[Illustration: woodcut of American couple]
_An American Man and Woman in their proper Habits_.
AMERICA, the fourth and last quarter of the world, is divided into
North and South America. North America contains Mexico, (or New
Spain,) New Mexico, and California, Florida, Canada, (or New
France,) Nova Scotia, New England, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsilvania [sic], Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina. South America
contains Terra Firma, the land of the Amazons, Brazil, Peru, Chili
[sic], Paraguay, and Terra Magellanica.
_An Account of_ MEXICO, _or_ NEW SPAIN.
MEXICO is so called from its chief city; and New Spain since the
Spaniards settled there. It has the sea of Mexico on the east, its
gulph [sic], Florida, and New Mexico on the north, and the southern
sea on the west and south. The air is temperate and healthful, and
the soil fruitful, producing wheat, barley, pulse, and maize; and
variety of fruits, as citrons, lemons, oranges, pomegranates,
apples, pears, cherries, cocoa nuts, figs, &c. with great plenty of
roots, plants, and herbs. There are some rich mines of gold and
silver, in which about 4000 Spaniards continually work. The people
are civil, and excel in painting and music: they are subject to the
King of Spain: their religion is a mixture of Paganism and
Christianity.
_An Account of_ NEW MEXICO, _or_ GRANADA.
THIS part of the world is not fully discovered by the Europeans.
The soil is sandy and barren, the air healthful and temperate, but
not a little subject to hurricanes, thunder and lightning. There
are some silver mines, turquoise, emeralds, crystal, &c. The
natives are naturally good and civil, governed by a captain named
Casich, whom they choose themselves. They are given to idolatry,
and some adore the sun, others believe in a God, and some of them
have no religion at all.
_An Account of_ FLORIDA.
FLORIDA is a large and fruitful country in North America, bounded on
the north-east by Carolina, on the south, and some part of the west,
by New Galicia and some countries not yet discovered. The air is
very temperate, and soil extremely fertile, and produces grain,
herbs, and fruit in great abundance. Ferdinando Soto, after the
conquest of Peru, entered this country May 25, 1538, and gave it the
name Florida, because the flowers were then on the ground, but died
of grief, for being disappointed of the treasures which he
expected. The native inhabitants were extirpated by the Spaniards,
who disregarded every principle of humanity when the security of
their acquisitions in the New World was in question; but this fine
country was conquered from them by the English, to whom it was
confirmed by the peace of Paris; its importance was however never
sufficiently considered by them, and to gratify the jealousy of
Spain it was restored to her at the peace of 1783. It was divided
into East and West: St. Augustine and Pensacola are its chief towns;
and its commodities furs, pearls, and the most delicious fruits.
The Spaniards regard it as forming a desirable frontier between them
and the United States of America; but as the soil and climate are
inferior to none in the world, it will doubtless one day emerge from
its obscurity, become populous, and hold a high rank in the world.
_An Account of_ CANADA.
CANADA is the chief province now possessed by the English in
America; it is bounded by New Britain and Honduras Bay on the North
and East; by Nova Scotia, New England, and New York on the South;
and by some of the great lakes, the new settlements of the United
States, and the yet remaining possessions of the native Indians, on
the West. The soil and climate are not very different from those of
New England, though it has a much severer winter; but the air is
very clear, the summer hot and pleasant. The meadow grounds are
well watered, yield excellent grass, and breed vast numbers of
cattle.
This country was originally settled by the French; and in so doing
Louis XIV. seems to have formed the vast design of consolidating all
North America under his dominion: the English, under Wolf [sic],
Amherst, and Monkton [sic], conquered it in the years 1759 and 1760;
and it was confirmed to us at the peace of 1763. The inhabitants
were guaranteed in all their privileges; and the Roman Catholic
religion is yet the most prevalent, though all others are
tolerated. It has been lately divided into two provinces, Upper and
Lower Canada, each having its separate government and legislature.
Its trade and population are annually and rapidly increasing.
Quebec, its capital, is situated at the confluence of the rivers St.
Laurence and St. Charles, about 320 miles from the sea, and is very
strong both by nature and art; when taken by the immortal Wolfe it
was supposed to contain about 15,000 inhabitants, independent of the
garrison, and has since had considerable additions. The trade
between Canada and England, the greater part of which centers here,
is supposed to employ eight sail of shipping, and near 2000 seamen.
_An Account of_ TERRA FIRMA.
TERRA FIRMA, or the Firm Land, is a large country of South America,
and contains eleven governments, subject to the King of Spain. The
air here is extremely hot, though wholesome, the soil very fertile,
when well manured. The natives are tawney [sic], robust, healthful,
long lived, and go naked about the middle. The commodities are
gold, silver, and other metals; balsam, rosin, gum, long pepper,
emeralds, sapphire, jasper, &c. Here is one Spanish archbishopric
and four bishoprics; but the natives are idolaters.
_An Account of_ PERU.
PERU is in South America, a large country, divided into six
provinces. The air in some parts is very hot, in others sharp and
piercing. The soil is the richest of all the Spanish plantations,
abounding with exceeding high mountains and large pleasant vallies.
The commodities are vast quantities of gold and silver, valuable
pearls, medicinal drugs, cochineal, tobacco, abundance of cotton,
&c. The natives are of a copper colour, tall and well made; but are
so depressed by the Spaniards, it is impossible to form any judgment
of their genius, virtues, or vices.
_Of the Land of the_ AMAZONS.
THIS country is very little known, but as far as discovered the air
is temperate, and the soil fertile. There are on the banks of the
river Amazon about fifty nations of fierce savage people, said to
eat human flesh. The commodities are gold, silver, sugar, ebony,
cocoa, tobacco, &c. Their religion is Paganism, and language
unknown.
_An Account of_ BRAZIL.
BRAZIL is in the east of South America, bounded on the east by the
Atlantic Ocean, on the west by some undiscovered countries between
it and the mountains called Andes, on the north by Guiana, and on
the south by Paraguay. It was discovered by the Portuguese in 1501,
and is still in great part subject to them. The air is very
temperate and wholesome, though under the torrid zone; the soil
fertile, and the country produces red or Brazil wood, sugar, amber,
rosin, balm, tobacco, train oil, confectionary, &c. The natives are
reckoned cruel, but ingenious; have faint notions of religion, and
speak several different languages, though they cannot pronounce
either of the three letters L, F, R. They are all naked, and
neither sow nor reap, but live by hunting and by the fruits which
the land produces of its own accord.
_An Account of_ CHILI.
CHILI is also a great country of South America, 400 leagues in
length from north to south, is divided into three governments, and
subject to the King of Spain. In summer the air of this country is
very warm, but in winter so extremely cold that it often kills man
and beast. The mountainous parts are generally dry and barren, but
the vallies exceedingly fertile in maize, wheat, and other grain.
The people are white, tall, courageous, an warlike, but very gross
Idolaters, the chief object of their worship being the devil, whom
they call Eponamon, i.e. powerful. The country is enriched with
several mines of gold, and great quarries of jaspar [sic]. The
commodities are gold, silver, maize, corn, honey, ostriches, and
metals. Most of them use the Spanish tongue, but some their ancient
jargon.
_A Persian Man and Woman in their proper Habits_.
[Illustration: woodcut of Persian couple]
_An Account of_ PERSIA.
PERSIA is a famous kingdom of Asia, called by the inhabitants
Farsistan, and the Empire of the Sophy. It is bounded by the
Caspian Sea, India, Persian Gulph, and Arabia Deserta. The air of
this country is temperate towards the north, but very hot in the
summer towards the south. Their grain is barley, millet, lentil,
pease, beans, and oats; and all their provinces produce cotton,
which grows upon bushes; their fruits are excellent, and they have
vines in abundance, but in obedience to Mahomet's commands drink no
wine, but sell it all to the Arminians [sic]. They are suffered to
make a syrup of sweet wine, to which they add an acid, and it serves
them for their common drink. They have a great number of mulberry
trees for silk worms, silk being the principal manufacture in this
country. The people are of a middle stature, well set and thick,
and of a tawny complexion; are neat and sharp, have good judgment,
are civil to strangers, and very free of their compliments. Thus
a Persian that desires his friend to come to his house usually says,
"I entreat you to honour my house with your presence: I so devote
myself to your desires, that the apple of my eye shall be a path to
your feet," &c. They are just in their dealings; and their
commodities are rich silks, carpets, tissues, gold, silver, seal
skins, goat skins, alabaster, metals, myrrh, fruits, &c. Their
religion is Mahometanism, and their language has a great tincture of
the Arabic. Ispahan is the capital city. The kingdom is
hereditary, and government so despotic, that the Sophy, or King,
makes his will his law, and disposes as he pleases both of the lives
and estates of his subjects, who are very obedient, and never speak
of their sovereign but with extraordinary respect.
_An Account of_ DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, _and_
YEARS.
THE day is either natural or artificial; the natural day is the
space of twenty-four hours, (including both the dark and light part)
in which time the sun is carried by the first mover from the east
into the west, and so round the world into the east again. The
artificial day consists of twelve hours, i.e. from the sun's rising
to its setting; and the artificial night is from the sun's setting
to its rising. The day is accounted with us for payment of money
between the sun's rising and setting; but for indictment for murder
the day is accounted from midnight to midnight, and so likewise are
fasting days.
The Hebrews and Chaldeans begin their days at sun rising, and end at
the next rising.
The Jews and Italians from sun-set to sun-set. The Romans at
midnight. The Egyptians from noon to noon, which account astronomers
follow.
A week consists of seven mornings, or seven days, which the Gentiles
call by the names of the seven planets (which they worshipped as
Gods); the first day of the sun; the second day of the moon, &c. In
a week God made the world, _i.e._ in six days, and rested the
seventh. All civilized nations observe one day in seven, as a
stated time of worship; the Turks and Mahometans keep the sixth day
of the week, or Friday; the Jews the seventh, or Saturday; the
Christians the first, or Sunday.
Of months there are various kinds; a solar month is the space of
thirty days, in which time the sun runneth through one sign of the
zodiac.
A lunar month is that interval of time which the moon spendeth in
wandering from the sun, in her oval circuit, through the twelve
signs, until she returns to him again, (being sometimes nearer,
sometimes farther from the earth) _i.e._ from the first day of her
appearing next after her change, to the last day of her being
visible, before her next change, which may be greater or lesser,
according to her motion.
The usual or common months are those set down in our almanacks,
containing some 30, some 31, and February but 28 days, according to
these verses:
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
February twenty-eight alone,
All the rest have thirty-one;
But when leap-year comes, that time
Has February twenty-nine.
A year is the space of time in which the sun runs through all the 12
signs of the zodiac: containing 12 solar months, 13 lunar months,
52 weeks, 365 days, and six hours, which six hours, in four years
time, being added together, make one day, which day on every fourth
year is added to February, making that month 29 days, which at other
times is but 28, and this year with the additional day is called
leap-year.
_To find the Leap-Year_.
Divide the year of our Lord by 4, and if there be no remainder, it
is leap-year; but if there remains 1, 2, or 3, then that denotes the
first, second, or third after leap-year.
TABLES OF
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
_Troy Weight_. _Char._
24 Grains --- 1 Pennyweight dwt.
20 Pennyweights 1 Ounce --- oz.
12 Ounces --- 1 Pound lb.
By this weight are weighed jewels, gold, silver, corn, and all
liquors.
_Avoirdupois Weight_.
16 Drams --- 1 Ounce --- oz.
16 Ounces --- 1 Pound --- lb.
28 Pounds --- 1 Quar. of a hun. qr.
20 Hundreds -- 1 Ton --- ton.
By this weight, which is now generally used in England, are weighed
butter, cheese, groceries, &c.
N.B. One pound avoirdupois is equal to 14 oz. 11 dwts. 15½ grains
troy; and one ounce troy is equal to 1 oz. 1 dram, and something
above an half, avoirdupois.
_Apothecaries' Weight_. _Char_.
[In the HTML version, the following table shows symbols for the 4
units]
20 Grains 1 Scruple --- [scruple]
3 Scruples --- 1 Dram --- [dram]
8 Drams ---- 1 Ounce --- [ounce]
12 Ounces --- 1 Pound --- [pound]
By this weight apothecaries compound their medicines; but buy and
sell their drugs by avoirdupois weight.
_Wine Measure_. _In short_.
2 Pints --- 1 Quart qrt.
4 Quarts --- 1 Gallon --- gall.
63 Gallons --- 1 Hogshead --- hhd.
2 Hogsheads --- 1 Pipe --- pipe.
2 Pipes --- 1 Tun --- tun.
_Beer Measure_.
2 Pints --- 1 Quart --- qrt.
4 Quarts --- 1 Gallon --- gall.
9 Gallons --- 1 Firkin --- firk.
2 Firkins --- 1 Kilderkin --- kild.
2 Kilderkins -- 1 Barrel --- bar.
1½ Barrel --- 1 Hogshead -- hhd.
3 Barrels, or 2 hhds.
1 Butt --- butt.
N.B. Eight gallons make a firkin of ale.
_Cloth Measure_. _In short_.
4 Nails --- 1 Quarter --- qr.
4 Quarters -- 1 Yard --- yd.
Note, An ell English is 5 quarters of a yard, and an ell Flemish is
3 quarters.
_Time_.
60 Seconds --- 1 Minute
60 Minutes --- 1 Hour
24 Hours --- 1 Natural Day
7 Days 1 Week
4 Weeks 1 Month
13 Months, 1 day, and 6 hours, is / One
52 Weeks, 1 day, and 6 hours, is < Julian
365 Days, and 6 hours, is \ Year.
8766 Hours, is
_Note_, An exact solar year is equal to 365 days, 5 hours, 48
minutes, 48 seconds, 57 thirds: and one lunar month is equal to 29
days, 12 hours, and 45 minutes.
_Dry Measure_. _In short_.
8 Pints --- 1 Gallon --- gall.
2 Gallons --- 1 Peck --- peck.
4 Pecks --- 1 Bushel --- bush.
4 Bushels --- 1 Coomb -- coomb.
2 Coombs -- 1 Quarter -- qr.
5 Quarters -- 1 Wey ---- wey.
2 Weys --- 1 Last --- last.
_Land Measure_.
40 Square Perches --- 1 Rood
4 Roods ---- 1 Acre
Note, 5 feet is a geometrical pace, and 1056 geometrical paces 1
English mile.
_Long Measure_.
12 Inches ---- 1 Foot
3 Feet --- 1 Yard
5 Yards and ½ --- 1 Pole or perch
40 Poles --- --- 1 Furlong
8 Furlongs or 1760 yards 1 English mile
_A MULTIPLICATION TABLE_.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27
4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54
7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63
8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72
9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81
THE use of this table is to find how many any one figure multiplied
by another will make: suppose I wanted to know, how many seven
times eight is, I look into the table for 7 in the first rank of
figures on the left hand, and for 8 in the top line; then carrying
my finger strait from 7 in the first rank of figures, till I come
to that which has the figure 8 on the top of it, I there find 56,
which is the exact number of 7 times 8, or 8 multiplied by 7. So
in all other instances look for the first figure in the left-hand
rank or column, and for the figure you want to multiply by in the
first or top line, and which ever square these two meet in, there is
the amount.
_The_ PENCE TABLE.
20 Pence is 1 shilling and 8 pence
30 --- 2 ---- 6
40 --- 3 ---- 4
50 --- 4 ---- 2
60 --- 5 ---- ---
70 --- 5 ---- 10
80 --- 6 ---- 8
90 --- 7 ---- 6
100 --- 8 ---- 4
110 --- 9 ---- 2
120 --- 10 ---- ---
130 --- 10 ---- 10
140 --- 11 ---- 8
150 --- 12 ---- 6
160 --- 13 ---- 4
170 --- 14 ---- 2
180 --- 15 ---- ---
190 --- 15 ---- 10
200 --- 16 ---- 8
210 --- 17 ---- 6
220 --- 18 ---- 4
230 --- 19 ---- 2
240 --- 20 ---- ---
The above table shews how many shillings are contained in any number
of pence from 20 to 240, and likewise how many pence there are in
any number of shillings from 1 to 20; which will be found a great
use in reckoning ma[letter corrupted]ll money, and ought to be
learned by heart, os [so as? (letters apparently dropped)] to be
ready on all occasions.
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE
_SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD_.
THO' the Pagans were grossly ignorant of the most important truths,
with respect to God and religion; yet the virtuosi of this and
preceding ages have been forced to acknowledge, that their tastes
were elegant, sublime, and well-formed, with respect to works of
sculpture, statuary, and architecture. As a proof of this, in
behalf of the ancients, 'tis only requisite we should take a cursory
view of those noble and magnificent productions of art, commonly
called THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.
_The_ TEMPLE _of_ EPHESUS.
[Illustration: woodcut of Temple of Ephesus]
THE first of these Seven Wonders was the Temple of Ephesus, founded
by Ctesiphon, consecrated to Diana, and, (according to the
conjectures of natural philosophers) situated in a marshy soil, for
no other reason than that it might not be exposed to the violent
shocks of earthquakes and volcanos. This noble structure, which
was 425 feet long, and 220 feet broad, had not its bulk alone to
raise it above the most stately monuments of art, since it was
adorned with 127 lofty and well proportioned pillars of Parian
marble, each of which had an opulent monarch for its erector and
finisher; and so high did the spirit of emulation run in this point,
that each succeeding potentate endeavoured to outstrip his
predecessor in the richness, grandeur, and magnificence of his
respective pillar. As it is impossible for a modern to form a just
and adequate idea of such a stupendous piece of art, 'tis sufficient
to inform him, that the rearing of the Temple of Ephesus employed
several thousands of the finest workmen of the times for 200 years:
but as no building is proof against the shocks of time, and the
injuries of the weather, so the Temple of Ephesus falling into
decay, was, by the command of Alexander the Great, rebuilt by
Dinocrates, his own engineer, the finest architect then alive.
_The_ WALLS _of_ BABYLON.
[Illustration: woodcut of Walls of Babylon]
THE works of the cruel, though ingenious and enterprising Semiramis,
next command our wonder and admiration. These consisted of the
walls erected about Babylon, and the pleasant gardens formed for her
own delight. This immense, or rather inconceivable profusion of art
and expence [sic], employed 30,000 men for many years successively,
so that we need not wonder when we are told by historians, that
these walls were 300 or 350 stadia in circumference (which amount to
22 English miles), fifty cubits high, and so broad that they could
afford room for two or three coaches a-breast without any danger.
Though ancient records give us no particular accounts of the
gardens, yet we may reasonably presume, that if so much time and
treasure were laid out upon the walls, the gardens must not have
remained without their peculiar beauties: thus 'tis more than
probable that the gardens of Semiramis charmed the wondering eye
with unbounded prospect, consisting of regular vistas, agreeable
avenues, fine parterres, cool grottos and alcoves, formed for the
delicious purposes of love, philosophy, retirement, or the
gratification of any other passion, to which great and good minds
are subject.
_The_ TOMB _of_ PHAROS.
[Illustration: woodcut of Tomb of Pharos]
WE shall next take a view of the splendid and sumptuous Tomb of
Pharos, commonly called the Egyptian Labyrinth [sic]. This
structure, though designed for the interment of the dead, had
nevertheless the pomp of a palace designed for a monarch, who
thought he was to live for ever; since it contained sixteen
magnificent apartments, corresponding to the sixteen provinces of
Egypt; and it so struck the fancy of the celebrated Dedalus, that
from it he took the model of that renowned labyrinth which he built
in Crete, and which has eternized [sic] his name, for one of the
finest artists in the world.
_Of the_ PYRAMIDS _of_ EGYPT.
[Illustration: woodcut of Pyramid of Egypt]
IF the amazing bulk, the regular form, and the almost inconceivable
duration of public or monumental buildings call for surprize [sic]
and astonishment, we have certainly just reason to give the Pyramids
of Egypt a place among the Seven Wonders. These buildings remain
almost as strong and beautiful as ever, 'till this very time. There
are three of them; the largest of which was erected by Chemnis, one
of the Kings of Egypt, as a monument of his power when alive, and
for a receptacle of his body when dead. It was situated about 16
English miles from Memphis, now known by the name of Grand Cairo,
and was about 1440 feet in height, and about 143 feet long, on each
side of the square basis. It was built of hard Arabian stones, each
of which is about 30 feet long. The building of it is said to have
employed 600,000 men for twenty years. Chemnis however was not
interred in this lofty monument, but was barbarously torn to pieces
in a mutiny of his people. Cephas, his brother, succeeding him,
discovered an equally culpable vanity, and erected another, though a
less magnificent pyramid. The third was built by King Mycernius
according to some, but, according to others, by the celebrated
courtesan Rhodope. This structure is rendered still more
surprising, by having placed upon its top a head of black marble,
102 feet round the temples, and about 60 feet from the chin to the
crown of the head.
_The_ TOMB _of_ MAUSOLUS.
[Illustration: woodcut of Tomb of Mausolus]
THE next is the celebrated monument of conjugal love, known by the
name of the Mausoleum, and erected by Artemesia, Queen of Caria, in
honour of her husband Mausolus, whom she loved so tenderly, that,
after his death, she ordered his body to be burnt, and put his ashes
in a cup of wine, and drank it, that she might lodge the remains of
her husband as near to her heart as she possibly could. This
structure she enriched with such a profusion of art and expence,
that it was justly looked upon as one of the greatest wonders of the
world, and ever since magnificent funeral monuments are called
Mausoleums.
It stood in Halicarnassus, capital of the kingdom of Caria, between
the King's Palace and the Temple of Venus. Its breadth from N. to
S. was 63 feet, and in circumference 411, and about 120 feet high.
Pyrrhus raised a pyramid on the top of it, and placed thereon a
marble chariot drawn by four horses. The whole was admired by all
that saw it, except the philosopher Anaxagoras, who, at the sight of
it, cried, "There is a great deal of money changed into stone."
_The_ COLOSSUS _of the_ SUN.
[Illustration: woodcut of Colossus of Rhodes]
THE Colossus of Rhodes, is justly accounted the sixth Wonder; a
statue of so prodigious a bulk, that it could not have been
believed, had it not been recorded by the best historians. It was
made of brass by one Chares of Asia Minor, who consumed twelve years
in finishing it. It was erected over the entry of the harbour
of the city, with the right foot on one side, and the left on
the other. The largest ships could pass between the legs
without lowering their masts. It is said to have cost 44,000l.
English money. It was 800 feet in height, and all its members
proportionable; so that when it was thrown down by an earthquake,
after having stood 50 years, few men were able to embrace its little
finger. When the Saracens, who in 684 conquered the island, had
broken this immense statue to pieces, they are said to have loaded
above 900 camels with the brass of it.
_The_ IMAGE _of_ Jupiter.
[Illustration: woodcut of Image of Jupiter]
THE last, most elegant, and curious of all these works, known by the
name of the Seven Wonders, was the incomparable statue of Jupiter
Olympus, erected by the Elians, a people of Greece, and placed in a
magnificent temple consecrated to Jupiter. This statue represented
Jupiter sitting in a chair, with his upper part naked, but covered
down from the girdle, in his right hand holding an eagle, and in his
left a sceptre. This statue was made by the celebrated Phidias, and
was 150 cubits high. The body is said to have been of brass, and
the head of pure gold. Caligula endeavoured to get it transported
to Rome, but the persons employed in that attempt were frightened
from their purpose by some unlucky accident.
_Thus having given an Account of the Seven Wonders of the World,
let us take a View of the Burning Mountains, or Volcanos, called
Mount Vesuvius and Mount Ætna; than which there is, perhaps,
nothing in the whole Course of Nature more worthy our Notice
[sic], or so capable of raising our Admiration; and which, when
considered in a religious sense, may, with Justice, be said to be
one of the wonderful Works of_ GOD.
MOUNT VESUVIUS stands about six miles from the city of Naples, and
on the side of the Bay towards the East. The plains round it form a
beautiful prospect, and on one side are seen fruitful trees of
different kinds, and vineyards that produce the most excellent wine;
but when one ascends higher, on the side which looks to the South,
the face of things is entirely changed, and one sees a tract of
ground, which presents only images of horror, viz. a desolate
country covered with ashes, pumice-stones, and cinders; together
with rocks burned up with the fire, and split into dreadful
precipices. It is reckoned four miles high, and the top of it is a
wide naked plain, smoking with sulphur in many places; in the midst
of which plain stands another high hill, in the shape of a
sugar-loaf, on the top of which is a vast mouth or cavity, that goes
shelving down on all sides about a hundred yards deep, and about
four hundred over; from whence proceeds a continual smoke, and
sometimes those astonishing and dreadful eruptions of flame, ashes,
and burning matter, that fill the inhabitants around with
consternation, and bear down and destroy all before it. Among the
many eruptions which it has had, at different times, we need
instance only one, which happened on the fifth of June, 1717, and is
thus related by Mr. Edward Berkley, who was present at the time, in
his letter to Dr. Arbuthnot in England, viz. That he with much
difficulty, reached the top of Vesuvius on the 17th of April, 1717,
where says he, I saw a vast aperture full of smoke, and heard within
that horrid gulph certain odd sounds, as it were murmuring, sighing,
throbbing, churning, dashing of waves; and, between while, a noise
like that of thunder or cannon, attended constantly, from the belly
of the mountain, with a clattering like that of tiles falling from
the tops of houses into a street. After an hour's stay, the smoke
being moved by the wind, I could discern two furnaces, almost
contiguous; one on the left, which seemed to be about three yards
diameter, glowed with red flames, and threw up red hot stones with a
hideous noise, which, as they fell back, caused the fore-mentioned
clattering.
On May 8, ascending to the top of Vesuvius, I had a full prospect of
the crater, which appeared to be about a mile in circumference, and
a hundred yards deep, with a conical mount in the middle of the
bottom, made of stones thrown up and fallen back again into the
crater: And the left-hand furnace, mentioned before, threw up every
three or four minutes, with a dreadful bellowing, a vast number of
red hot stones, sometimes more than a 1000, but never less than 300
feet higher than my head, as I stood upon the brink, which fell back
perpendicularly into the crater, there being no wind. This furnace
or mouth was in the vortex of the hill, which it had formed round
it. The other mouth was lower, in the side of the same new-formed
hill, and filled with such red hot liquid matter as we see in a
glass-house furnace, which raged and wrought as the waves in the
sea, causing a short abrupt noise, like what may be imagined from a
sea of quicksilver dashing among uneven rocks. This stuff would
sometimes spew over, and run down the convex side of the conical
hill, and appearing at first red hot, it changed colour, and
hardened as it cooled, shewing the first rudiments of an eruption,
or an eruption in miniature: All which I could exactly survey by
the favour of the wind, for the space of an hour and a half; during
which it was very observable, that all the vollies [sic] of smoke,
flame, and burning stone, came only out of the hole to our left,
while the liquid stuff in the other mouth worked and overflowed.
On June 5, after a horrid noise, the mountain was seen, at Naples,
to spew a little out of the crater, and so continued till about two
hours before night on the 7th, when it made hideous bellowing, which
continued all that night, and the next day till noon, causing all
the windows, and, as some affirm, the very houses in Naples (about
six miles distant) to shake. From that time it spewed vast
quantities of melted stuff to the South, which streamed down the
side of the mountain, like a pot boiling over.
On the 9th, at night, a column of fire shot at intervals out of its
summit.
On the 10th, the mountain grew very outrageous again, roaring and
groaning most dreadfully, sounding like a noise made up of a raging
tempest, the murmur of a troubled sea, and the roaring of thunder
and artillery, confused altogether. This moved my curiosity to
approach the mountain. Three or four of us were carried in a boat,
and landed at Torre del Greco, a town situate at the foot of
Vesuvius to the S.W. whence we rode between four and five miles
before we came to the burning river, which was about midnight; and
as we approached, the roaring of the volcano grew exceeding loud and
terrible. I observed a mixture of colours in the cloud over the
crater, green, yellow, red, and blue. There was likewise a ruddy
dismal light in the air, over the tract of land where the burning
river flowed; ashes continually showering on us all the way from the
sea-coast, which horrid scene grew still more extraordinary, as we
came nearer the stream. Imagine a vast torrent of liquid fire
rolling from the top down the side of the mountain, and with
irresistible fury bearing down and consuming vines, olives,
fig-trees, houses, and, in a word, every thing that stood in its
way.
Death, _in a thousand forms, destructive frown'd,_
_And_ Woe, Despair, _and_ Horror _rag'd around_.
Æneid II. by Pitt.
The largest stream of fire seemed half a mile broad at least, and
five miles long. During our return, at about three o'clock in the
morning, we constantly heard the murmur and groaning of the
mountain, which sometimes burst out into louder peals, throwing up
huge spouts of fire, and burning stones, which, falling down again,
resembled stars in our rockets. Sometimes I observed two, and at
others three distinct columns of flames, and sometimes one vast one,
that seemed to fill the whole crater; which burning columns, and the
fiery stones, seemed to be shot 1000 feet perpendicular above the
summit of the volcano.
On the 11th, at night, I observed it from a terrace, at Naples, to
throw up incessantly a vast body of fire, and great stones, to a
surprising height.
On the 12th, in the morning, it darkened the sun with smoke and
ashes, causing a sort of an eclipse. Horrid bellowings, on this and
the foregoing day, were heard at Naples, whither part of the ashes
also reached.
On the 13th we saw a pillar of black smoke shoot upright to a
prodigious height.
On the 15th, in the morning, the court and walls of our house in
Naples were covered with ashes. In the evening a flame appeared in
the mountain through the clouds.
On the 17th, the smoke appeared much diminished, fat, and greasy.
And
On the 18th, the whole appearance ended, the mountain remaining
perfectly quiet.
To this memorable account it cannot be amiss to add, that the first
notice we have of this volcano's casting out flames, was in the
reign of the Emperor Titus. At which first eruption, we are
informed, that it flowed with that vehemence, that it entirely
overwhelmed and destroyed the two great cities Herculaneum and
Pompeia, and very much damaged Naples itself, with its stones and
ashes.
In 471, if we may credit tradition, this mountain broke out again so
furiously, that its cinders and liquid fire were carried as far as
Constantinople; which prodigy was thought, by superstitious minds,
to presage the destruction of the empire, that happened immediately
after, by that inundation of Goths, which spread itself all over
Europe.
There are several other eruptions recorded, but not so considerable
as the former, until 1631, when the earth shook so much as to
endanger the total destruction of Naples and Benevento. This did
inestimable damage to the neighbouring places; and it is computed
near 10,000 lost their lives in the flames and ruins.
The air was infected with such noxious vapours that it caused a
plague, which lasted a long time, and spread as far as the
neighbourhood of Rome. Since which time, the most memorable are the
eruptions in 1701, (of which Mr. Addison, who saw it, has left us a
good description), and in 1717, as described above, by a curious
spectator.
There have been eight eruptions within the last 30 years; of some of
which Sir Wm. Hamilton has favoured the world with very particular
and interesting accounts.
_What tongue the dreadful slaughter could disclose;
Or, oh! what tears could answer half their woes?_
_Explanation of the Cut of Mount Vesuvius_.
1. The Southern Summit, out of which the fire proceeds.
2. The Northern Summit.
3. The Rocks on the North.
4. The Valley between the two Summits.
5. The Opening on the Side where the fiery Torrent broke out.
6. The first Opening, called the Plain.
7. The Course which the last fiery Torrent took.
8. The Chapel of St. Januarius.
[Illustration: woodcut of Vesuvius]
HAVING been so particular in describing Vesuvius, we need say the
less concerning ÆTNA, which is the greatest mountain in Sicily,
eight miles high, and sixty in compass. There are many of its
furious eruptions recorded in history, some of which have proved
very fatal to the neighbourhood; we shall instance only one, that
began the 11th of March, 1669, and is thus described in the
Philosophical Transactions, viz.
It broke out towards the evening, on the south-east side of the
mountain, about twenty miles from the old mouth, and ten from the
city of Catanea. The bellowing noise of the eruption was heard a
hundred miles off, to which distance the ashes were also carried.
The matter thrown out was a stream of metal and minerals, rendered
liquid by the fierceness of the fire, which boiled up at the mouth
like water at the head of a great river; and having run a little
way, the extremity thereof began to crust and cruddle, turning into
large porous stones, resembling cakes of burning sea-coal. These
came rolling and tumbling one over another, bearing down any common
building by their weight, and burning whatever was combustible. At
first the progress of this inundation was at the pace of three miles
in 24 hours, but afterwards scarcely a furlong in a day. It thus
continued for fifteen or sixteen days together, running into the sea
close by the walls of Catanea, and at length over the walls into the
city, where it did no considerable damage, except to a convent,
which it almost destroyed.
In its course it overwhelmed fourteen towns and villages, containing
three or four thousand inhabitants; and it is very remarkable, that
(during the whole time of this eruption, which was fifty-four days),
neither sun nor stars appeared.
But though Catanea had at this time the good fortune to escape the
threatened destruction, it was almost totally ruined in 1692 by an
earthquake, one of the most terrible in all history. This was not
only felt all over Sicily, but likewise in Naples and Malta. The
shock was so violent, that the people could not stand on their legs,
and those that lay on the ground were tossed from side to side, as
if upon a rolling billow. The earth opened in several places,
throwing up large quantities of water, and great numbers perished in
their houses by the fall of rocks, rent from the mountains. The
sea was violently agitated, and roared dreadfully. Mount Ætna threw
up vast spires of flame, and the shock was attended with a noise
exceeding the loudest claps of thunder. Fifty-four cities and
towns, with an incredible number of villages, were destroyed, or
greatly damaged; and it was computed, that near 60,000 people
perished in different parts of the island, very few escaping the
general and sudden destruction.
There have been ten other eruptions, one of which, subsequent to the
preceding in 1753, was a very large one. Mr. Brydone, in his tour
of Sicily and Malta, has given many ingenious particulars concerning
it.
_Explanation of_ NUMBERS _expressed by Letters_.
[In what follows, a D may also be expressed using an I followed by a
backwards C; and an M by a C, followed by an I, followed by a
backwards C--these can be seen in the HTML version]
C. - - - One Hundred - 100
CC. - - - Two Hundred - 200
CCCC. - - - Three Hundred - 300
CCCC. - - - Four Hundred - 400
D. - - - Five Hundred - 500
DC. - - - Six Hundred - 600
DCC. - - - Seven Hundred - 700
DCCC. - - - Eight Hundred - 800
DCCCC. - - - Nine Hundred - 900
M. - - - One Thousand - 1000
/ One Thousand
MDCCXXXIX. - - < Seven Hundred 1739
\ and Thirty-nine
MDCCC. - - - / One Thousand - 1800
\ Eight Hundred
_N.B._ A less Numerical Letter, set before a greater, takes away
from the greater so many as the letter stands for; but being set
after the greater, adds so many to it as the letter stands for.
For example, V stands for five alone, but put I before it, thus IV,
and it stands for four; and put I on the other side, thus VI, and
it stands for six. So X alone stands for ten, but put I before it,
thus IX, and it stands for nine; and put I to it on the other side,
thus XI, and it becomes eleven. So L stands for fifty; put X before
it, thus XL, and it stands for forty, but put the X on the other
side, thus LX, and it is sixty. So C stands for one hundred, place
X before it, thus XC, and it is but ninety; again, put the X on the
other side, thus CX, and it is one hundred and ten. So in all other
cases.
LETTERS, TALES AND FABLES,
FOR
AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION.
_A Letter from Master_ JACKY CURIOUS, _in London, to his Mamma in_
_the Country, giving a Description of the Tower, Monument, and St._
_Paul's Church_.
Honoured Madam,
AT my departure, I remember you ordered me to send you accounts of
every thing I saw remarkable in London; I will obey your commands as
well as I can; but pray excuse my defects, and let my will plead for
my inability, to entertain my absent friends.
I am just now come from seeing the tower, monument and St. Paul's
cathedral, (places which I remember to have heard much talk of in
the country, and which scarce any body that comes to London omits
seeing). The tower, which stands by the Thames, is a large strong
building, surrounded with a high wall, about a mile in compass, and
a broad ditch supplied with water out of the River Thames. Round
the outward wall are guns planted, which on extraordinary occasions
are fired. At the entrance, the first thing we saw was a collection
of wild beasts, viz. lions, panthers, tygers [sic], &c. also eagles
and vultures: These are of no sort of use, and kept only for
curiosity and shew. We next went to the mint, (which is in the
tower observe) where we saw the manner of coining money, which is
past my art, especially in the compass of a letter, to describe.
From thence we went to the jewel room, and saw the crown of England,
and other regalia, which are well worth seeing, and gave me a great
deal of pleasure. The next is the horse armory, a grand sight
indeed; here are fifteen of our English monarchs on horseback, all
dressed in rich armour, and attended by their guards; but I think it
not so beautiful as the next thing we saw, which was the small
armory: This consists of pikes, muskets, swords, halberts [sic],
and pistols, sufficient, as they told us, for three-score thousand
men; and are all placed in such different figures, representing the
sun, star and garter, half moons, and such like, that I was greatly
delighted with it; and they being all kept clean and scowered, made
a most brilliant appearance. Hence we went and saw the train of
artillery, in the grand storehouse, as they call it, which is filled
with cannon and mortars, all extremely fine: Here is also a
diving-bell, with other curiosities too tedious to mention; which
having examined, we came away and went to the monument, which was
built in remembrance of the fire of London: It is a curious lofty
pillar, 200 feet high, and on the top a gallery, to which we went by
tedious winding stairs in the inside: from this gallery we had a
survey of the whole city: And here having feasted our eyes with the
tops of houses, ships, and multitude of boats on the River Thames,
we came down and went to St. Paul's Cathedral, which is a most
magnificent pile, and stands on high ground, near the centre of the
city. This noble building struck me with surprise, and is admired
by the whole world, as well for its beautiful architecture as height
and magnitude; it has a grand awful choir, chapel, a dome finely
painted by that masterly hand Sir J. Thornhill, a whispering
gallery, and other curiosities, with which I conclude my first
letter, and am,
Madam,
Your very dutiful son,
JOHN CURIOUS.