68 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



to supply materials for the new palace building by the pope's ne 

 phew, the Duke Braschi, and was much pleased with the ocular 

 demonstration of the gradual formation of the stone in the manner 

 already mentioned. 



Near the place where this stream crosses the road, there is a 

 great quantity of a wild flowering shrub (of which I have forgotten 

 the name) but in Judea it attains to the height of a tree ; and it 

 is said to have been upon one of this species that Judas hanged 

 himself. 



About a mile on the other side of the road, lie the ruins of the 

 enormous villa of Adrian ; which is said to have been seven miles 

 in circumference. The grand scale of the fragments that still re- 

 jnaih, and their distance from each other, make this account ex- 

 tremely probable. 



The soldier's quarter is one of the most entire, and might still 

 serve as barracks for a vast number of men. There are remain* of 

 two theatres in a great degree perfect, besides another adapted for 

 the representation of naval combats ; the water for which was am- 

 ply supplied by aqueducts from the neighbouring mountains. There 

 are also traces of a most spacious Hippodrome, and very extensive 

 baths ; in one or two of which, the very elegant stucco is still 

 perfect. 



The number of statutes that have been dug up here is almost 

 incredible. There is hardly a grand collection in Rome, which ha 

 not obtained from it some of its principal ornaments. It seems as 

 if Adrain had collected here the choicest works of art, in every 

 kind, and of every country ; or at least caused imitations to be made 

 of them, when he could not get the originals. 



This is clearly the case with respect to Egyptian antiquities ; as 

 there is in the museum of the capitoi a whole room allotted to 

 statues, made in imitation of the Egyptian, that were dug up iu 

 the villa of Adrian. 



This soil is still fruitful of statues, to those who will be at the 

 pains and expence of digging for them ; and it is not long since that 

 Mr. Hamilton, an English artist, who has long been settled here y 

 found a statue of Antinous, which was valued at two thousand 

 pounds, but sold I believe for something less to his holiness, who 

 intends it as a present to his nephew. The situation of the villa is 

 upou a gentle eiuineuce that commands a distant view^f Rome, and 



