VOL. XLr.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 437 



to see the symmetry of tlie whole ; because one must travel through strait 

 passages, like our catacombs in Rome. After having gone a good way under- 

 ground, I arrived at the place in which the paintings had been discovered, and 

 where they are daily discovering more. .'» 



The first mistake those men, they call intendants, have committed, is, their 

 having dug out the pictures, without drawing the situation of the place, that 

 is, the niches, where they stood : for they were all adorned with grotesques, 

 composed of most elegant masques, figures, and animals ; which, not being 

 copied, are gone to destruction, and the like will happen to the rest. Then, if 

 they meet with any pieces of painting not so well preserved as the rest, they 

 leave them where they are found. Besides, there are pillars of stucco extremely 

 curious, consisting of many sides, all variously painted, of which they do not 

 preserve the least memory. It is very curious, to see these paintings all co- 

 vered with earth, which when taken off^", they appeared to have suffered nothing 

 by it. I believe this may be accounted for, by there being no damp or moisture 

 in the place ; and that the dry earth has been rather preservative than hurtful 

 to them. The ancient beams are yet discernible, but they are become like 

 charcoal. And I have seen there a place where anciently they kept lime for 

 building ; a great quantity of which yet remains as fresh as if made but 

 yesterday. 



Extract of a Letter from Mr. George Knapton to Mr. Charles Knapton, on the 



same Subject. N° 458, p. 489. 



The ancient city of Herculaneum, which was swallowed up by an earthquake, 

 is now under the town Portici, a quarter of a mile from the sea, at the foot of 

 Vesuvius; and has no other road to it but that of the town-well, which is none 

 of the most agreeable, being in some parts very strait, in others wide, and 

 cut in a most rude manner. Toward the bottom, where you go into the city, 

 it is very broad, which they have made so, to turn the columns, which were 

 brought up ; they began this excavation 2/ years ago, and worked 5 years. 



The principal things found were, two columns of oriental alabaster, which 

 were sold for 50,000 ducats ; also many fine statues, the best of which were 

 sold, and some were sent to Lorraine. Five are set up in the market-place, all 

 clothed figures, one in a consular habit, the others women ; they are all well 

 dressed, and in a fine taste, but want the heads. In the duke's villa, which is 

 near and by the sea-side, are two others entire, both women ; one seems to 

 be a Livia; also the fragments of a naked figure, which wants the head and 

 arms, of a good style. These, with some ornaments and fragments of various 

 sorts of marbles, are all that is to be seen there, of what has been dug up. 



