98 
their knowledge of numberless of, their 
own antiquities, Messieurs Bouyerie 
avd “Dawkins,; with ‘Mr. Wood, were 
the, first: touexplore ithe: antrodden path 
ftocPhlmyra; the ancient city of Tadmor, 
inbthesdesant; built. by: Queen Zenobia. 
To’ the last-mentioned gentleman, we 
lowe the beautiful drawings of its ruins, 
with | these of | Balbec... At. Hercula- 
eum, it was the. English who dug up 
the rarities, which, but for, their exer- 
tions, had yet lain buried in the dust. 
To: the Jate Lord Sandwich, Drs. Po- 
eock and Shaw, Lord Besborough, and 
others, we are indebted for the know- 
ledge of. the head of the Nile; and, 
through the perseverance of our coun- 
trymen, we shall doubtless, at length, 
be in possession of that of the Niger. 
* Such,” ‘saith an intelligent English- 
man, of the last century, writing from 
Rome to his friend in London, ‘* such is 
‘our reputation for knowledge, that. wher- 
ever we haye trod the path of inquiry, the 
natives have thought it the path of interest ; 
for it was.the generally receiyed opinion 
that we knéw, more of their own imme- 
diate country, than they did themselves,— 
and that we had intelligence of mines, or, at 
least, of money buried and concealed ever 
since the times of Rome and Greece, of 
which they were ignorant, and which occa- 
sioned our journey so far from Rome. As 
I happened ‘to be at Naples: when first 
Herculaneum was disgovered, I should have 
told you that some leathern bags of beans, 
answezing exactly to our kidney ones, were 
found in. several corners of their window- 
seats: the Romans were yery fond of that 
kind of supper, as appears by a line of Ho- 
ce: 
bb *Oh quando faba Pythagore, &c.’ 
“ Some English gentlemen were curious 
enough to sow them on their return ; and, 
notwithstanding their having been to ap- 
pearanee dead for so many centuries, yet 
did they grow and produce. Dr. Lawson 
tried the experiment in a small garden of 
his, at Chelsea, and it succeeded.’ This 
gentleman, then proceeds to say, that it 
is amazing, Nay, hardly to be believed, that 
even public money is wanted here, and so 
thin is their treasury, yet the Pope would 
never accept the offer of the Jews of a sum 
searcely to be credited, only to cleanse the 
bed of the Tiber, and for their pains and 
‘expense to have the treasures of plate, of 
‘statues, vases, ums, &c., found there. It 
is very natural to imagine, that. during the 
many sackings, of Rome by, the Goths and 
Vandals, .that, every inhabitant, who. was 
prevented carrying off his valuables, by 
means of an army of circumyallation, threw 
every thing into. the river, in Hopes that, 
when the enemy departed, they might find 
their treasures again at their leisure. This, 
however it ‘may be a supposition, is: suffi 
Bed of the Tiber. 
[Sept. 1, 
cient, to this) day, to animate the Jews. to 
undertake such a design; nor:is it ytd be 
‘imagined but; that, the experiment. owould 
return them .seventy-fold,—as, this. race of 
people neyer engage but where, they, are 
sure of success.”’ ~The BRR ind 
Thusyi in the year 172; wrote this in- 
telligent traveller to his friend in oa 
land. re 
These are fine remarks, even though 
they may: be a little too sanguine ; yet 
are they so much in unison with the ideas 
of Cardinal Polignac, upon the«same 
subject, as to be almost sufficient’ of 
themselves: to induce our capitalists to 
embark in the speculation. Before all 
things, it is necessary to obtainy through 
the influence of our Government withthe 
court of Rome, the Pope’s permission'to 
turn the stream’ of the Tiber, and/ram- 
mage her classic mud for its valuable 
contents, It is thought that these 
rarities, when found, will be in a: mu- 
tilated, and otherwise damaged «state 
and: condition. Be it soz the! specu- 
lators shall be safe, though the:caleu- 
lation be not made upon their being, in 
a great degree, in this derangement ; 
they need not be alarmed, for there 
will ever, in Europe, be found wealthy 
wiseacres, commonly called collectors, 
who, will buy them up: with avidity: 
sometimes no less keen for the articles 
being mutilated and damaged. We live 
in an age when such speculations, con- 
ducted with ability, and gold instore, 
must return, as our COM ya hath 
said, “ seventy-fold.” 
It is stated, from Rome, that many 
people are persuaded, that the: golden 
candlesticks of Jerusalem will be found 
whenever the search be thoroughly’and 
judiciously made. This, however, |'is 
more than doubtful; it isnot very 
likely that Titus Vespasian would 'take 
so little care of these massive’ articles. 
He was not entitled “The Delight of 
Mankind,” by the Gentiles, for such 
negligence. The most prejudiced, un- 
educated Jew, can scarcely hope that 
these sacred utensils are there ;° yet, for 
aught a Christian can reason upon it, 
he may, and be willing to stake his dear 
monies on the chances of recovering 
them. Nay, I have been» told, that 
there’ are, among: this hapless’ nation, 
wealthy and enlightened men, who 
fondly cherish the idea of the: seven 
golden. candlesticks being yet in’ ex- 
istence ; ‘and that they, in their pristine 
form, will sone day see’ the light: of 
Heaven in full possession ‘of: the chosen 
people. Profanity apart, it is 1 Pm 
the 
