ed as it were ing memorials have occurof the Roman adual accumulation of the ries ago.* by these showers, and of There aruch of the inhabitants as those of us cape from the city, in the this age of e of skeletons found many with so muge ancient level. The vicrovers as a ontinued to struggle upward the solitary deepening stratum of ashcould any o. In one instance this had tors of ne by a female, of whose bosom furnimould, inpressed in the substance which had subsequently hardened around her, is shewn in the Museum of Portici.

In general, the Romans were very desirous to have their tombs placed in conspicuous and public situations especially by the sides of the great roads in the vicinity of the towns. It is striking and affecting thus to behold them seeking to relieve the gloom which oppressed their spirits in their hopeless darkness, or vague, cheerless superstition, respecting a future state, by expedients for making it unavoidable that those who should be alive when they were dead, should see their names, and perhaps sometimes talk of them.

There is one of the enumerated modes of monumental celebration, of which it really is not easy to conceive how it could be felt compatible with any dignified ideas of death and departed excellence. This was the custom of bringing out, as a part of the funeral ceremonies for persons recently deceased, waxen busts, which had been made in resemblance of the ancestors of those persons, to be publicly exhibited, in the robes, and with the insignia appropriate to their offices and dignities,and drawn in chariots to the forum, there to be placed "in the same curule chairs with which when alive they had been privileged." The orator for the occasion, when he had exhausted all the topics of eulogy of the person lately dead, went back to celebrate the virtues and exploits of those former personages whose images were thus exposed in ludicrous pomp, endeavouring to make their examples and honours an incitement to the virtuous ambition of the descendants and all the beholders.

"To modern feeling," says our author, "it is difficult to conceive other than ludicrous effects from the display of a wax-work ancestry; yet we have the testimony of more than one ancient to the good result of such exhibition."

The detailed survey of the city begins with the "Street of the Tombs." In the approach to Pompeii from Naples, "both sides of the road, for nearly a furlong before entering the city, are occupied by tombs and public monuments, intermixed with shops; in front of the latter, arcades were constructed, affording shelter from the rays of the sun, or inclemency of the weather. The carriage way, or agger, exhibiting the tracks of ruts worn by chariots, is narrow, seldom exceeding fourteen feet in width, with foot-ways, or margines, on each side, varying from four to six, elevated above the road about a foot, and separated therefrom by a curb and guard stones, raised about sixteen inches, and placed at intervals from ten to twelve feet asunder." "The ruts are sometimes four inches deep; the wheels seem to have been about three inches wide, and from three feet to three feet six inches apart. The wheels of a modern carriage are about four feet six inches."

"The street of the tombs, as far as hitherto discovered, contains, the monuments of those alone who had borne some office in the state; and, in most cases, the ground on which they are respectively erected was voted by the public. From the latter circumstance it may be inferred, that this quarter was especially reserved for that purpose, while we may presume that the places appropriated for general sepulture were more removed from the city."

These tombs are large structures, of different forms, and generally, but not in every instance, bearing, in conspicuous inscriptions, the names of the persons for whom they were raised, with explanatory additions respecting the offices, merits, and appointments through which this monumental honour was obtained. They are also decorated with carvings and paintings, some of emblematical, and some of literal

meaning. The tomb of Scaurus, which is described as the most remarkable one yet found," is covered with extremely low relievos, painted, of gladiatorial combats. The gladiators of Ampliatus, whose names and fate appear to have been written over their likenesses, lions, bears, panthers, bulls, wolves, and rabbits, with dogs, stags, and nondescripts, all seem to have been brought upon the scene for the entertainment of the Pompeians, and the satisfaction of Scaurus's ghost."

The inscription mentions that two thousand sentences had been assigned by the decurions for the expense of the funeral ceremonies, of which the show of gladiators must have been the principal part. On this it is remarked, that unless a character expressing another thousand had been broken off, "Human blood must have been cheap when 16. 2s. 11d. could produce so much upon the arena. "The sepulchral interior recess is undecorated, about seven feet square, vaulted, and surrounded with small niches, four on each side, except that of entrance, where the space of two is occupied with the door-way. In the centre is a square pillar, which reaches to and supports the ceiling, leaving a space round of not more than two feet it is pierced each way with a niche, perhaps for a lamp. An opening for light was opposite to the door. "It is not said, but may be presumed, that urns and ashes were found in the apartment. It is mentioned that at a spot in the neighbourhood, were two subterraneous depositories now covered up, in which cinerary urns were discovered; one of glass, with a cover of the same material, was placed within anothof baked earth, and the whole enveloped in a third of lead." In the arched interior of another tomb, "several vases were found. The door is curious, being of marble, little more than three feet high, two feet nine inches wide, four inches and a half thick, and moved on pivots formed out of the same block. Doors thus constructed seldom opened without noise."

66

"The interior of the tomb, of Nævoleia Tyche was about five feet six in2K ATHENEUM VOL. 8.

ches square, ill stuccoed, arched, and niches formed around for the reception of cinerary urns. Some were of coarse earth; three others, about 15 inches high, were of glass, and contain. ed bones, with a liquid, which, upon analysis, was considered to be composed of water, wine, and oil. Each had a lamp, and piece of money for Charon: more lamps were ready in the corner; they were of red common earth."

It is predicted that the walls which encircled the city will remain when all that they were raised to enclose and defend shall have perished. "They are partly well put together; but with an extraordinary admixture of rubblework, and predominance of the species of brick work called reticulatum, exhibiting an appearance strongly resembling that of modern Turkish fortresses, where the works, originally Greek, and well constructed, have descended through a series of barbarous possessors, and undergone many centuries of ill-judged repairs. Towers are placed at unequal distances, 27 feet by 33, projecting forward 7, and composed of rubble walls, 3 feet in thickness, in three stories: between them, supported by a double wall, ranged the ramparts; the whole 20 feet wide, including the two walls, and varying in height from the ground 25 to 30, according to the local level. They communicated thro' the towers by arched door-ways, on the third or upper story. Embattled parapets were raised upon the outer and inner edge of the rampart: they formed, in appearance, a double line of defence for the town, that nearest the tower being some feet higher than the outer, The outer wall of the tower seems invariably to have fallen.

"Five principal entrances have been discovered to the city, two of which only are worthy of notice. The principal, towards Herculaneum and Naples, is about 47 feet in depth, its whole extent 42. It consisted of an outer and inner wall, each perforated with three arched openings; the intermediate space being probably left open to the sky, except the lateral ways for foot passengers, which communicated with the uncovered area in the centre, by

two arched openings on each side. A portcullis closed the centre arch-way, about 7 feet distant from the front; and, with another gate on the inside, formed a double security."

Almost immediately within this gate, is an inn or post-house.

"Chequers are exhibited at the side of the door way. The bones of horses were found in the stables; and in the cellar, large earthen vases for wine. Rings for tying horses, and three cars, were found; the wheels light, and dished much like the modern; four feet three inches diameter; ten spokes, a little thicker at each end. Guard stones, for mounting horses, were placed by the law of C. Gracchus de viis muniendis. The holes may here be observed in the curb for passing the halter."

As that enchanting feeling with which we go back into ancient times, seeks to bring us in contact with the beings of those times as living and as divested of all public formality and pomp, the thoughtful and imaginative Visitant of the city will feel a more intense interest in the inspection of the dwelling-houses than of any other of its structures. But, if he should advance to this inspection with his fancy filled, with images of Roman magnificence, and prepared to find something of a majestic character adhering to every thing in the economy of that imperial nation, he will feel a strange disappointment in viewing the abodes which contented the generality of these partakers of the empire of the world.

"Pompeii remained, to its fall, a city of lanes rather than of streets. The general uniformity of plan, (in the structure and arrangement of the houBes) admitted considerable variety in the detail; but they were all attended with imperfections repugnant to modern ideas of taste and convenience. The absence of chimneys entirely, and windows generally, may be particularly noticed. The only light received in the rooms was through an aperture formed in or over the door; and even this was borrowed. But we are to recollect that the Romans were not a "Genus ignavum, quod tecto qaudet et umbrà ;" not a domestic people: their

society was to be sought in the Forum, and porticoes.

"Good foundations, and stout walls, were not considered of essential consequence, where the skill of the architect was rather directed to the exclusion of heat, than precaution against the less mild months of the year. Hence we find scarcely a house in the whole city of Pompeii, of which the walls are not considerably indebted for their durability to the plaster with which they are covered. I built, of the worst brick and rubble work, with mortar but insufficiently mixed, their thickness in few instances appears adequate to the services they were intended to perform. Sometimes, however, the plaster is very excellent.

In the detailed description of a house of quite the aristocratic order, (that of Panza) it is noticed that "no fire place exists, nor do any flues remain, by which the house could have been warmed by means of a stove, præfurnium, or hypocaust for this purpose, in all probability, only braziers were used, with charcoal, as they are frequently found."

In the account of another house of the same superior order, there is occasion to notice, and to notice as not peculiar to that house, a strange want of good order and good taste in arrangements involving the decencies of civilized life. It has also been told often enough by travellers, that the signs in front of some of the shops, (as of those of the bakers,) are flagrant violations of decorum.

One of the chief of the many circumstances of difference between this ancient domestic architecture and the modern, is the internal court, round which the apartments were arranged, and lighted entirely from within, so that the exterior presented only a dead wall. The inducements to the adoption of this plan were seclusion from observation, protection, and jealousy as to the female portion of the family. The apartments for the accommodation of private life, appear to have been what we should deem very inconveniently small, even in those houses of the more stately rank, which had circumstances

66

of exterior magnificence, a vestibulum, a lofty atrium, with an ample peristyle, and ambulatories." They were, however, highly ornamented.

"The smallest apartments were lined with stucco, painted in the most brilliant and endless variety of colours, in compartments, simply tinted with a light ground, surrounded with a border, sometimes embellished with a single figure, or subject, in the centre, or at equal distances, and every where exhibiting that taste each individual of Pompeii seems to have been anxious to display. These paintings were very frequently of history, but embrace every variety of subject, some of the most exquisite beauty. Greek artists seem to have been employed; indeed native painters were few, while the former every where abounded."

Architectural delineations often occur, of which a number are represented in the engravings. "Many are continually found," say our authors, "in which it is easy to trace the true principles of perspective; but they are rather indicated than minutely expressed, or accurately displayed; whereas, in most instances, a total want of the knowledge of this art is but too evident."

The description is, perhaps, the most gratifying when it goes into such details as the following.

"The doors, formed of wood, are never found complete; this material, being always reduced to carbon, retaining only the general form. Fir appears to have been much used. The doors revolved upon pivots, and were fastened by bolts, which hung from chains. The windows were sometimes glazed; [a glazed bow-window was found in one instance ;] they were closed at night by shutters, not too well put together; but the gaping chinks were covered with curtains. Of wood were also the bedsteads, though sometimes of iron but beds were more generally made merely of carpets and vests spread upon the ground.

66

It does not enter into the plan of this work to give detailed accounts of every article of household furniture or convenience found at Pompeii: suffice

it to say, that almost every variety is to be met with in the museum of Portici. Implements of silver, brass, stone, earthen-ware vases of all sizes, adapted to every use, whether sacred or profane; trumpets, bells, gridirons, colanders, saucepans, some lined with silver, kettles, ladles, moulds for jelly or pastry, urns for keeping water hot, upon the principle of the modern tea-urn, lanterns with horn, spits; in short, almost every article of kitchen or other furniture now in use, except forks. Chains, bolts, scourges, portable fire-places, with contrivances for heating water; dice, (some said to be loaded ;) a complete toilet, with combs, thimbles, rings, paint, ear-rings, with pearls; pins for the hair, but no diamonds; almonds, dates, nuts, figs, grapes, eggs, raisins, and chesnuts."

In a room near

In that museum there is a loaf of bread, eight inches diameter, with a stamp expressing its quality and the baker's name. In the rooms around the square called the Soldiers' Quarters, were found the decayed bones of legs and arms retained by iron fetters. Near the gate towards Naples, in a recess, was found a skeleton grasping a lance,no doubt a sentinel, whom the terrors of earthquake and volcano could not drive from his post. the temple of Isis, was a skeleton, near which was a plate containing fish-bones, while the utensils used in cooking that fish were discovered in the kitchen. In a recent excavation near the Forum, on the removal of the new soil, about eighteen inches thick, a body was found scarcely covered with the volcanic matter, being ten feet above the an cient pavement: wrapped in a cloth were 360 pieces of silver, 42 bronze, and 8 small imperial gold coins." In the description of the Forum, temples, and theatres, our authors rate rather low the architectural science and taste of the Pompeian builders. A good deal of the Greek is retained in several of the structures, but in a very corrupted and debased style. We must bere close the notice of this interesting and valuable work.

66

THE

jects of humour.

HE eleventh part of this work has appeared it is devoted to subThe selection is amusing, as may be surmised from the following examples, which we have extracted as least familiar to us.

ARCHBISHOP MOUNTAIN.

In the reign of George II. the see of York falling vacant, his majesty being at a loss for a fit person to appoint to the situation, asked the Rev. Dr. Mountain, who had raised himself by his remarkably facetious temper, from being the son of a beggar, to the see of Durham. The Doctor replied, "Hadst thou faith as a grain of mustard seed, thou wouldst say to this Mountain (at the same time laying his hand on his breast,) be removed, and be cast into the sea, (see.") His majesty laughed heartily, and forthwith conferred the preferment

on the facetious doctor.

FONTENELLE.

The

The Abbé Reignier, secretary of the French Academy, one day made a collection in his hat of one pistole.to defray the current expenses. Abbé did not observe that the president, who was a very avaricious man, had put his pistole into the hat, and presented it to him a second time. "I have given already," said he. I believe it," said the Abbé, "but I did "And I," rejoined Fontenelle, who was at his side, saw it, but did not believe it."

not see it."

THE PLAGIARIST.

A young author obtained permission from the celebrated satirist Piron, to read to him a tragedy which was on the eve of being brought out. At every verse which was pillaged, Piron took off his hat, and bowed; and so frequently had he occasion to do this, that the author surprised, asked what he meant? "Ob," replied Piron, "it is only a habit I have got of saluting my acquaintance."

AN ACQUAINTANCE.

Lord Kaimes used to relate a story of a man who claimed the honour of his acquaintance, on rather singular grounds. His lordship, when one of the justiciary judges, returning from the north circuit, happened one night to sleep at Dunkeld. The next morning, walking towards the ferry, but apprebending he had lost his way, asked a

man he met to conduct him. The

other answered, with much cordiality, "That I will do with all my heart, my lord. Does not your lordship remember me? my name's John I have had the honour to be before your lordship for stealing sheep!" "Oh, John, I remember you well; and how is your wife? She had the honour of being before me too, for receiving them, knowing them to be stolen.

"At your lordship's service. We were very lucky; we got off for want of evidence; and I am still going on in the butcher trade." "Then," replied his lordship, have the honour of meeting

66 we may

again."

A SEVERE LESSON.

M. de la Place relates the following amusing anecdote of the late Count d'Egmont, as delivered to him by the count himself. "I had not been," said he, "above six months in the Mousquetaires, before enchanted at being released from the trammels of the school, which had for a long time annoyed me. exceedingly, I plunged blindly into the vortex of pleasures, in which I saw my young companions enjoying themselves.

"One night, after having dined sumptuously and joyfully with several of my friends, we proceeded to the opera, which we found exceedingly crowded, and where, after having pushed and squeezed ourselves in as well as we could, we obtained standing room in the centre of the pit. There forced to stop, I should, as my companions did,