Amongst other stones that fell; was one weighing two pounds, and two ounces; which was also an oblong parallelopiped, with blunted angles, (as they are called, but which I think meant plainly prismatical terminations, and are said to have been about an inch in height;) and this was most remarkable for having, a small circle, or sort of belt round it, in one part; wherein the black crust appeared more smooth; and shining like glass; as if that part had suffered a greater degree of heat than the rest.
Another, also, was no less remarkable, for having many rounded cavities on its surface: as if the stone had been struck with small balls, whilst it was forming; and before it was hardened; which left their impressions.—And some appearances, of the same kind, were found on one of the four surfaces of another stone, in the possession of Soldani.
On minute examination, the Professor found the stones were composed of blackish crystals, of different kinds; with metallic or pyritical spots, all united together by a kind of consolidated ashes.—And, on polishing them, they appeared to have a ground of a dark ash colour; intermixed with cubical blackish crystals, and shining pyritical specks, of a silver and gold colour.
The conclusion which Professor Soldani evidently forms, is; that the stones were generated in the air, by a combination of mineral substances, which had risen somewhere or other, as exhalations, from the earth: but, as he seems to think, not from Vesuvius.
The names of many persons, besides those already referred to, are mentioned; who were eye witnesses to the fall of the stones. And several depositions were made, in a regular juridical manner, to ascertain the truth of the facts.
The space of ground, within which the stones fell, was from three to four miles.
The falling of them, was the very day after the great eruption of Vesuvius.
And the distance of the place, from Vesuvius, could not be less than two hundred miles, and seems to have been more.
Vesuvius is situated to the south of the spot: and the cloud came from the north; about thirteen, or at most eighteen hours, after the eruption.
Now, putting all these circumstances together, I cannot but venture to form a conclusion, somewhat different from Professor Soldani's; though perfectly agreeing with his general principles.