254 Meviorandum on the Suhject of 



offering a mite into your treasury. Do not reject my of- 

 fering because it is a small one : a farthing may be of value 

 at some period of our lives, though it mav remain long 

 at the bottom of our pockets before vve have occasion to 

 use it. 



XLVI. Memorandzim on the Subject of ike Earl of 

 Elgin's Pursuits in Greece. 



[Continued from p. 215.] 



J. HE important service rendered to the arts of this country 

 by the zealous, indefatigable, expensive and successful ex- 

 ertions of lord Elgin clami grateful applause from every ad- 

 mirer of the efforts of that kind of human genius which 

 presents to the eye, imitations of nature in a state even 

 superior to what Nature herself exhibits in producing the 

 same forms. Under this impression, and to give every cir- 

 culation in our power to the detail of his lordship's labours, 

 we intended, when we commenced this article in our last 

 number, to have given it without any abridgement ; but, 

 apprehensive that in doing so wc may comnnl an impro- 

 priety, we have determined to give what remains in a more 

 condensed form. 



Near the Parthenon are three small temples of the Ionic 

 order, so connected that they might be almost considered 

 as a triple temple. One of them was dedicated to Neptune 

 and Ercchtheus, another to Minerva Polias, and the third to 

 the nymph Pandrosos. 



The second of these is of the most delicate and elegant 

 proportions: the capitals and bases of the columns are or- 

 namented with consummate taste; and the sculpture of the 

 frize and cornice is exquisitely rich. The vestibule of the 

 temple of Neptune (now used as a powder magazine) is of 

 mere masculine proportions; but its Ionic capitals have 

 great merit. 



"Both these temples have been measured j and their plans, 

 elevations, and views, made with the utmost accuracy. All 

 the ornaments have been moulded ; some original blocks 

 of the frize and cornice have been obtained from the ruins, 

 as well as a ca])ltal and a base. 



"The little adjoininu; chapel of Pandrosos is a most singu- 

 lar specimen of Athenian architecture: instead of Ionic 

 columns to support the architrave, it had seven statues of 

 Caryan women, or Caryatides. The Athenians endeavoured, 

 by this device, to perpetuate the infai:jjy of the inhabitants 



of 



