fuch a degree of heat, that we could not ftand upon it for any confiderable time, but were obliged very frequently to ftep on the ground, or on older lava, to cool our feet. We had advanced a good way on a large piece of the lateft lava, which was perfectly black and hard, and feemed cooler than the reft; while from this we looked at a stream of liquid lava, which flowed fluggishly along a hollow way at fome distance. I accidentally threw my eyes below my feet, and perceived fomething, which mightily discomposed my contemplations. This was a fmall ftream of the fame matter, gliding to one fide from beneath the black cruft on which we ftood. The idea of this cruft giving way, and our finking into the glowing liquid which it covered, made us shift our ground with great precipitation; which one of our guides obferving, he called out,

Animo, animo, Signori!" and immediately jumped on the incrustation which we had abandoned, and danced above it, to fhew

8

that

that it was fufficiently ftrong, and that we had no reason to be afraid. We afterwards threw large ftones of the heaviest kind we could find, into this rivulet, on whofe furface they floated like cork in water; and on thrusting a stick into the ftream, it required a confiderable exertion of ftrength to make it enter. About this time the day began to overcaft; this deftroyed our hopes of enjoying the view from the top of the mountain, and we were not tempted to afcend any farther.

Some time after, I went to the fummit with another party;-but I think it fair to inform you, that I have nothing new to fay on the fubject of volcanoes, nor any philofophical remarks to make upon lavas. I have no guess of what time may be neceffary for the formation of foil, nor do I know whether it accumulates in a regular progreffion, or is accelerated or retarded by various accidents, which may lead us. into infinite errors, when we calculate

time by fuch a rule. I have not the smallest wish to infinuate that the world is an hour older than Mofes makes it; because I imagine thofe gentlemen whofe calculations. differ from his, are very nearly as liable to be mistaken as he was; becaufe an attempt to prove it more ancient, can be no service to mankind; and finally, because unless it could at the fame time be proved that the world has acquired wisdom in proportion to its years, fuch an attempt conveys an oblique reflection on its character; for many follies may be overlooked and forgiven to a world of only five or fix thousand years of age, which would be quite unpardonable at a more advanced period of existence. Having forewarned you that I fhall treat of none of those matters, but fimply defcribe what I faw, and mention, perhaps, a few incidents, none of which, I confefs, are of great importance, I leave it in your choice to afcend the mountain with me, or not, aş

you please.

VOL, II.

P

Having

Having proceeded on mules as far as on the former occafion, we walked to that part of the mountain which is almost perpendicular. This appears of no great height, yet those who have never before attempted this afcent, fatigue themselves here much more than during all the reft of the journey, notwithstanding their being affifted by laying hold of the belts which the guides wear about their waifts for that purpose. This part of the mountain appearing much shorter than it really is, people are tempted to make a violent effort, in the expectation of furmounting the difficulty at once; but the cinders, afhes, and other droffy materials giving way, the foot generally finks back twothirds of each ftep; fo that befides the height being greater than it appears, you have all the fatigue of afcending a hill' three times as high as this is in reality. Thofe, therefore, who fet out too brifkly at first, and do not husband their strength at the beginning, have reafon to repent

their imprudence, being obliged to throw many a longing look, and make many a fruitless vow, before they, with the wretched guide who lugs them along, can arrive, panting and breathlefs, at the top; like those young men who, having wasted their vigour in early exceffes, and brought on premature old age, link themselves to fome ill-fated woman, who drags them, tormenting and tormented, to the grave.

Those who wish to view Mount Vefuvius to the greatest advantage, must begin their expedition in the evening; and the darker the fucceeding night happens to be, fo much the better. By the time our company had arrived at the top of the mountain, there was hardly any other light than that which iffued by interrupted flashes from the volcano.

Exclufive of thofe periods when there are actual eruptions, the appearance and quantity of what iffues from the mountain are very various; fometimes, for a long