I told them to go; they had done more than I had expected from Neapolitans; I and my friends would proceed, and my sister, I said, would show them what courage could perform, and would throw shame upon their sex. They altogether cla- ' moured vociferously at our madness-we answered this "dialect of many tongues" with a contemptuous smile, and a movement in advance, and observed them first look after their descending 'companions, and next call to them to return but these had learned that "Charity begins at home."

With a tolerable share of shrugs and low-muttered curses, we again proceeded for nearly half an hour; scarcely a word being uttered by those who had previously been so troublesome with their vociferous gossip. There was a marked difference in the reduced size of the stones, and various fragments as we approached the crater either they had been propelled more violently in proportion to their bulk, or the larger samples had descended lower, from their superior gravity.

The evening had been one of the most beauteous of beautiful Italy. The moon's full orb had shone resplendently; and as we were near to midsummer, it might have been said there had hardly been any night. We now stood upon the summit of Vesuvius. The mountain is nearly 4000 feet high, and appears in the distance to have a sister mountain close adjoining. Upon nearer observation, however, it should rather seem that this adjoining mountain, Monte Somma, was, originally, a part of Vesuvius, and separated by the falling in of a large portion of the crater, probably, at the great irruption in 79, when Pompeii was overwhelmed and destroyed: for the cone, on this side, appears exceedingly precipitous, while, on the other side, its slope is much more regular down to the sea. The base of the mountain is studded, on this side, with habitations-here are the towns of Torre del Annonciata, Torre del Greco, and Portici, with their palaces and garden grounds. Within land, we observed Somma, Massa, Ottacano, and others of less note; so that looking, with a bird's-eye view, over these parts, subject to all the most dreadful convulsions of nature, having fire and destruction occasionally revelling above and below them, with the further consciousness that beneath their own foundations lie the ruins of cities, once more populous and flourishing than their own-I could not help asking of what man was composed, that he should thus be induced to bid defiance to nature in her direst rage.

The crimson rays of morning were now lengthening along the heavens, and every moment gave us a yet more perfect view of the surrounding scenery. Here we had the delighting view of the Campania Felice-Naples and its promontoriesits enchanting bay-its lovely islands, bounded by an immense

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sea, from which the attention was again quickly recalled, as with magnetic power, to the contemplation of those delicious regions which spread before us like a paradise, with the majestic Appenines as a semicircular boundary. This enchanting spot is surely, said I, the chef-d'œuvre of nature. Here is all the imagination can delight in. The heart, it is true, might sigh for a more moral population!

But to return to the mountain. For some time, the heat, through our shoes, had become troublesome; we could now scarcely, for an instant, bear our feet upon the ground, it was so insufferably hot. Nor was this very surprising--we were still some distance from the crater; and yet the incrustation upon which we stood was so thin, that several fissures we had already passed, and by which we were now surrounded; emitted heat and smoke enough to make it evident there was no great solidity of material beneath us. The sulphureous effluvia of these regions is excessively offensive; and I was just thinking how we should bear a closer approach to the crater, when our guides, palsied with fear, announced a new irruption.

Again, how terrible! all that is depicted of the thunderbolts and artillery of the great demon, of his boiling lakes of fire and brimstone, of his gulfs unquenchable; these, and a thousand horrors, assailed the mind at once, and forced on the stoutest observer feelings he could not before have known:while our imaginations revelled-ay, rioted, amid beauty, grandeur, and sublimity!

I now perceived that we were safely within the range of the, larger stones, and that they almost all fell beyond us; but we were not in this irruption, therefore in less danger. A discharge of stones was now projected in nearly a horizontal line over our heads, from some new passage which the increased violence of this irruption had forced; and I must confess that the whizzing of these mitrailles very unceremoniously obtruded upon me some unwelcome doubts of safety. The lava flowed most copiously;-what effort of imagination could equal the magnificence of this sight! we seemed to inhale fire and fever from the very atmosphere we respired. The thrilling blood swelled my veins, and seemed convulsively endeavouring to burst through this weak mortal frame, and mix with the surrounding grandeur. In vain the mind made its usual efforts to contemplate and embrace the full sublimity of the scene. The attention was scarcely fixed upon any object, when it was snatched away to witness new phenomena.

Standing on this momentous brink, what an insignificant atom I presented, as compared to this rage of elements, and the tremendous perils everywhere surrounding me. I looked round to observe how my friends enjoyed their situation. They were never shall I forget my terror and surprise-they were

scattered far beneath me! But my alarm for my sister imme. diately sudsided, when I perceived she was carefully supported by the same sturdy guardians under whose care I had placed her. This last discharge had destroyed any remnant of courage the guides possessed. The two leaders had seized each an arm, and hurried away with my sister; leaving me to my fate, for they had no hope of prevailing with me-and, indeed, no opportunity-in the din of these irruptions, no effort of human voice is distinguishable. Of all the party, the young Frenchman alone remained to bear me company.

The lava flowed down to the south of us: the guides, in retreating, had taken a northerly course. To proceed, we were, perhaps, running the risk of losing sight of them:no matter; we confirmed our resolve to reach, at every risk, as nearly as possible, the source of this burning river, and again we advanced together in our chivalry." What an astonishing fluid! composed principally of melted minerals; it is of the consistency of pitch, and seems to flow over itself, thickening as it descends. Even near the source, where it is more fluid, it presents an edge of several inches above the common level. I pressed my foot upon it to ascertain its density; and with the aid of a stone, detached a morsel from the stream. Sir W. Hamilton's extraordinary escape: occurred to me. Having remained near the crater of Vesuvius, during an irruption, rather longer than was prudent, he found the stream of lava had spread itself so as to cut off his retreat. It was still copiously flowing-he had no alternative ―he looked out for the part which, having most cooled, had become more dense, and, as lightly and as quickly as possible, he stepped across it, leaving the deep impression of every step!

With much reluctance, at length, we were obliged to turn from this extraordinary theatre of peril and of wonders, and proceeded to join our party. We found, as it is proverbially said, that cowardice is generally in most danger-for the guides had flown in full terror from the spot where I had remained in safety, and, in their escape, had to pass through the thicker range of the shot, by which two of them were slightly wounded.

The descent was on the leeward side, among the cinders. The rapidity of our progress was truly astonishing; with scarcely any effort, stepping only a trifle forward, we de scended for a time, at each step, five or six feet, plunging nearly to our middle in heated damp ashes-a process dis agreeable enough, and pregnant with more danger than at first appears; for, should some crag lurk beneath the sur-} face, you are liable either to be severely bruised against it, or, according to its position, propelled unexpectedly forward; and, if you lose your equilibrium, dashed from rock to rock,

until you meet your eternal resting-place. Care must therefore be taken to throw back the body, so as to be prepared for any shock. This route, with all this unpleasantness, is, however, far preferable, for the descent, to a return by the way which we ascended.

We at last alighted at the station where we had left our mules; and while these were getting ready, I had another opportunity of witnessing a shock of considerable violence. At this distance I had a more general view of the irruption. The combustibles emitted from the crater were at different regions obscured by the density of the smoke, and again seen rising in brightness above this dusky veil; and finally beheld spreading in their descent, like the falling waters of a fountain. How tranquil this scene compared with those in which I had lately been engaged! I could hardly take any interest in it-so much depends upon comparison, and the natural state of exhaustion consequent upon such immense previous excitement.

Upon commencing my descent among the ashes, I was not surprised to find, although they had just left the regions of fire and flame, they were quite damp. This fact will account satisfactorily for the phenomena of irruptions, and make their recurrence appear so arbitrary, The kingdom of this volcano extends itself, I have little doubt, under the city and bay of Naples; and the sea occasionally passing through fissures, flows into never-dying fires, and explodes through its crater in the altered form of gas, carrying with it whatever it may mix with, and detach from the interior of the volcano in its irresistible progress. This is the result of the inquiries I made of the guides; and which was confirmed too by the taste of the cinders, which I found had been manifestly wetted with salt water. Eustace also tells us of the mischief done to the surrounding towns and villages in the great irruption of 1794 by the cinders, and of " even water thrown from the mountain."

We soon reached the hermitage, and were received with the greatest possible kindness. We partook, with no want of appetite, of a luxurious breakfast; and congratulated each other upon having safely passed one of the most extraordináry nights possible in the life of man. But my sister suddenly fell ill, and fainted. She had borne every difficulty, had braved every danger; the strong excitement of the occasion enabling her to overcome the ordinary feelings of nature, and to rise above the usual energies of her sex. But the same amount of spirit no longer required, she sunk under the dreadful reaction. Our host, the religious hermit, having studied medicine, quickly administered a reviving cordial

and after a few hours' rest she was well enough to be carried to her mule, and, being carefully supported, to proceed to the town of Torre del Greco. Here we again took coffee and refreshment; and my sister slowly recovered sufficient strength to enable us to set out for Naples.

M. L.

EXTRACTS FROM POLYBIUS.

Καὶ ἐς μὲν ἀκρόασιν ἴσως τὸ μὴ μυθῶδες αὐτῶν, ἀτερπέστερον φανεῖται ὅσοι δὲ βουλήσονται τῶν τε γενομένων τὸ σαφὲς σκοπεῖν, καὶ τῶν μελλόν των πολὲ αὖθις κατὰ τὸ ἀνθρώπειον τοιούτων καὶ παραπλησίων ἔσεσθαι, ὠφέλιμα κρίνειν αὐτὰ, αρκούντως ἕξει. — THUCYD. I. 22.

We do not think that sufficient justice has been done to the merits of Polybius. His fidelity, his candour, his uniform good sense, his accurate acquaintance with facts, and his military science, are universally recognised and appreciated. It seems, however, to be the prevailing opinion, that though a valuable writer he is rather a dry and uninteresting one. Few, even of scholars, are willing to turn from the fascinating pages of the elder historians-from the antique simplicity of manner, the engaging communicativeness, and the endless variegation of history, anecdote, manners-painting, adventure, and fable, which render Herodotus so delightful-from the compact and chastised splendour, the almost impassive calmness of tone, the rich perplexity of phrase, and the all but Miltonian union of noble thoughts with noble words, which charm us in Thucydides-from the pellucid clearness, the equable beauty, and the essential Attic grace of Xenophon-to a writer from whom nothing is to be learned either of the arts of composition, or of the genius of the Greek language-a writer the avowed enemy of romance and from whom they are taught to expect nothing but a tedious though scientific narrative of battles, sieges, marches, and negotiations, unrelieved by any thing like pathos, or minute touches of character, and diversified only by occasional sensible and businesslike observations of the historian; and all this delivered in an obscure phraseology, and an awkward and inartificial style. Of the supposed difficulty of his language we shall speak hereafter; our purpose at present is to obviate the prevailing misconceptions with respect to his matter. It is not generally known that Polybius, as he is one of the most instructive, is also one of the most entertaining of historians, owing to the soldierly frankness of his manner, the reality of his narrations, and the traits of character and manners,