be invested with the calcareous m'atter which it deposits, such are 

 twigs of wood, moss, birds-nests, &c. Even old wigs and hair- 

 brooms are subjected to the power of these waters, to furnish sub- 

 jects of amusement to the visitors at this place. 



The waterfalls of Italy used also to supply the light-hearted with 

 amusement ; small white oblong, or round concretions, being formed 

 by them, which have much the appearance of sugar-plums. These 

 are put up in boxes, which are ornamented in the mode usually 

 employed for boxes of sweet-meats, and thus offered to strangers, 

 who, being frequently thus deceived, become the subjects of a harm- 

 less laugh. Those concretions, which are thus employed at Rome, 

 are known by the name ot'Confetto dt Tivoli, from their being chiefly 

 obtained from the river Tiverone, the Anio, Anien, and Anienus, of 

 the ancients, which waters the charming town of Tivoli, the favourite 

 Tibur of Horace. The same name is, however, generally used for 

 such as are obtained from the other rivers. 



A much more rational and pleasing application of this natural 

 process is made at the baths of St. Philip, in Tuscany. Dr. Leo- 

 nard Vegni has established there a manufactory, to precipitate this 

 fine tufa on medals and bas reliefs, and to get by that means the 

 finest impressions. He causes this hot incrustating water to fall, 

 from on high, into a large vessel, and to break upon a wooden cross ; 

 whereby it is separated into a fine spray, and directed against the sides 

 of the vessel, on which, all around, the medals or bas reliefs, or their 

 mouldings or forms, are hanging. The falling or breaking of the 

 water imparts a greater impulsion to its drops, and to its turfo or 

 tartaro ; which, without this manipulation, would be but farina- 

 ceous, friable, and spongy. Air. Ferber, from whose work the above 

 account of this process is extracted, says, that Dr. Vegni has suc- 

 ceeded already in casting busts of this tufo, and he soon hopes to 

 cast statues of a natural size*. Since the publication of the above 



* Travels through Italy, p. 245. 



