The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-24
The Eruption Of Vesuvius.


Toe terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius,
which commenced on the 26th of May, was still
active at the latest sdvices. The following ex.
tracts from correspondence of the London
Times show the character and progress of the
eruption:
Naples, May 3l.-Since Saturday the erup-
ton has proceeded with constantly increasing
violence, and has presented at night more
and more magnificent spectacle. Last night at
about eight o'clock an immense torrent of lava
broke over the ridge which confine the basin
of craters, in the direction of the Somma it
flowed down the declivity of the Somma as an
immense torrent of liquid fire, and with such
extraordinary rapidity that in less than an hour
it had descended through a considerable por.
ton of the mountain. Its progress was then
retarded, partly by the diminished steepness of
the ground, and partly by transverse ravines
which must be filed 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 extra.
ordinary burst of sp endor which has been pre-.
scented since the com mencement of the eruption
took place soon after nine o clock, when all the
mouths seemed to be- simultaneously called into
violent action, and to vomit forth such torrents
of lava that the entire mountain seemed one
blaze of fire; the varied colors produced in diff
ferent parts, owing probably in part to rehec
ton, presented q beautiful and striking an.
pearance The lurid light diffussd from this enor.
nous burning mass rendered visible the subia.
cent country, the to vns, the coast, and the bay
Ga each night, sc versl thousands of persons
of all ranks, from tn peer to the peasant, urged
by curiosity, repair to the scene of this extra
ordinary spectacle. The darkness being COM
plete, and the route in many parts difficult,
each party is furni he'd with torch, and the
view of these hundr eds of torches fitting about
between the streams of lava is most curious,
presenting the appearance of multitudes of fire.
flies.
The Hermitage, which is close to the great
basin of craters anc rivers of lava, is approach.
by tolerably good carriage road, and, as may
be supposed, hundreds of vehicles of every de-
scription, from the caleche of the millionaire to
the humble coricolo, are collected there towards
midnight. Donkey parties abound, of which
ladies do not fear t. form part.
June 1.-The 81 ate of the mountain last
night was nearly the same as on the preceding
night, the eruption perhaps, being a little less
violent. The great streams of lava already
described continue to flow slowly in the same
direction. Part of the extraordinary splendor
OF the spectacle OF Sunday night was due to
the burning of forest, over which the lava pass.
ed. The Neapolitans congratulate themselves
on the circumstance of the lava having been
directed into 30 many different streams; for if.
as in former eruptions, it had all bsen thrown
into one channel, the destruction which must
have ensued would have been tremendous.
It is reported that BY the Europa dispatches
have been received atthe State Department from
Mr.. Dallas, covering the response of the Brit
ish Government to the letters of Secretary Cass
upon the recent searches of American vessels
in the Gulf. The Washington correspondent
of the Philadelphia Ledger says,
"The pith of the De dispatches is, that while
England disavows ell authority for any often.
sive acts that may have been committed, and
while standing ready 70 make all the reparation
that may be required, sbe is not at the same
time, willing to abandon the right of visiting
all vessels that may be suspected of being en-.
gagged in the traffic of slaves. In other words,
the most effective measures will still be used
fer its suppression. 1t is, however, the desire
of the British Government that these visits mag
be made in the most acceptable manner; and
to secure this, the English Minister of ForeigL