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-that the nierealated day, instead of remaining unnoticed, is every fourth, or leap year, styled the 29th and last day of February. This month, which has PISCES, or The Fishes, for its sign in the Zodiac, was placed, by Numa Pompilius, under the immediate protection of NEPTUNE, the Pagan god of the waters; who was held in high estimation by the Romans, no only as holding dominion over one of the four elements, but also on account of the advice which he was supposed to have given for carrying off the daughters of their neighbours, the Sabines, by the primitive inhabitants of Rome. Be that as it may, its present name took its origin from FEBRUA, one of the names of the goddess Juno, who presided over the purification of women; because the feast of the Lupercalia was then held. Some authors contend that it is derived from Febrais expiatoriis, or sacrifices for the purgation of souls; because, at a feast which was always held on the second day of this month, the heathens themselves not only underwent a lustration, or purification, by sprinkling with bunches of hyssop, dipped in water, but they also offered sacrifices to Pluto, the infernal deity, on behalf of their ancestors and relatives. By our Saxon ancestors, February was called SPROUT-KALE*, Or the month in which young cabbages, or colewort, began to sprout. They afterwards changed it into SOL-MONATH, or Sun Month, from the then returning sun, or the approach of spring; when seeds and plants begin to vegetate by the gradually-increasing warmth of the

season.

The common emblematic representation of February is, a man in a dark or sky-coloured habit, bearing in his hand the astronomical sign of Pisces, or the Fishes. In the ancient Saxon pictures, a vinedresser was shown in the act of pruning his trees;-in others, a man in a jacket, buttoned up close, striking his arms across his body, in token of the early part of the month being generally the most inclement portion of the year. February has also been represented by a man clad in a white robe, with a wreath of snowdrops round his temples, and holding a burning candle in his hand.

ANNIVERSARIES IN FEBRUARY.
FRIDAY 1st.

1394 Charles VI. King of France, was nearly burnt to death at a
masquerade given in honour of the marriage of one of the
Queen's ladies. The king, who entered the ball-room dancing,
and covered over with flax, so as to resemble a savage or
wild man, led in five lords chained together, and similarly
habited. The Duke of Orleans, who was not aware of the
quality of the maskers, approached them, and in a frolic ap-
plied his lighted flambeau to one of their heads; which,
instantly bursting into a blaze, communicated to the others,
and also set the furniture of the room on fire. The king
escaped; but four of his chained companions were burnt to
death; and the fifth was saved only by jumping into a vat full
of water.
1649 Charles I. King of England, was brought a second time
before his judges. The king, firm in his resolution not to
recognise this new tribunal, insisted on the insufficiency of
their power to try him. Bradshaw, the president, replied,
"that the Court held its power from the Commons of the king
dom, to whom the kings, his predecessors, had always held
themselves responsible;" but the king challenged him to
cite an example of such jurisdiction. Cromwell, however,
abruptly terminated the discussion, by saying, "that such
explanations were useless, and that the Court had no time to
lose in solving quibbles."

1733 Frederick-Augustus I., king of Poland, died at Warsaw, aged sixty-three. This sovereign's life is a striking instance of the vicissitudes of human life. Three years after having been elected King of Poland, he was driven from the throne by Charles XII. of Sweden, who gave the crown to Stanislaus Leczinski: but, on the defeat of Charles at Pultowa, he was restored. and continued to reign until his death. He was regarded by the Saxons as a father, and was held in great respect by the Poles.

1793 William Aiton, author of Hortus Kewensis,--a catalogue of the plants in the Royal Gardens at Kew,-died at Kew, in Surrey.

SATURDAY 2d. CANDLEMAS-DAY.-PURIFICATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY. The feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin was formerly celebrated in this country, (and is still in Roman Catholic ones) by torchlight processions and by the performance of Mass with a multitude of Candles in the several churches. These customs are said to have been derived from the Romans, who went about their city with lighted torches on this day, in honour of Februa the mother of Mars, and to have been introduced into the church of Rome, by Pope Sergius. Such practices were continued in England, until the second year of the reign of Edward the Sixth, when Archbishop Cranmer suppressed them, by order of the King's Privy Council.

Anciently, this day was called that of Christ's Presentation ; and

Verstegan tells us that, by Kele, the Saxons meant Cole-wort, or Kelewurt; "which," says he," was the greatest pot-wurt, in time long past, that our ancestors used; and the broth made thereof was also called Kele or Kale." Before we borrowed from the French the words pottage and herb, the first, in our own language was termed Kele, and the second, teurt; and as this Keletourt, or pottage-herb, was the chief winter-tourt, or garden vegetable, of the husbandman; so, also, it was the first herb which in this month began to yield wholesome young sprouts." This venerable author goes on to say, that "this herb was held, not only by our ancestors, to be very good both for sustenance and health; but that the ancient Romans also had such an opinion thereof, that, during six hundred years, whilst Rome was without physicians, the people were accustomed to plant great stores of these wurts, which they accounted both ment and medicine; for, as they did eat the wurt for sustenance, so did they drink the water wherein it was boiled, as a thing sovereign in all kinds of sickness." It may be added here, that, throughout Scotland, this mode of using Colewort, or Kail, is continued to the present day, and that there is no cottager so poor who does not cultivate his Kail-yard.

in the Reformed Church it is still kept as a solemn festival in memory of the humiliation of the blessed Virgin Mary, who, whilst submitting to the law which enjoined personal purification after child-birth, presented the infant Jesus in the Temple; for, to render the first-born son holy unto the Lord, it was enjoined by the Mosaical ordinances, (see Leviticus, ch. xii.) that attendance should be given in the Temple, and that an offering should at the same time be made of money, or sacrifice. The Virgin Mary accordingly attended with her first-born on the Fortieth day, and presented a pair of doves,-that being the offering suitable to her circumstances. From this pious obedience to the law, on the part of the Mother of Our Lord, arose the rite of Churching women after child-birth, in this country; but, as the ancient Mosaical institution has been abrogated by the new and more perfect law, no other sacrifice than that of the heart is now enjoined; nor is any precise day fixed for the public performance of this act of piety.

1300 Institution of Jubilees in the Romish Church, by Pope Bontface VIII.

1625 Charles 1. crowned at Westminster. 1799 Elizabeth Woodcock buried under the snow for eight days, near Cambridge. See Saturday Magazine, vol. i. p. 239. 1824 The ship Fame, in which Sir Stamford Raffles and its family had sailed from Bencoolen for England, and which contained a cargo of saltpetre, took fire and blew up, about thirty miles south-west from the port whence she had set out. The property lost by Sir Stamford amounted to £30,000; but his papers, drawings, and collection of specimens in natural history, which he had made in Batavia, may be considered an irreparable loss to science and to literature. The passengers and crew were providentially saved in two small boats; for only half an hour elapsed between the discovery of the acci dent and the final destruction of the vessel! SUNDAY 3rd.

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.-The three Sundays and weeks that precede LENT, have long been distinguished by the names of Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima; which terms signify the Seventieth, Sixtieth, and Fiftieth. Many fanciful and absurd reasons have been assigned for these titles; but the most satisfactory one is as follows. when the words were first applied to denote the Sundays in question, the season of Lent had generally been extended to a fast of six weeks, or thirty-six days, exclusive of Sundays, which were always celebrated as festivals. At this time, likewise, the Sunday which we call the First Sunday in Lent, was styled, simply, QUADRAGESIMA, or the fortieth day before Easter; and Lent itself was denoted the Quadragesimal, or Forty-Days' Fast. Now, when the three weeks before Quadragesima ceased to be considered as weeks after the EPIand were appointed to be observed as a time of preparation for LENT, it was perfectly conformable to the ordinary mode of computation, to reckon backwards, and, for the sake of even and round numbers, to count by decades, or tens ; therefore, the compilers of the new ritual and of the proper offices, naturally styled the first Sunday before Quadragesima, Quinquagesima; the second, Sexagesima; and the third, Septuagesima.-See SHEPHERD's Elucidation of the Book of Common Prayer.

PHLANY,

BLAISE,-or Blaize, was an ancient Bishop of Sebastia, in Armenia. He suffered martyrdom, under Dioclesian, in the year 289. He is said to have found out the art of combing wool; on which account, the journeymen wool-combers in England have sometimes a grand procession on this day. One of the trade personates the bishop, carrying a pair of combs in his hands. In Leeds, Norwich, and other places, where the wool-combers are numerous, this procession excites much interest.

1552 Peter Duchatel, Bishop of Orleans, and Grand Almoner of France, died of apoplexy, whilst preaching before Francis I. 1738 Death of Sir Thomas Lombe, proprietor of the famous mill for silk-throwing; being the first and largest silk-mill ever constructed in England. This mill had a great influence on the commerce of Great Britain; and a complete model of it is deposited in the Tower of London; the original, brought from Italy, in pieces, was erected in the town of Derby. Sir Thomas received a grant of 14,000l. from Parliament, for having, by this complex machine, contributed so largely to the national prosperity.

1794

Sixteen persons crushed to death, in attempting to obtain admission into the Theatre in the Haymarket, London.

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No 37.

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SUPPLEMENT,

THE

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EDUCATION

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UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

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PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS UPON VOLCANOES. ALTHOUGH VOLCANOES occupy but a small portion of the earth's surface, and their eruptions are far from frequent, they have, in consequence of their terrific grandeur, most forcibly arrested the attention of mankind in all ages. Their number is estimated at about 200; and they are thus distributed. The continent of America, with its islands, contains about 116; Asia and its isles, 66; Europe and its isles, 13: no volcanoes have as yet been found on the African continent, and those of its islands are included in the above estimate. Of these vents of subterranean fire, about 90 are insular, or situated in islands; the remainder are continental.

It is well known that few of the whole number of volcanoes throughout the world, are ever in activity at the same time: some of them lie dormant for ages; others for shorter periods; whilst a few may be said to have become altogether extinct or spent. Nor is the volcanic activity at all proportional to the size, either of the mountain, or its crater; the greatest energy being often manifested by those of the least magnitude. Those which eject lava, or red-hot melted rock, are very few; the matter thrown out by many being merely ashes, with, sometimes, blocks of stone, torrents of hot water, and rivers of mud. Those volcanic mountains from which such vast volumes of water descend, generally have their craters situated in regions of perpetual snow; and the quantity of fluid is, consequently, supposed to be greatly increased by the melting of the snow and ice during an eruption. A striking example of this is afforded by COTOPAXI in South America: that mountain rises above the line of perpetual frost; consequently, whenever a fiery eruption takes place, the snows in and around the crater are melted; and so descend in torrents, sweeping away the towns and villages at its base. On one VOL. II.

occasion, a village, thirty leagues distant, was thus over whelmed!

The space which volcanoes, with their theatres of action, occupy on the surface of the globe, is comparatively small; it having been estimated that all the beds of lava hitherto emitted from the bowels of the earth, that have been re corded in history, do not cover more than 24,000 square leagues, which is only one 800th part of the whole earth's surface; but the beds of combustible matter in the bowels of the earth, which produce them, are more extensive than this superficial admeasurement.

Although no very satisfactory theory of the natural causes and mode of action of the volcanic fire has yet been esta blished, several circumstances may be mentioned, which, in some degree, tend to elucidate them. In the first place water seems to be a necessary agent in the production of volcanic fire; for columns of aqueous vapour ascend, and torrents of salt water flow, from these reservoirs of ele mental strife: various minerals and metals also, with sulphur and other combustibles, contribute to the production of subterranean fire. These substances, lying together, or being imbedded in separate strata, are supposed to remain quiescent, until water flows in upon them, when they immediately exert upon each other a chemical action, and decomposition and consequent ignition take place, for then each substance being resolved into its primary elements, a greater volume, or bulk, is created by the expansion of solids into fluids, and of fluids into gases or aëriform substances. Thus the interior of the earth is disturbed, and the surface shaken, producing the phenomenon known by the name of earthquake, whilst the decomposed combus tible matter, becoming every moment more and more bulky, and incapable of continuing longer within its confines, finds the nearest vent to the surface by heaving up the super

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incumbent earth and rocks into the shape of a cone, or mverted funnel, and discharging itself from the crater, or aperture which it makes at the top, into the surrounding atmosphere, and over the adjacent country.

This general theory will apply to all volcanoes; not excepting those in which the combustible matter, when unable to find its way to the top, or previous crater, of a dormant volcano, forms an aperture in the weakest part of the side or base of the mountain, and thence flows into the sea or otherwise.

Extinct volcanoes are generally found at a considerable distance from the sea*; whilst those that are most active are in its immediate vicinity; and many of them are actually submarine, or situated in the very bed of the ocean. When a volcano bursts beneath the waters of the sea, the substances thrown up often rise above the surface, forming rocks and islands: such has been the case throughout every ocean on the globe. The Azores, Santorini, and Stromboli, are islands of this description, as well as Sulphur Island in the Japanese sea; but sometimes these newly-formed isles, not possessing a sufficiently firm base to support them, give way and disappear very soon after their birth. This has been the case in our time with the island of Subrina, and with the small islet which lately | arose on the coast of Sicily.

The combustible matter which causes eruptions does not appear to be universally diffused throughout the earth, but is collected in particular spots, districts, or regions, and disposed in beds or veins of smaller or greater dimensions, since volcanoes appear either in groups, or in lengthened ranges, or extended lines. Thus, Iceland and its neighbourhood presents one group; whilst the Andes of America form a lengthened range of volcanic action. Although the subterraneous connexion of the several members of any group or line is sufficiently evident; it does not follow that ignition should take place in all at once: on the contrary, eruption probably takes place only in that part of the vein or bed, which undergoes chemical decomposition from the causes before stated; consequently, one volcanic crater of a group or line will be in a state of igneous activity, whilst the others lie dormant, or have become entirely extinct.

VOLCANOES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN†. THIS Volcanic region may be divided into three provinces, viz. the district around NAPLES; SICILY, and its ISLES; and the GREEK ARCHIPELAGO. The Neapolitan volcanoes extend from MOUNT VESUVIUS or SOMMA, through the PHLEGREAN FIELDS, to the islands of PROCIDA and ISCHIA; and within this space, the volcanic force is sometimes developed in eruptions from a considerable number of points; but the greater part of its action, since the commencement of the Christian era, has been confined to one principal and habitual vent, MOUNT VESUVIUS.

THE ISLES OF ISCHIA AND PROCIDA.

FROM the remotest periods of which we have any knowledge, until the Christian era, Vesuvius was in a state of inaction. Until that period, terrific convulsions took place from time to time in ISCHIA and the neighbouring ISLE of PROCIDA. Strabo states, that the latter was torn asunder from the former, and Pliny derives its name (Prochyta,) from the circumstance of its having been

There are hundreds of instances throughout the globe, where evident marks are to be found, to demonstrate that, during volcanic action, the sea has either receded from the theatre of agitation, and been partly ingulfed by some submarine abyss; or that the land, to a great extent round a volcanic crater, has been upheaved by subterranean turmoil, to so great a height as to leave the ocean's waves at an immense distance. As an example of these phenomena, we shall instance Mount Bolca, in Italy, which is situated about twenty miles north-east from Verona: the surrounding districts bear evident marks of volcanic action in a former age, as well as of having been at one time covered by the sea; although now, it appears entirely destitute of igneous energy, and lies at the distance of at least fifty miles from the nearest shore. Plants, shells, land and marine animals, leaves, birds, and insects, are found deposited in this mountain, in almost every direction; sometimes in separate beds, and at others, combined with productions which are obviously of volcanic origin. Nay, what is still more extraordinary, is the fact that most of the rivers, seas, and climates of the globe, seem to have contributed to the natural stores of Mount Bolca: for petrified fishes of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, are found imbedded in large masses of rock of this extraordinary mountain, which is more than 1000 feet above the present level of the sea.

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poured forth by an eruption from Ischia. So violent indeed, were the earthquakes and volcanic explosions to which Ischia was subject, that the fabulous Giant, Typhon, ("from whose eyes and mouth, fire proceeded, and who hurled stones to heaven, with a loud and hollow noise,") was said to lie buried beneath it! Its present circumference is eighteen miles, its length five, and its breadth three. Several Greek and other colonies which settled on it, were compelled to abandon it on account of the violence of the eruptions, earthquakes, and burning exhalations.

Strabo, after Timæus, informs us, that a little before the time of the latter, Epomeo, or St. Nicolo, the principal mountain in the centre of the isle, vomited fire during great earthquakes; that the land between it and the coast had ejected much fiery matter, which flowed into the sea; and that the sea receded to a great distance, and then returning, overflowed the island. This eruption is supposed to have been that which formed the crater of Monte Corvo, on one of the higher flanks of Epomeo, above Foria; the lava-current of which may still be traced, by the scoria on its surface, from the crater to the sea.

To a subsequent eruption in the lower-parts of the isle, which caused the expulsion of the first Greek colony, Monte Rotaro has been attributed, and it bears every mark of recent origin; the cone is remarkably perfect, and the crater on its summit resembles that of Monte Nuovo, near Naples; but the hill itself is larger, and has given vent to a lava-stream at its base instead of its summit. It is covered with the arbutus and other beautiful evergreens; and such is the fertility of the virgin soil, that the shrubs have almost become trees; indeed the growth of some of the smaller wild plants has been so vigorous, that botanists have had some difficulty in recognising the species. An eruption, whereby a Syracusan colony, planted by King Hiero, was dislodged, is supposed to have given rise to that mighty current of lava which forms the promontory of Zaro and Caruso. The surface of these lavas is still very arid and bristling, and covered with black cinders; so that it must have cost much labour to redeem those spots which have been converted into vineyards *.

From the period of the great eruption last mentioned, down to the present time, Ischia has enjoyed tranquillity, with the exception of one eruption of lava from Campo del Arso, in the early part of the fourteenth century, which occasioned considerable local damage.

Epomeo, the central mountain already spoken of, is 2605 feet above the level of the sea; and is composed of greenish hardened earth of great thickness, mixed in some parts with layers of marl, and streams of hardened lava.

Both these mountains, like the greater portion of those in the Terra di Lavoro, had their origin under water; although it has frequently happened to them, as to Epomeo, that after being elevated above the level of the sea, fresh eruptions have broken through, at various points. There are on different parts of Mount Epomeo, or scattered over the lower tracts of Ischia, twelve considerable volcanic cones, which have been thrown up since the island itself was lava may have flowed, like that of the point named Campo raised from the bottom of the sea; and many streams of del Arso, not far from the town of Ischia, in 1302, withduring ages previous to the remotest traditions, have served out cones having been produced; so that this island may, as a safety-valve to the whole Terra di Lavoro, whilst the fires of VESUVIUS lay dormant.

The population of the island amounts to 25,000.

+ Within 800 feet of the summit of Epomeo, Professor Lyell found marine shells, which have been identified with species of shellfish now existing in the Mediterranean.

During part of the year 1301, earthquakes had succeeded each other, in the Neapolitan district of the Mediterranean range, with fearful rapidity; they terminated, as above mentioned, with a tremendous discharge of lava from the Campo del Arso. The stream ran quite down to the sea, a distance of two miles. Pontanus, whose country-seat was burnt and overwhelmed by it, describes the dreadful scene as having lasted two months; many houses were swallowed up, and a partial emigration of the inhabitants was the consequence. Until this eruption, Ischia had enjoyed an interval of rest of about seventeen centuries; except in the case of a slight convulsion mentioned by Julius Obsequens, which occurred 91 years before Christ. The present appearance of the crater is merely that of a slight depression, surrounded by heaps of red and black scoria or cinders; the lava-stream, or bed, varies in colour from iron-grey to reddish black, and is remarkable for the glassy felspars which it contains. Its surface is almost as barren, after a lapse of five centuries, as if it had cooled down yesterday; a few aromatic herbs only appear in the interstices of the scoria; whilst the Vesuvian lava of

Chiefly abridged from PROFESSOR LYELL'S Principles of Geology. 1767 is already covered with luxuriant vegetation

MOUNT VESUVIUS.

FROM the earliest colonization of Italy by the Greeks, until the year 79 of the Christian era, Vesuvius offered no further indications of a volcanic character than such as might be inferred, from the similarity of its structure to that of other extinct volcanoes, and the ancient lava-beds on its sides. The ancient cone was of a regular form; with a flat summit, on which the remains of a crater of former days (nearly filled up,) had left a slight depression: the .sides of the interior were covered with wild vines, and the bottom was a mere barren plain. On the exterior, the flanks of the mountain consisted of fertile fields, which were richly cultivated; and at the base were situated, together with many others, the populous and flourishing cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The first symptom of revival of the energies of Vesuvius, was an earthquake, in the year 63 of the Christian era, which did considerable injury to the cities in its vicinity; from which time, until 79, there were several slight shocks. In the month of August of the latter year, these became more numerous and violent; and at length, a tremendous eruption showed that the volcanic fire of this region had been recalled to the main channel.

The elder Pliny, who held the command of the Roman fleet, stationed at Misenum, a cape or headland about twice the distance westward from the volcano, as the city of Naples, in his anxiety to obtain a nearer view of the phenomenon, fell a victim to the sulphureous vapours. The younger Pliny, his nephew, who remained with the fleet at Misenum, has left us a very lively description of the awful scene in his Letters. He says, that a dense column of vapour was first seen arising vertically from Vesuvius; and then spreading itself out laterally, so as to resemble the head and trunk of the Italian pine-tree. This black cloud was occasionally pierced by flashes of fire as vivid as lightning; and the whole atmosphere suddenly became darker than night. The eruption had commenced with such amazing force, that ashes fell even upon the ships at Misenum; indeed they fell in such quantities as to cause a shoal in one part of the sea! In the mean time, the ground rocked terribly; and the sea receded so far from the shores, that many marine animals were left exposed on the dry sand. These appearances agree exactly with those witnessed in more recent volcanic eruptions; particularly that of Vesuvius in 1822: indeed, in all times and countries, there is a striking uniformity in volcanic phenomena.

It does not appear that in 79 any lava flowed from Vesuvius: the ejected substances consisted of lapilli, sand, and fragments of rock and ancient hardened lava; so that it is erroneous to suppose that Herculaneum and Pompeii were overwhelmed with streams of burning lava. These cities, as the excavations have since proved, were buried under showers of ashes. Neither is it true, that all the inhabitants were buried alive as they sat in the theatres, as Dion Cassius the historian states; for during years of examination, comparatively but a few mortal remains have been discovered in the theatres, the temples, the streets, or the houses many lives, no doubt, were lost; but, the shower of ashes and other matter being of long continuance, the inhabitants generally had sufficient time to escape.

The first stream of lava which flowed from Vesuvius, of which we have any account, was in the year 1036, this being the seventh volcanic eruption since the revival of its action. Two other eruptions took place in 1049 and 1138. During the interval of 168 years of repose, which followed the latter period, two minor vents of this volcanic range opened at distant points; viz. that of the Solfatara, in 1198; and that of Campo del Arso in Ischia, in 1302. The next eruption of Vesuvius was in 1306; and there was a slight one in 1500. Between the former period, and the year 1631, there was a pause in its energies; but Mount Etna, in the island of Sicily, was in such a state of activity as to warrant the conclusion that the latter volcano sometimes serves as a channel to discharge those elastic fluids and lava, which would otherwise be ejected in the south of Italy.

This great pause in the eruptive action of Vesuvius was also marked by a memorable event in the Phlegræan Fields; and by the sudden formation of a new mountain near Naples, in 1538. During nearly a century after the birth of the latter, Vesuvius still remained in a state of quiescence; there having been no violent eruption during 492 years. It appears that the crater was then in exactly the same condition as the (at present) extinct volcano of Astroni, near Naples.

Braccini, who visited Vesuvius not long before the eruption of 1631, gives this interesting description of its interior:-"The crater was five miles in circumference, and about 1000 paces deep; its sides were covered with brushwood, and at the bottom there was a green plain, on which cattle grazed. In the woody parts, wild boars frequently harboured; and, in one part of the plain, covered with ashes, there were three small pools; one, filled with hot and bitter water; another, salter than the sea; and the third, hot but tasteless." In December, 1631, however, these verdant plains and woods, with their wild boars and other inhabitants, were consumed. Seven streams of lava poured at once from the crater, and overflowed several villages at the foot of the mountain. The city of Resina, which had been partly built over the ancient city of Herculaneum, was consumed by the fiery torrent. Great floods of mud, also, or torrents of water ejected from the crater, and mixing with the ashes, were as destructive as the lava itself.

Vesuvius had now a brief repose of thirty-five years: viz., until 1666; since which time, until the present, there has been a constant series of eruptions, with rarely an interval of rest during ten years together. During the last two centuries, however, no irregular volcanic agency has convulsed other points in this district.

It has been remarked, that such irregular convulsions had occurred in the bay of Naples, in every second century; for example, the eruption of the Solfatara, in the 12th; of the lava of Campo del Arso, in the 14th; and of Monte Nuovo, in the 16th; but the 18th century appears to be an exception to this rule; which is to be accounted for by the unprecedented number of eruptions during that period whenever new vents have opened, there has always been a long intermission of activity in the principal volcano. THE CONE OF VESUVIUS. the crater of Mount Vesuvius had been gradually filling DURING upwards of one hundred years previously to 1822 up by lava boiling from below, as well as by scoria falling from the explosions of smaller mouths, which were formed at intervals on its base and sides: instead of a regular cavity, therefore, the crater was an enclosed rocky plain, covered with blocks of lava and cinders, and traversed by numerous fissures, from which clouds of vapour were continually rising. In October, 1822, violent explosions, during an eruption of more than twenty days, broke up and threw out all this accumulated mass; leaving an immense chasm or gulf of an irregular shape, somewhat resembling an oval, about three miles in circumference, but rather less than three-fourths of a mile in diameter.

The depth of this tremendous abyss has been variously estimated; for from the period of its formation, it has the depth was said to be 2000 feet from the summit; but, decreased daily by the falling away of its sides: at first, after the eruption of 1822, the same was estimated at less than 1000; indeed, more than 800 feet of the cone had been carried away by the explosions, so that not only was the depth of the crater made smaller, but the mountain itself was reduced in height from 4200 feet, to 3400.

NOCTURNAL VIEW OF AN ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS. A LATE traveller, who made one of a party to visit Vesuvius by night, thus describes the phenomena of an ordinary eruption: "It was about half-past ten when we reached the foot of the craters, which were both tremendously agitated; the Great Mouth threw up immense columns of fire, shrouded in the blackest smoke, mixed with sand, which filled our eyes and ears. Each explosion of fire was preceded by a bellowing of thunder in the mountain. The smaller mouth was much more active; and the explosions followed each other so rapidly, that we could not count three seconds between them. The stones which were emitted were fourteen seconds in falling back to the crater; consequently, there were always five or six explosions— sometimes more than twenty-in the air at once. These stones were not thrown up perpendicularly, in the shape of a pillar of fire, as from the other crater, but in that of a widespreading sheaf, producing the most magnificent effect imaginable. The smallest stones appeared of the size of cannon-balls; the greater number were like bomb-shells; but others were pieces of rock, five or six cubic feet in size, and some of most enormous dimensions: the latter generally fell on the ridge of the crater, and rolled down its sides, splitting into fragments as they struck against the hard and cutting masses of cold lava. Some of these stones, even when on fire, are extremely hard, but the larger ones are a complete paste of fire, and whilst at a red heat are easily

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