Addison, Joseph: Remarks on several parts of Italy: &c. in the years 1701, 1702, 1703 (London: Tonson, 1718)

near the City os Naples.
appear all over stain’d with Mixtures of
White, Green, Red and Yellow, and
have several Rocks (landing out of
them that look like pure Brimftone.
The Bottom was entirely cover’d, and
tho’ we look’d very narrowly we could
see nothing like a Hole in it; the Smoak
breaking through several imperceptible
Cracks tn many Places. The very Mid-
dle was firm Ground when we saw it,
as wc concluded from the Stones we
ssung upon it, and I question not but
one might then have cross’d the Bottom,
and have gone up on the other Side of
it with very little Danger, unlels from
some accidental Breath of Wind. In
the late Eruptions this great Hollow
was like a vast Caldron fill’d with
glowing and melted Matter, which, as
it boil’d over in any Part, ran down the
Sides of the Mountain, and made Five
such Rivers as that before-mention’d.
In proportion as the Heat ssacken’d, this
burning Matter must have subsided with-
in the Bowels of the Mountain, and as
it sunk very leisurely had time to Cake
together, and form the Bottom which
covers the Mouth of that dreadful Vault
that lyes underneath it. The next E-
ruption or Earthquake will' probably
break in Pieces this false Bottom, and
quite