UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

3 9015 03014 3708

APR 241941

UNIV. OF MICH. LIBRARY

and Nemi. At this place were found a great quantity of vases of terra cotta, containing others of a peculiar form of the same material, also utensils, fibula of bronze, small wheels, and ashes of the dead. M. Alexander Visconti, in a dissertation read before the Archæological Academy, attributes them to the Aborigines. It is certain, that as these vases were covered with the lava, they must be anterior to the foundation of Alba Longa, which was built after the extinction of the volcanoes.-The excavations are continued at the Forum, as also on the declivity of the Capitol facing it. The Portuguese ambassador, the count de Funchal, a very intelligent man and zealous antiquary, has caused the ancient Clivus Capitolinus or street which ascended from the Forum to the Capitol, to be cleared at his own expense. The ancient pavement was found constructed in the usual manner of Roman pavements, of basaltine lava, which they call silex. The street ran from the arch of Septimus, between the temples commonly called those of Jupiter Tonans and of Concord; and in the distance of 140 feet between those two temples and the arch, there is a difference in the level of 13 feet, which must have rendered the ascent very inconvenient.-By the side of the temple of Jupiter Tonans, towards the Mamertine prison, the government has just cleared the remains of an edifice hitherto totally unknown, and highly decorated. It seems to have been destroyed by fire; but there is still an ancient pavement formed of slabs of Numidian, Phrygian, and African marble; and many fragments and blocks of marble which formed the decorations. They are of the most exquisite workmanship, very delicate and very rich, which leads me to believe that the building was of the age of the Vespasians; and since it is known, that near the arch of Septimus stood the temple of Vespasian, I am inclined to attribute these relics to that edifice, especially as the trunks of two colossal statues have been found there, one of an emperor, and the other of a female having the air of a Juno, but who might possibly be an empress under that form. This, however, is but conjecture. Among these relics have been found fragments of columns of Numidian and Phrygian marble, which decorated the interior of the cella. The walls were also

faced with Phrygian and Carystian marble. It is to be hoped that some inscription will remove all doubts on the subject, and determine the use of the edifice.-The column of Phocas is almost entirely cleared, at the expense of the duchess of Devonshire, and under the direction of our mutual friend, M. Akerblad. Two sepulchral inscriptions have been found here. They do not belong to the column, and must have been brought hither in the middle ages. A very interesting discovery has however been made respecting this column, namely, that it was erected on a pyramid of steps, one of the four sides of which is in good preservation. It has been erroneously stated, that the discoveries made near the edifice commonly called the temple of Jupiter Stator, or the temple of Castor and Pollux, corroborate the idea, that these are the remains of the Musuem. There was no edifice at Rome known by that name; but the most likely opinion is, that it was the Comitium, or place to which the people resorted to vote for the acceptation of the senatus consulta, and the election of priests; and this opinion, first advanced by Nardini, is daily rendered more probable. There is every appearance that the forum will be entirely cleared-a work of very great interest for the topography of Rome. Without the gate of St. Sebastian, near the Via Ardeatina, in a farm belonging to the dutchess of Chablais, called Tor Marancio, have been found a

considerable number of ancient Mosaic pavements, antique paintings, and fragments of sculpture. Inscriptions on the leaden pipes which conveyed the water thither, seem to indicate that this was the villa of the Manutia family. The pavements represent nothing but trellises or compartments, only one of which displays different colours: the others generally are white or black One of these pavements is very remarkable: upon it are seen the ship of Ulys ses and the Syrens, one of whom, with birds' feet, is playing on a lyre. In another part of it is represented Scylla, half woman and half fish, enfolding two men with her two tails, and striking the water with a ship's rudder. The paintings decorate a small chamber, and are remarkable for the subject alone; they represent three females of infamous celebrity, but in the most decorous attitude. They are inscribed beneath Pa

siphae, Myrrha, and Canace. A fourth, whose name is effaced, appears to be Scylla.' Edin. Mag.

A material for roofing, cheap and durable, is formed by dipping sheets of coarse paper (such as button-makers use) in boiling tar, and nailing them on boards or laths, exactly in the same manner as slates. Afterwards the whole is to be painted with a mixture af pitch and powdered coal, chalk, or brickdust. This forms a texture, which completely resists every description of weather for an unknown time. Extensive warehouses at Deal, Dover, and Canterbury, and churches and farm-houses in the north, have been so roofed for more than fifty years, without requiring repairs. Mon. Mag.

Mr. COLERIDGE's Sybelline Leaves prove that, though in days of error, he was a man of sterling genius, yet that the light of truth, which now blazes upon him, has blighted his fancy. This is as it should be, fable and poetry; fact and dullness. "Fire, famine, and slaughter," the poet's master-piece, written in 1794, fills six pages of the volume; but in 1817 he judges it necessary to preface it by twenty-four pages of apology, in which Pitt, his fiend of 1794, is, by the same pen, in 1817, converted into "a good man and great statesman."

ib.

containing the qualities, anecdotes, and superstitions relative to those trees, plants, and flowers, which are mentioned in sacred and profane history; the particulars of some rare and curious plants which bear the names of celebrated persons; and also those which are used in the religious worship and civil ceremonies of divers nations; together with the devices, proverbs, &c. which derive their origin from these vegetables: concluding with a romantic story, entitled, "Flowers, from the French of Madame de Genlis, with explanatory notes," &c.; by Eliza J. Reid. Edin. Mag.

A. FINLEY, of this city, proposes to publish A Quarterly Theological Review,' to be conducted by the Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely, A.M. The four numbers to be published annually, are to contain 600 large octavo pages. It is stated to be the chief object of the Review, to make its readers well acquainted with all the most important Theological Works which shall be either published or re-published in America. The price to subscribers will be three dollars a year; and to others, one dollar for each number. We are informed that the first number will be published on the first of January next, and will contain, among other things, a Review of the late 'Essay' of Bishop White, and of the 'Reply' to it by J. E. All the matter of this Theological Review, except the extracts from the works reviewed, is to be original.

CC ROB ROY."

The literary world is looking with great anxiety for the appearance of this novel. The hero of it is Robert Roy Macgregor, so celebrated in Scottish song and story. The tale will no doubt be located among the wild scenes of Loch Lomond, where Rob Roy's cave and his haunts are still pointed out. The author of these novels still remains unavowed, though the general belief has fixed upon Walter Scott. He has certainly been among the scenery of Loch Lomond early last summer. The very anticipation of the novel we are told has drawn the attention of travellers to the scenes of Rob Roy's exploits. So great is the demand for the extraordinary productions of this author that we are told ten thousand copies of Rob Roy are printing. Ed. Analectic.