32 PAPYRI OF HERCULANEUM. 



ESTHER. 



How did they know they were books? 



The order in which they were found, carefully arranged one 

 over the other, was the only circumstance which excited 

 attention, and convinced the workmen that they could not be 

 wood or cinders. Upon closer examination characters were 

 discovered upon them, which the learned immediately occu- 

 pied themselves in endeavoring to decipher. 



HENRIETTA. 



Were there none in any other parts of the city] 



MRS. F. 



Probably there may have been many lost to us, but as they 

 were in a mass with rubbish, lava, &c. they could not be re- 

 cognised ; for you must recollect that the excavations of Her- 

 culaneum are about 100 palmi* under ground : indeed the 

 accumulated mass of lava and ashes has buried the city at 

 depths from 70 to 112 feet, and so completely filled up the 

 town, that all the work is carried on with pickaxes. It is to 

 this room (which was in a country house) not being entirely 

 choked up, that we owe the fortunate circumstance of their 

 preservation. A few more were found in the portico of the 

 same house, preserved in little portable boxes, and some 

 others in another room in the same habitation; making together 

 1756 manuscripts, all written upon papyrus. Various were 

 the means employed to unroll them: some were cut into two 

 longitudinally, by which a small portion of the characters 

 was rendered visible: in short, they were subjected to all 

 kinds of attempts, until Father Piaggio discovered the present 

 manner of unrolling them. 



HENRIETTA. 



What is it 1 ? 



* The Neapolitan palm is rather more than ten English inches. 



