1825.] 
shilling, with an explanatory engraving 
of the skull, was published a short time 
since, and may be obtained at Hunter’s, 
or Simpkin and Marshall’s. 
= 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Pian of the Crry of Pompria. 
ANTOINE BIBENT, a French 
e@ architect, who has been several 
years at Rome and Naples, consecrated 
part of his time there to a work, of 
which the curious in historic and ar- 
chitectural antiquities, will readily ad- 
mit the importance. Favoured by the 
protection which his Majesty the King 
of Naples extends to artists whom the 
love of antiquity attracts to his realms, 
M. Bibent undertook to draw out the 
plan of Pompeia.* 
In the plan he has executed, we find 
its ancient site marked by the still- 
existing walls, and every part accurately 
detailed. This work, done at Pompeia, 
and engraved at Rome, gives an exact 
idea of this ancient city, and shows us 
the most minute parts of .each edifice ; 
giving, at a single glance, the harmo- 
nizing proportions of the whole. Chauce 
gives to this plan an interest indepen- 
dent of its real merit; for it was begun 
before the last eruption of Vesuvius 
had covered the spot with two foot of 
cinders. It is the determination, how- 
ever, of M. Bibent not to permit the 
added difficulties resulting from this 
event, to supersede the further prose- 
cution of his labours, and the comple- 
tion of his object. He is going again 
to visit these ruins, that he may renew 
his excavations, and continue his re- 
searches upon the spot. His plates, 
andthe whole of his plans, are so ar- 
ranged, that he can readily make these 
additions; and it is thus that he will 
perpetuate the actual state of a city, 
which, in some sort, diappears at every 
fresh eruption of the volcanic shower ; 
choking up again whatever had been 
previously excavated; and which, with- 
out such labours as we now are no- 
ticing, would, perhaps, be entirely 
buried beyond the researches of pos- 
terity. 
The plan, with a scale of the pro- 
portions, has received the unanimous 
approbation of a recent meeting of the 
learned at the king’s library; where 
the specimen is now deposited, and 
* He prefers, and apparently with rea- 
son, Pompeia to Pompeii; as being an an- 
cient Grecian city, it is more proper to 
preserve the name analogous to the lan- 
guage whence it is derived. 
Pompeia. — Macadamization. 
517 
it is considered that the volume 
will be by far the best guide that has 
been yet produced to those who visit 
the place. The author is to publish, 
every year, supplementary sheets of 
the new discoveries he may succes- 
sively make. The explanatory matter 
also includes the environs of Naples, in 
order that it may serve as a guide to 
men of letters and to travellers; and 
the work, upon the whole, may be 
considered as a valuable addition to the 
stock of information of which we were 
heretofore possessed, relative to the 
buried remains of that superb monu- 
ment of architectural antiquity; and 
M. Bibent appears to have acquired an 
unquestionable title to the gratitude of 
artists and the learned. 
—<_ 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
THINK you are right in supposing 
the question about McAdamizing 
the streets, as far as argument goes, is 
exhausted, Iam sure I see enough of 
an angry spirit, that looks very like in- 
terested feeling, in some of the attacks 
made upon the system. I think, also, 
they are right who have resolved to put 
the system to the test of experiment: 
for Iam one of those who like to hear 
my friend (and myself) talk as we go 
along the streets, either on foot, or ina 
coach; and I like, also, some other of 
the conyeniencies, which the general 
state of street-pavements do not afford 
me. I approve, likewise, of the desire 
you have expressed for statements of 
authentic local facts, whether of success 
or failure in the experiment ; and con- 
clude, that, in. conformity with your 
invitation, you will have no objection 
to my informing your readers, that the 
two systems of paving and McAdamiz- 
ing are brought into. the most intimate 
contact for fair comparison, on the spot 
where Regent-street crosses Piccadilly. 
The Regent’s-Street is McAdamized : 
Piccadilly paved. The latter is in per- 
petual annoyance with the cobbling of 
paviours; the former has offered no such 
annoyance since it was first laid down, 
The McAdamized system is carried 
through across the paved street: it 
has therefore, at that point, to bear 
the two-fold action of all the carriages 
that pass, both along the new line of 
street, and of all that pass along paved 
Piccadilly ; and yet, Sir, I have ob- 
served, be the weather what it will, this 
double-worn patch at the crossing is 
always the least dirty and the best-con- 
ditioned 
