Of the University of Naples; Director of the Vesuvian Observatory.
Mem. Inst. C.E., F.R.S., F.G.S., M.R.I.A., &c., &c.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
LONDON:
ASHER & CO.,
13, BEDFORD STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.
1873.
W. S. Johnson, Nassau Steam Press, 60, St. Martin's Lane, CharingCross, W.C.
"The Translator should look upon himself as a Merchant in theIntellectual Exchange of the world, whose business it is to promote theinterchange of the produce of the mind."
Gœthe, "Kunst und Alterthum."
The publishers of this little volume, in requesting me to undertake atranslation of the "Incendio Vesuviano," of Professor Palmieri, and toaccompany it with some introductory remarks, have felt justified by thefacts that Signor Palmieri's position as a physicist, the greatadvantages which his long residence in Naples as a Professor of theUniversity, and for many years past Director of the MeteorologicalObservatory—established upon Vesuvius itself, prior to the expulsion ofthe late dynasty—have naturally caused much weight to attach toanything emanating from his pen in reference to that volcano.
Nearly forty memoirs on various branches of physics—chieflyelectricity, magnetism and meteorology—produced since 1842, are to befound under Palmieri's name in the "Universal Catalogue of ScientificPapers of the Royal Society," and of these nine refer to Vesuvius, theearliest being entitled "Primi Studii Meteorologici fatti sul R.Osservatorio Vesuviano," published in 1853. He was also author, inconjunction with Professor A. Scacchi, of an elaborate report upon theVolcanic Region of Monte Vulture, and on the Earthquake (commonly calledof Melfi) of 1851. These, however, by no means exhaust the stock ofPalmieri's labours.
The following Memoir of Signor Palmieri on the eruption of Vesuvius inApril of this year (1872), brief as it is, embraces two distinctsubjects, viz., his narrative as an eye-witness of the actual events ofthe eruption as they occurred upon the cone and slopes of the mountain,and his observations as to pulses emanating from its interior, asindicated by his Seismograph, and as to the electric conditions of theoverhanging cloud of smoke (so called) and ashes, as indicated by hisbifilar electrometer, both established at the Observatory. The two lasthave but an indirect bearing upon Vulcanology. The narrative of theevents of the eruption is characterised by exactness of observation anda sobriety of language—so widely different from the exaggerated styleof sensational writing that is found in almost all such accounts—that Ido the author no more than justice in thus expressing my view of itsmerits.
Nor should a special narration, such as this, become less important orsuffer even in popular estimation by the fact that so recently myfriend, Professor J. Phillips, has given to the world the best g