Litchfield enquirer., 1858-07-08
THE ERUPTION OF yEsUvIUs.

THE ERUPTION OF VEsUVIUs.
 Correspondence of the London Times
 NAPLES, May 31.-Sinee Saturday the erup- tion has proceeded with constantly increased violence, and has presented at night magni6- cent spectacle. Iu my last letter 4 mentioned that there issued from the great basin of fire in the Atrio single stream of lava, which, after Q tortaous course, was descending the decivity of the mountain. The stream has continued in it's course varying in breadth according to the accidents of the ground, and seems now to di- rect itself to point between Portic and Tore del Greco, but much nearer to the latter than the former. It approaches close to the scat tered farm-houses, which lie above the towns at the foot of the mountain, many of which it can scarcely fail to destroy..,.
 in the afternoon of Saturday and Sunday, two other streams of lava broke out of the great basin, and are descending the mountains to- wards the neighborhood of Portici. These streams seem to follow the direction of ravnes which run nearly parallel to the ridge on which the Observatory and the Hermitage stand- These buildings have. hitherto been saved from submersion by the lava by their great eleya tion, the fluid naturally following the direction of the lower ground at either side of them. Last night the spectacle was peculiarly grand and imposing. The lava was pouring in in- creased quantity along each of the streams al- ready established, and being in high state of incandeScence, presented a peculiar splendid appearance. ~
 At about 8 o'clock an immense torrent of lava broke over the ridge which confines the basin of craters, in the direction of Somna in an immense torrent ofliquid fire, and with such extraordinary rapidity that in less than an hour it had descended through a considerable DOT tion of the mountain. Its progress was then retarded, partly by the diminished ,steepness of the ground, and partly by transverse ravines which must be filled before the fluid can ad- vance. Nothing could exceed the splendor of this torrent of liquid fire, forming the fourth principal stream of lava; but the most extraor dinary burst of splendor which has been pre- scented since the commencement Of the eruption took place soon after 9 o'clock, when all the mouths seemed simultaneously called into vio- lent action, and to vomit forth such torrents of lava that tffe entire. mountain seemed one blaze of fire the varied colots produced in different parts, owing probably in part to reflection, pre- sented 3 beautiful and striking appearance. The lurid light diffused from this enormous burning mass rendered visible the subjacent country, the towns, the coast, and the bay
 .sOn each night several thousands of persons of all ranks from the peer to the peasant, urg- ed by curiosity repair to the scene of this ex- traordinary spectacle. The darkness being complete, and tine route in many parts being difficult, each party is furnished with torch and the view of these hundreds of torches fit ting about between the streams of lava is most curious, presenting the appearance of multi tudes of freaies.
 The Hermitage which is close to the great basin of craters aid rivers of lava, is approach. cd by tolerable carriage road, aud as may be supposed, hundreds of vehicles of every descrip- tion, from the caleche of the millionaire to.the humble coricelo, are collected there towards midnight. Donkey parties abound, of which the ladies do not fear to form a part .
 Part of the extraordinary splendor of the spectacle on Sunday night was due to the burn ing of forests, over which the lava passed. The Neapolitans congratulate themselves on the cir 'cnmstance of the lava having been directed into 60 many different streams ]; for if, as in former 'eruptions, it had been all thrown into one chan uiel, the destruction which must have ensued would have been tremendous.
 June 1.-The eruption is splendid ! There are three streams of lava; which begin just be- tween Vesuvius and Somma we went as near ss possible; we climbed to the top of a ridge of.iava which had begun to cool, but it reouir- ed'all the carefuhiess of our guides to prevent our burning our feet off On our way down we went to the top of the Observatory, whence the view of the lava was splendid; the middle was flowing as fastas water ;.there was a rayed re- tiection in the smoke, which my friend said was just like the Aurora Borealis in Scotland. The eruption began last Wednesday night; the la va begins where it did in 1855. There were thousands of people on the mountain; it was an extraordinary scene. At the end of one of the streams of lava, that on the Castellamare side of the Hermitage. there was a ceremony, I suppose to stop the lava. There was a sai,lt and some priests in attendance
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 THE FARM AND THE GARDEN. idea of sowing turnip seed in June and July, is doubt. less borrowed from England, our farmers oyer looking the important fact that the atmosphere of England is humid (which is so essential to quick growth--while our climate is just the op- posite. and during these months with us the soil is generally par6led. &c I have experimented