270 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



care of itself. Large herds of cattle were seen in some parts of 

 this tract, looking not very unlike the Tuscan cattle described 

 on a previous page ; but I saw none that I should have been 

 tempted to import, had it been my object to seek the best stock 

 in Europe. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived. 



No sooner had we secured rooms than we were on our feet 

 for a walk to the Capitol, for the purpose of getting an accurate 

 observation of the city. From this elevated standpoint, the 

 eye takes in an area more completely covered with the foot- 

 prints of history, perhaps, than any other in the world. Here 

 at our feet is the Forum, thick set with ruined broken columns, 

 triumphal arches, temples and palaces ; and here the Senate, 

 where Cicero poured forth his impassioned eloquence. Not far 

 off rise the gray walls of the Colosseum, crowded with old and 

 solemn memories. How they rang with the shouts and 

 applause of thousands over the fierce struggles of gladiators, 

 and the fall of innumerable martyrs among the early Christians ! 

 Close by are the ruins of the palace of the Caesars, around 

 which vines and flowers now cling in their loving qmbrace, and 

 here the Tarpeian Rock, that witnessed the death of so many a 

 victim flung down its steep sides. An hour among the ruins, 

 and it was quite dark, and time to return. 



As we had but a week to spend here at the farthest, we 

 thought it best to have a guide in our constant employ, that we 

 might spend it to the best advantage, and see the objects most 

 worthy to be seen. Early in the morning, therefore, we had 

 our carriage as usual, and started out for a survey of the city, 

 first attempting to get a complete general idea, a map, as it 

 were, in our own minds, both of the old city and the new, and 

 afterwards taking in our way those particular parts which 

 deserved a more careful attention. I believe we ascended each 

 of the seven hills in turn, stopping here and there to enter 

 some church or ruin, visiting St. Peter's and the Vatican, but 

 rather to receive our first impressions, as we intended to devote 

 much more time to them on a subsequent day. Thus one day 

 soon passes, and night comes too quickly. 



The next day we rode far out upon the Appian Way, passing 

 that noble great round tomb of Caicilia Metella, the exterior of 

 which is still perfectly preserved, though it is no less than nine- 

 teen centuries old, and thousands of ruined monuments in this 



