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Fields, temple of Venus, (from which I brought 
some sprigs of myrtle, as I did of bay from Virgil’s 
tomb,) baths of Nero, grotto of the Sibyl, lake 
of Avernus ; in short all that you will find in books, 
and which I need not describe. They are highly 
interesting, and I could have spent a month about 
them instead of a day. I had them all, however, al- 
ready so well in my mind, that a slight view was 
sufficient to stamp a lasting impression. 
Two days after, we visited the palace of Capo di 
Monte, where are some good pictures, but bad ones 
innumerable ; the best thing there is an onyx cup, 
found in Adrian’s tomb. 
The catacombs are wonderful for their extent, 
and worth seeing. We afterwards visited the Grotto 
del Cane, Virgil’s tomb, and some other things 
thereabouts. 
Next day was devoted to Vesuvius. We left 
Naples at six in the morning, and in an hour anda 
half got to Portici, where we took mules, and as- 
cended as far as we could in that manner, but were 
obliged to walk about a mile over the loose ashes 
to the top, which is very fatiguing; but by going 
very slow we accomplished it well. We walked 
round the inside of the old crater, in the centre of 
which is arisen a new mountain within these twelve 
months, to the top of which we ascended and looked 
into the present crater; but it was less striking 
than I expected, as its inside is not perpendicular, 
and the smoke, although very moderate, prevented 
us from seeing far. I can give you no idea of the 
grotesque appearance of iron cinders, encrusted 
