ITALV. LETTER XVI. 



LETTER xvi. 



Rome, April 26, 1772. 



THIS being my laft letter from Rome, I have 

 kept for it the account of the antique ftones, 

 which are the materials of the immortal works of 

 Art and Antiquity, and the chief ornaments of 

 the Roman and Italian churches and palaces. I 

 have fpared no pains to obferve a great variety 

 of them ; and have repeatedly examined the 

 churches, palaces, and collections of antiquities, efpe= 

 cially thofe in the capitol, and in the villa Al- 

 bani. I have alfo bought from the marble- cutters 

 (Marmaji ofia Scarpellini) a great variety ; but the 

 ignorance and avidity of thefe people makes cau- 

 tion necefTary, to avoid purchafing the fame fpecies 

 under different names, and not to depend upon 

 thofe denominations but in which they generally 

 agree, or which are given by the moft fkilful. Thus 

 hope to be pretty well acquainted with the antique 

 marbles, and their odd and fingular names, with- 

 out which they are not to be underftood by 

 P 3 the 



