Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-07-05
LETTER FROM EUROPE
NAPLES, Italy, Feb. 20, 1860.

ANAfLcof Ateiy ASS' ~
We, of course, ascended the far
famed Vesuvios, and looked into its
wonderful crater, nearly one mile in
circumference, which continually
pours forth immense volumes OF
smoke, steam and as hes. 1t is now
comparatively quiet, though, on the
side next to the sea, about halt way
down the mountain, it, is continually
in eruption, sending out a stream Of
red hot liquid lava, serving as 9 safe
lty valve. We approached this river
Of melted rocks as near as the heat
would permit, but were soon COM
PEELED to recede to escape destruction.
This perpetual fire can be seen from
| Naples and many miles distant
After the descent we explored the
two exhamed cities of the plain
PoMpEII and HERcULANEUM - which,
you know, we're completely buried
10y the awful eruption of Vesnvlus
seventy nine years after the birth Of
Christ, and were so eifectuRlly coy-
cred that even .be knowledge Of their
existence vas lost 20 the world for
the space of fifteen hundred years.
These fhined cities, now exposed
after long and expensive excavations,
indicate that they were cities OF the
first class, surrounded by walls and
guarded by watch towers, after the
most approved system Of defence.
Their population must have been
very great, and their temples, public
buildings, villas, baths, gardens and
palatial abodes, are found to have
been Of uorivalsd splendor and mag
Iniicence-full Of vast quantities of
statuary, rare paintings and rich
mosaics, proving the perfection OF
Greek and Roman art two thousand
five hundred years ago. These have
been carefully collected and are noW in
the Museum of Naples, constituting
the most interesting collection extant.
We spent several days 10 this Mu-
scum, though months would be re-
-quisite to see all and become fainil>
lar with the history of its contents,
for it contains the productions Of
every country and almost every nge
in the history Of the world. Many
of the apartments are entirely filled
with articles found in excavating
} Ponpeii. Among them, the very
great number of Papyri claim par
ticular attention. These were man
uscrip.s Of tho ancients on the vari-
= GUS arts aud sciences, written on a
. thin vegetable tissue, formed into
, sheets Of eight or ten inches in
|. breadth pasted together anc Subjected
to great pressure. The sutfaee was
polished, land the ink put on With
> kind Of reed or pointed metallic
!. !. stylus. Many instruments Of supe
> rior workmanship were found, which
we're used in the mechanic arts
Q surgical instruments, gold and silse'
v ornaments, vases Cor their pagan lem
S pies, bracelets, rings, coin, canoes
9 iewelry of every description, ant
e precious stones. Their kitchens uer'
8. filled With modern luxuries and ever.
It kind Of culinary unteasil; difleren
% kinds Of grain, fruit, spices, flour
,r meat. and even bread, with the nam
y and stamp Of the baker, are to b
d seen in the museum as relies
le Pompeian luxury. Their cellars yer
full Of large earthen vessels for cor
tanning the wine and oil so uniVe'
y sally used in those times. =
70 The great number Of subterranea
= = passages, caves and grottoes OF Vi!
. extent, 10 the vicinity of Naples.
'e = the wonder of travellers as we'll
~ y antiquariaus; for their origin and u
=. are unknown to history aud involve
y in conjecture. Some Of them pa
y entirely under the mountains, affor
;. ling com nunication most lrregul
~ :. ana sigzag from the size OF one a
cient city to another. Among Il
many which we explored, that nc
,rt called the cave Of SrBYb, is the me
VS. remarkable. We followed the guild
no with their torches a conslderal
M distance, and, finally, arrived
on spring. Of tepid water covering t
tiu| Goor Of the gFotto. Here we mon
an. ed On the backs OF ouf guides, to
me- conveyed. as they assured us, into
SECRET cnAliBEa Of the SIBYL.