7
there by patches of the darkest hue. The
lava was partly directed by the wind towards
Ottaiano, on which so thick a shower of ashes,
blended with vast pieces of scoriæ, fell, that,
had it been of longer continuance, that town
would have shared the fate of Pompeii. It
took fire in several places; and, had there
been much wind, the inhabitants would have
been burned in their houses, it being impos-
sible for them to stir out. To add to the
horror of the scene, incessant volcanic light-
ning darted through the black cloud which
surrounded them, while the sulphureous smell
and heat would scarcely allow them to draw
their breath. In this dreadful state they re-
mained nearly half an hour. The remaining
part of the lava, still red hot and liquid, fell
on the top of Vesuvius, and covered its whole
cone, together with that of La Somma, and
the valley between them, thus forming one
complete body of fire, which could not be less
than two miles and a half in breadth, and
casting a heat to the distance of at least six
miles around.
The eruption of 1794 is accurately de-
scribed by the foregoing writer; but has not
an equal degree of interest with the one al-
ready cited. We subjoin a few particulars,
among which is a circumstance well deserving
notice, as it leads to an estimate of the de-
gree of heat in volcanoes. Sir William says
