Tagus to the Arch of San Pedro and the gate of "the Sun," another intermixture of Moorish with Portuguese names. On this spot are still baths which bear marks of antiquity. Every where to the east and north are Campos," similar to those of Rome, simply substituting in their appellatives the o for the u; and none bear a Roman name, unless Campolide (Campus litis) be so deemed. The Moors delighting only in minor strategy leave hardly a name to these, and the Portugueze have given to them chiefly their own; but they still remain in every way about both the ancient and modern city, the west as well as the east end of the town, for Lisbon like London has both. I have already spoken of the aqueduct as equal in every respect to the description of those of Rome; it is built like them on an inclined plane, whence the water proceeding to its level issues forth through beautiful fountains in every direction. I had opportunities of applying to the archives of the persons of rank, to whom they are intrusted, as in ancient Rome; but even a plan of their subterraneous structure was unfinished, so that I cannot add to what I have stated at the outset, more than that no ancient nation could possibly surpass the Portugueze in their apparent reverence for water, if one may judge, besides their numerous eulogies, from their magnificent endeavours to preserve its purity. The southern entrance is at a short distance from the Tagus, beneath the fountain of Loretto, which (from being admirably surmounted by his statue) might well cope with that of Neptune at Rome. Immediately on entering the passage, I was astonished by the beauty of the lengthened arch which presented itself, or rather arches, for to right and left, as they diverge to different quarters, it is the same. On each side of the passage are two narrow channels elevated about two feet; along one of which only ran the water, the purpose of the other being to act in its turn, whenever any sediment is deposited from the little stream, which at this time exhibited a slight ferruginous colour. The passage is wide enough for two persons to pass together, and the arch sufficiently high to realize, as before noticed, the state ment of Procovius, of a man passing up it on horseback. The whole of the exquisite Portuguese masonry in hard freestone, seemed as perfect and as clean as if erected yesterday, which, with the water brightly sparkling against the lights which were carried, appeared almost supernatural. The whole is one of the creditable efforts of John V.; but that it is on the Roman model, if not partly on a Roman foundation, is certain. It is on record that the water for the supply of the ancient city, was concentrated within its walls; and as the Romans provided aqueducts in various provinces of Portugal, it is hardly to be supposed they would neglect the apparently fondled capital," happy Julia." It is stated by Marinho and others, that the waters of the old city did not extend to the modern Lisbon; as also that it had long been projected to bring the waters from Bellas, &c. to it; that the senate of Lisbon had, at the commencement of the 17th century, laid apart 70,000l. for that purpose, but which was wasted in fruitless rejoicings on the arrival in the city of Philip III. of Spain. I conceived I saw something of mere Roman remains about the valley of Alcantara, so famous under the Moors, over which pass the beautiful lofty arches so celebrated throughout Europe. It is impossible to ascertain the northern boundary of the Roman city. A vague idea only extends it to the Sete Castellos (Seven Castles); patches of roads from it appear in different places on this side, and cross the Cintra roads near an injured aqueduct, at about a league, as if directed to Colares, already mentioned. Others advance irregularly towards Torres Vedras. Such is all which, with great industry and much love towards the subject, I could obtain for my gratification. If it shall assist or excite those who possess superior knowledge (which may easily be) and more leisure for further research, I shall be happy; for with the exception of the ardent Azeveda, and not excepting the talented Balbi, no modern writer has done so much for me. Excavation in the circuit of the castle of St. George would doubtless be fruitful in results, and might be easily effected; no less so at the sixteen eminent Roman stations in the provinces: but unhappily Portugal, full of attractions, seems destined to continue an alien from all the researches of peace. R. B. S. 1832.1 Mr. URBAN, Mere Church, Wiltshire. Mere, Dec. 1831. I SEND you a drawing of the screen, and some engravings, which I have made in wood, of panelling and carving in Mere Church. This church, of which Sir R. C. Hoare has given a view and description in his valuable History of Wilts, is more regular in its outline than in its style; consisting of a nave, two aisles, and a choir, with a chancel or chantry on each side of it: some of which members, however, having been built at different times, are in different styles of architecture. The tower, which is about 90 feet high, has octagonal turrets at the corners, ending in lofty pyramidal pinnacles, and is embattled at the top, and surrounded by a deep border of close quatrefoil work. The nave is divided from each aile by four pillars of a light pattern; and above these are, or rather were, as many clerestory win dows; for those on the north side have their lights walled up, but their mullions and tracery are left, while the opposite, ones, which are open, have lost their mullions, and are simple pigeonhole openings in the wall. The screen is of oak, wrought in the richest and lightest style of church carving, and having from its size and proportions a fine effect. The lower part (which is unfortunately hidden by pews, though I have drawn it as visible) is filled up with panelling carved with finial work in high relief; and in the middle is a line of trefoils with the spandril spaces above them occupied by open quatrefoiled circles and trefoils beneath. The arches are richly carved in trefoil work, and the little columns that support the gallery open into fan-work groins, above which rises the cornice, adorned with two lines of carved and gilt vine leaves. The panelling of the gallery is newer than the screen; as it appears by the churchwardens' book, which goes back to the time of Philip and Mary, that at the accession of Queen Elizabeth they defaced "the images of the xii apostles, whych were paynted on the face of the Rodelofte,' a proof that there were then twelve panels, though there are now only nine; and that on the following year they took down" the rodelofte by the commandement by the Bysshop." GENT. MAG. April, 1832. $29 It seems also that they took down the rood and altars, by command of "The Queen's Maties vysytors," whom they met three times at Sarum; and defaced the seates or tabernacles of the images through all the church." Just behind the roodloft, where the workhouse poor now sit, was the or gan; the item for playing which ceases about the year 1613, and in 1636 it is mentioned in an inventory of the church goods, as "old decayed organs in the loft over the north isle," after which it is no more noticed; and little attention seems to have been given to the screen from the accession of Elizabeth to 1720, when it was coloured. In 1558 the parishioners purchased a copy of the English Bible, which cost 16s. 8d., of course a great sum at that time; and in 1635 a copy of Bishop Jewell's works was bought for 40s. and, as was then common, fastened with an iron chain in the chancel. In 1584, among other vessels in the church, are named four dozen trenchers and four stone cups.. In 1638 an almanack was set up in the church, and an hour-glass was bought; and the next year a half-hour-glass; perhaps to regulate the length of the sermon. In 1589, about the time of the Spanish invasion, they bought a barrel of gunpowder, probably for defence; as in 1620 it was ordered to be sold; but in 1628, when the difficulties of the unfortunate Charles the First began to thicken, seven barrels of gunpowder are written in the account, of the church stock. At the beginning of the 17th century, the money collected for the poor was so much more than the outlay, that the churchwardens put out a considerable sum of money in loans of four or five pounds to different tradesmen ; but in 1638 they recalled it, and expended it in building an almshouse. The yew-tree, which is now in vigour, was planted in 1636; and some lime trees, which are trained in a canopy over the church-yard paths, in 1732. Some of the chief renovations about this church have taken place as follow: 1587. The paths paved at 14d. a yard. 1589. A new pulpit. 1594. A new bell. 1616. Two new bells. 1636. Tower loft and south leads laid, and about 1000 feet of paving done. 1685. New clock and chimes, and reading desk. 1705. Singers' gallery erected; a pinnacle blown down and restored. 1713. South side of the church re-built by a Mr. Stoakes for 1241. This was a regular job, in which saving was the object of the parish officers, and gain that of the builder, who has lighted a badly built aile by windows with ugly mullions without tracery. 1748. Tenor bell cast. 1807. Organ put up. The specimen of panelling, No. 1, is that of the front of a gallery containing eight panels in the north aile. The large middle quatrefoils are occupied by shields described by Sir R. C. Hoare. There are ten panels of the pattern, No. 2, in the gallery of the |