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reach the bottom. Burning rocks, ſixty palms in length, were thrown to the diſtance of a mile, and leſſer ſtones were carried three miles. After the moſt violent ſtruggles, and a ſhaking of the whole iſland, an immenſe torrent of lava guſhed from the rent, and ſprung up into the air to the height of ſixty palms, whence it poured down the mountain and overwhelmed every object in its way in one promiſcuous ruin.
This deſtructive torrent, which burſt from the ſide of Ætna at a place called Ricini, ruſhed impetuouſly againſt the beautiful mountain of Montpelieri, and pierced into the ground to a conſiderable depth; then dividing and ſurrounding the mountain; it united again on the ſouth ſide, and poured deſolation upon the adjacent country. The progreſs of the torrent was at firſt at the rate of ſeven miles a day, but it afterwards took four days ⟨to⟩ travel ſixteen; wherever it directed its courſe, the whole appearance of nature was charged, ⟨ſeveral⟩ hills were formed in places which were formerly valleys, and a large lake was ſo entirely filled ⟨up⟩ by the melted maſs, as not to leave a veſtige remaining. In its courſe it deſcended upon a vineyard, belonging to a convent of Jeſuits, which was formed upon an ancient and probably a very thin layer ⟨of⟩ lava, with a number of cavenrs and crevices under it. The liquid maſs entering into theſe excavation ſoon filled them up, and by degrees bore up the vineyard, which in a ſhort time, to the great aſtoniſhment of the ſpectators, began to move away and was carried by the torrent to a conſiderable diſtance. In 1770 ſome remains of this vineyard were ſtill to be ſeen, but the greater part of it all entirely deſtroyed.
In vain did the terrified inhabitants of Catania recur for protection to the miraculous veil, or
