EARTH struck ground and sounded
hollow Al this point down 10 await the rising of the
moon-the guide went little way off and got large stone
and threw over into the crater and Judging from the flight
OF sounds IN ordinary air, thought the crater mile deep
the books say only 2OO feet then began the same
myself OF throwing stones into the cavern and found the
depth enormous from frequent trials The constant stream
Of smoke from the summit is sing and il depends on the
direction Of the wind whether your location is bearabe or