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of the great road, and rolling towards the sea. The stream soon divided again, and, spreading itself with an increased cele- rity, swept away many houses and the finest plantations. The other branch, at first, took the direction of Portici, which was threaten- ed; but turning, and joining the preceding cue, formed a sort of islet of boiling lava in                     the middle, both ending in the sea, and com- posing a promontory of volcanic matters. In the space of twenty minutes the whole ex- tent of ground which the lava occupied was on fire, offering a terrible yet singular spec- tacle, as the burning trees presented the as- pect of white frames in contrast with those of the volcanic matters, which were red. The lava swept along with it enormous masses of                     whatever occurred in its course, and on its reaching the sea, nothing was to be seen or                     heard for a great extent of shore besides the boiling and hissing arising from the conflict of the water and fire. The eruption of 1806. took place without any sensible indication, on the evening of the 31st of May, when a bright flame rose from the mountain to the height of about 600 feet, sinking and rising alternately, and affording so clear a light, that a letter might have been read at the distance of a league around the mountain. On the following morning with- out any earthquake preceding, as had been