Notice of SJietches of Naval Life. 337 



ped a little of its hard waters, and soon after was breathing 

 fresh air in the light of the clear day." 



" Some of our officers spent the day in rambling over Paros, 

 and took the Marpesus quarries in their way. They are not far 

 from the road between Aiisa and Parechia, and extend to a great 

 depth in the mountain : the cuttings were all rectangular, and 

 such are the numerous blocks still lying about the entrance. 

 There are two quarries : over the entrance of the smaller, is a 

 large bas-relief, with an inscription. I forgot to say that there 

 are also Greek inscriptions, in the outer grotto of Anti-Paros ; 

 but they are defaced, and of doubtful import. From the Mar- 

 pesus quarries came the marble for the Venus de Medicis, the 

 Belvidere Apollo, and the Antinous : the Arundelian marbles, 

 you know, are also from this Island. 



" Our ships spent some days, last year, at Aiisa ; where they 

 watered from a tine clear stream, running through the town : 

 but the water was so highly impregnated with lime, as to bring 

 on the dysentery throughout the squadron."^ Fb/. /, pp. 14b — 6. 



To minds as inquisitive as those of our countrymen, the in- 

 formation which this work communicates must be gratifying. 

 We have seen our ships of war in our harbors, and occasionally 

 those of other nations in theirs ; we have looked at the dark 

 frowning battlements and tasteful spars, and have now and 

 then caught a glimpse of the skilful evolutions on board; we 

 have passed along their decks and have admired the neatness 

 and good order, visible in every part ; and we have wished 

 to know more of them, a desire only increased by the occa- 

 sional letters of our officers while abroad, or notices of their 

 appearance, in foreign papers. Our wish is now gratified. 

 The whole system is laid open to us ; we open the book and 

 are carried forward, and made to live within the wooden 

 walls and to traverse the seas, and witness the complicated 

 but beautiful movements of our ships of war; and we are 

 thus enabled to gaze on scenes seldom accessible to lands- 

 men ; and we lay the book down, surprised to find ourselves 

 possessed, after a few hours reading, of an experience of three 

 years among scenes, characters and events, possessing in so 

 high a degree, the charm of novelty. It seems to have 

 been the original intention of the author, to confine himself 

 to events and scenes in the navy, and to take only such no- 

 tices of countries visited, as to keep up the connexion be- 

 tween the parts. He found himself however, on classic 

 ground ; the spirit of antiquity seized on his feelings, and 



Vol. XVI.— No. 2. 16 



