The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-04

AROUND THE BAY OF BALE.
Professor Snan last evening delivered lecture upon
the above subject including notices of the volcanic
islands in the Bay Of Naples of Srombol Mount Etna'
and the most remarkable effects of its erupons the
diton of the people, &C. The hall filed in every part
and for the benefit of that portion Of the audience not
present at the previous lecture he gave resume Of it,
and then proceeded with the subject given out for the
evening Behind Naples which is some eight ten
miles from Vesuvius, hills undoubtedly Of vol
canic matter, composed OF pumice stone had been
showered down like fakes of snow and become solidfed
by time Through Of these hills is remarkable tun-
nel fifty feet in height leading the way to Baie. Who
begun il is not certainly known passing through this
hill found the reputed grave of Virgil the tomb stone
containing latin inscription In his praise poet &c.
The next in interest is the amoua Lake Egnago and the
groto Del Cade Passing on you the ruins
OF the villa OF Lucuus every object indicating to have
been a large and magnificent establishment; and all
volcanic action He referred TO Monte Neugo which broke
forth nearly three hundred years ago. It regular
been the work of art 1t is now dormant About here
were the scenes OF Roman festivities much dwelt
by Virgil and here are the famous Elysan Fields which
the imagination pictured most delightful spot drawn
from the source but they in reality nothing
but miserable fields filed with oysters 1t was very well
for Virgil to give it beautiful aspect. He poet
Nearly across the bay come across the temple OF
Jupiter Scraps, which, instead OF being temple for
ship, was, more probably Roman bath 1t must have
about fifty feet in height still left standing They are
not solid, but comprise three pieces, ngeniousy
nected by rods Of iron point OF great interest to goo
ogss is that these columns perforated at the height
of about ten feet from the bottom by shell fish and
tons Of like nature while above that percep.
ble This fact the Professor concluded was an evidence
that the place had been overlooked by the and these
marks indicate how far the water rose. There
doubt but there had been rise and fall in the land all
about the Bay of Bais and there is other superstition
left but that the whole Of Italy had been lifted out of the
SEQ. The remains Of Roman structures remained to
this day about the bay but where the Roman feet
anchored, there desoate waste. There are also
the prison Of Nero and the Vault OF Terrors The latter
place now resorcd to for the manufacture Of alum
by throwing stones down the cavity it is found to be ho
low At some distance 1t is SO hot that kettles of water
are boiled by merely placing them the sand, which
goes to show that there is fire all under these regions
from the flow OF lava the internal fire must break out
in some place else. Continuing the way to Etna
come across that remarkable group called the Eoan
(now Lpparyl islands, which all volcanic-one is
composed almost entirely Of volcanic glass and another
Of pumce stone, white like snow. In passing Strombol
beautiful view is had 1t appears TO have risen out OF
the 1t has ceased to be erupive-tha IS it does
constantly throw out lava The lecturer referred to the
is accommodated with seats and other conyenences and
II can be descended to point where the water is boiling
hot his guide brought out pail of water Of the tempe
nature OF l6O degrees 1t has been boiling since the
time of Nero Resumng the thread of his DISCOURSE the
lecturer continued that after passing Strombo and Ena,
approach that famous Strait called Scya and Charyb
dis which is about two miles wide. 1t did not however
come up to the expectations Of those who had formed
an OPINION about 1t from the classics. 1t was a
tame stream and by means to be compared with our
own Hur Gate At times when the waters at
tain height he had been informed il rushed with great
violence but it not that dangerous pass imagined
In reference to the cities Of assena and Ceanco said
that the latter was built upon lava The eruption Of
volcano in its ncigbohood took place in 1862 and the
Lava flowing around the city, escaped with the excep-
ton OF few houses. The burning stream was three
miles in breadth and fifteen In length and at its termi
nus formed large basin, which stl exists with per.
centhle alteration in its composition. Mount Etna is
HIT feet high more than two miles perpendicular in
elevation and according TO II is 100 miles in circuit
at the base During the last fifty II has been erup
tive about once in years and there great
or mistake than to suppose that the fire beneath is
entve 1t may be transferred 10 other quarter,
but it always exists. 1t goes out 10 the year
3e, there was remarkable eruption Of Etpa, during
which discharges like the sounds Of artillery took place
every three minutes for several hours The lecturer
tered into lengthy description Of wide lapse the
Of Etna 600 feet high at the lowest point and 5000
the highest being twenty miles in circuit called the
Val dc Noye II Is place Of great interest and subject
for much thought In concluding he gave his opinion
that the rcs In the interior of the earth
the combustion of ordinary combustbes but to internal
electricity and the TO TO exert any inu
ence on the exterior the result would be the The
fires viii cease but must burn perpetually After
some experiments with potassium and rodum upon ba
OF water the lecturer concluded amid the applause Of the
| audience.