§4 . French Katlonal Injlitute. 



dreadful ravages. If we can give credit to Marcctrmus," the 

 aflies thrown up by Vefuvius covered all Europe. They were 

 carried as far as Conftantinople ; where, accordinc; to our chro- 

 nicler, an anniverfary fellival was inRituted.in remembrance 

 of this Itrange phaenonienon. It is very probable that the 

 cities of Hercnlaneiim and Pompeii difappeared at that pe- 

 riod, and that no more traces of ihem were left. This con- 

 jefturc is fupported by a letter written by Caffiodorus in the 

 name of Theodoric, who reigned between 493 and 526. On 

 this authority C. Du Theil is inclined to think that, after 

 the fatal eruption of 471, fuch of the inhabitants of Pom- 

 peii as had the good fortune to efcape alive, retired to Nola 

 in Campania, and that thofe who efcaped from Hercula- 

 neum took flicker at Naples. The quarter where the latter 

 eftabliflied themfelves was detached from the other parts of 

 the city. 



This may ferve to explain the denomination Regio Hercu- 

 lanenjium, or the quarter of the Herculaneans, which has 

 been obferved on feveral monuments of ftone dutr up at Na- 

 ples, and alfo in feveral inlcriptions, which have been col- 

 kcled and publiflied by learned Neapolitan antiquaries. 



After Du Theil had read this memoir, he communicated a 

 notice refpedling fome objefts of antiquity lately found near 

 the fniall town of Azai-lc-Nideau, on the left bank of the 

 Indre. The account of them was tranfmitted to him by 

 C. Biencourt. Some workmen, when digoing a ditch, dif- 

 cnvered a coffin containing a young child, as was concluded 

 from its teeth, cranium, and ribs ; but the reft had fuffcred fo 

 nuich from the injuries of time, that it fell into duft when 

 expofed to the air. At the fide of this body were the follow- 

 ing objects : — T. Two poniards, one of iron, the other oi ivory, 

 hair' deftroyed : 3. A gold bulla fhapcd like an acorn — a badge 

 worn by the children of Homan patrician families : 3. A frnall 

 jafper ring fet in gold, on which are engraven two veiled 

 figures : 4. A ring entirely of rock cryltal. It has engraven 

 on it two rams yoked to a car : a fmall Cupid fitting in the 

 car urges them on full fpeed. This engraving difplays much 

 grace and fpirit. 5. A ciyflal ring imitating a row of pearls 

 furmounted vsith a fliell : 6. A prifm of twenty planes, of 

 rock cryftal, very regularly cut: 7.- Four lachrymatories of 

 silafs : 8. Several ficrurcs fculntured in ivorv, and alnioft de- 

 compofed : 9. A young Cupid alfo of ivory, pretty well pul- 

 verized. In the fame tomb were found feveral works com- 

 pofed of refinous fubflances, which time fcems to have re- 

 fpc(5lcd. I. A lion holding under his paws a dog, the head 

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