390 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Oct. 



spot where they issue, as we learn from the researches of the his- 

 torian and antiquary, was lonely and desert when the Romans first 

 landed in this island, but in a few years it was converted into one 

 of the chief cities of the newly conquered province. On the site 

 of the hot-springs was a large morass from which clouds of white 

 vapor rose into the air ; and there first was the spacious bath-room 

 built, in a highly ornamental style of architecture, and decorated 

 with columns, pilasters, and tessellated pavements. By its side 

 was erected a splendid temple dedicated to Minerva, of which 

 some statues and altars with their inscriptions, and ornate pillars, 

 are still to be seen in the Museum of this place. To these edifices 

 the quarters of the garrison, and in the couise of time the dwellings 

 of new settlers, were added ; and they were all encircled by a 

 massive wall, the solid foundations of which still remain. 



A dense mass of soil and rubbish, from ] to 20 feet thick, now 

 separates the level on which the present city stands from the level 

 of the ancient Aqua3 Solis of the Romans. Digging through this 

 mass of heterogeneous materials, coins and cofiins of the Saxon 

 period have been found ; and lower down, beginning at the depth 

 of from 12 to 15 feet from the surface, coins have been disinterred 

 of Imperial Rome, bearing dates from the reign of Claudius to that 

 of Maximus in the fifth century. Beneath the whole are occasion- 

 ally seen tessellated pavements still retaining their bright colors ; 

 one of which, on the site of the Mineral-water Hospital, is still care- 

 fully preserved, affording us an opportunity of gauging the difierence 

 of level of ancient and modern Bath. 



On the slopes and summits of the picturesque hills in the neigh- 

 borhood rose many a Roman villa, to trace the boundaries of which 

 and to brim? to lioht the treasures of art concealed in them, are 

 tasks which have of late years amply rewarded the researches of 

 Mr. Scarth and other learned antiquaries. No wonder that on 

 this favored spot we should meet with so many memorials of for- 

 mer greatness, when we reflect on the length of time during which 

 the imperial troops and rich colonsits of a highly civilized people 

 sojourned here ; having held undisturbed possession of the country 

 for as many years as have elapsed from the first discovery of America 

 to our own times. 



One of our former Presidents, Dr. Daubeny, has remarked that 

 nearly all the most celebrated hot-springs of Europe, such as those 

 of Aix-la-Chapelle, Baden-Baden, Naples, Auvergne, and the Py- 

 renees, have not declined in temperature since the days of the Ro- 



