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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