Retrospect of French Literature—Miscellanies. 
eruption; the judges and the accused 
perished together ! 
* The street which has been excavated 
is very harrow ; it is paved with the lava 
of Vesuvius. One still distinguishes the 
traces of the wheels, traces which prove 
that the carriage-way was but four feet 
broad. There are foot-paths three feet 
in breadth on each side, which proves 
this to be an ancient custom, and it is 
one too good ever to be forgotten or 
omitted. 
“« All the houses resemble each other: 
the greatest and the smallest alike pos- 
s€ss an inner court, in the midst of which 
there is a bath. Most of them are adorn- 
ed with columns, and the distribution of 
the chambers is equally simple and uni- 
form. All are small; several are desti- 
tute of windows, and receive no light 
but from the door, or an opening above 
it. If to this may be added, that the 
chambers in general are insulated, and 
do not communicate with each other, 
we shall have a just idea of the manner 
in which the ancients were lodged, and 
must frankly declare, that even the poor 
among us possess more conveniences than 
the rich among them. 
“ Another thing, which is also worthy 
of observation, ought not to be omitted 
here ; and that is, that all the doors are 
extremely low ; and that unless the Ro- 
mans thought proper to bend their bodies 
every time they entered an apartment, it 
is evident that they were not so tallas we. 
“The Italian taste for paintings in 
fresce, is also to be found at Pompeia ; 
and there are very few chambers indeed, 
on the walls of which one does not find 
something of this kind. ‘They are all be- 
low mediocrity in point of execution, and 
only curious on account of the images 
which they represent. Many of them 
exhibit mythological subjects, and serve 
at least to prove how universal at that 
period was the taste for those ingenious 
fictions, which triumph over the abuses 
to which they have been subject, and 
which will for ever constitute the religion 
of the arts. 
“ Several shops are still distinguishable, 
and in one of them we find the print made 
by the cups, or small vases, on the marble 
which covers the counter. As a proof 
how fond the ancients were of public 
shews, we have only to observe, that two 
theatres have already been discovered in 
the little city of Pompeia, The greater 
one is semi-circular, and its numerous 
seats, ascending one above another, are 
dug out of the suil. It conveys that true 
649 
idea of the ancient theatres, for which we 
should search Herculaneum in vain. But 
what antiquaries most admire, is a little 
temple dedicated to Isis, which at this 
day is in the most perfect preservation ; 
the opening under the spot, where the, 
statue was placed, is still visible, and by 
means of this aperture the deity was 
probably enabled to give answers. 
“The more one contemplates Pom- 
peia, the more it is to be regretted that 
such a valuable discovery had not fallen 
into other and better hands. Although 
the French were in possession of-Naples, 
in 1798, but for a few months, yet they 
have left traces of their activity behind 
them which are still visible. They have 
now more time, and a better opportu- 
nity, so that great things may be expected 
from the present government. ( 
“ One of the most interesting objects 
to be seen at Pompeia, is what the 
stranger generally views last: this is a 
country-house, or villa, at a little dis- 
tance from the city. He arrives there, 
by means of a most agreeable road, which 
tends only to render, by contrast, the ’ 
tomh into which he descends still more 
dreary.—Yes, I repeat the tomb! for 
this residence, although the roof be de- 
stroyed, still conveys, by means of its 
internal structure, a better idea of the 
dreary houses of antiquity, than any other 
T have yet beheld. The very garden is 
discovered, and the ponds and divisions 
are still visible. 
“ At Pompeia, one may be said to re- 
side with the Romans, but here you may 
also walk with them. Here one still 
meets with all the remnants of antiquity, 
and beholds the Amphora which were 
filled with a wine that no doubt had its age 
attested by the names of many consuls. 
One may behold—but as for me, I could 
behold nothing more, after having tra- 
versed a subterraneous apartment, in 
which twenty-seven dead bodies were_ 
fotnd ! It was there that the whole of 
an unfortunate family had taken refuge ; 
it was there that they in vain expected 
that succour which never arrived, and 
retfined that hope which was finally 
blasted ; it was there that resounded the 
cries of terror, and the sighs of ago- 
ny; it was there that horror, hunger, and 
despair, immolated their victims. The 
fiction of Ugolino vanishes before this 
frightful reality. Of twenty-seven human 
creatures, doubtless they were not all 
equally good, and equally worthy of re- 
gret; but doubtless also here was to be 
found one virtuous man, one faichfur 
friend, 
