OF THE OLD WOKLD. 455 



Visited the Circle des OJficeurs, an establishment of 

 recent date, most delightfully situated on the crest 

 of a hill overlooking the sea, containing a reading- 

 room well supplied with French newspapers and 

 periodicals, a tolerably well-stocked library, and a 

 Buvette, where ecarte, piquet, and whist, well 

 moistened with vermuth and absinth, seemed to be 

 the order of the day. Our party were made honor- 

 ary members of the establishment, and experienced 

 the greatest hospitality and kindness from the French 

 officers. 



Some Roman antiquities are to be seen in the 

 environs of Philippcville , the cisterns at Stora are 

 worthy of a visit; and every now and then one 

 meets with a column or block of marble which 

 bears traces of the sculptor's hand. 



Some short time ago, in excavating the founda- 

 tion of a house in the main street, a marble statue 

 of the Emperor Vespasian was found, beautifully 

 carved, and well proportioned, but, unfortunately, 

 one arm is broken, and the face is partially dis- 

 figured ; otherwise it is in a very good state oi 

 preservation, and forms a conspicuous object in the 

 Grande Place, opposite the church. 



Thursday, llth. — M. Lapasset, Lieut.-Col. d'Etat 

 Major, commanding the subdivision of Philippc- 

 ville, called after breakfast, and offered our party 

 every assistance to facilitate our departure on our 

 journey southward ; indeed, his kind advice, and 

 that of Captain Cousin, Chef du Bureau Arabe, 



