HERCULANEJM, POMPEII AXD STAEIA, 4& 



(for at that time the two Sicilies were ftill appurtenances 

 to the houfe of Auftria) he folemnly forbad any farther 

 refearch by digging ; and appropriated to himfelf, as it 

 was reafonable for him to do, the three images already 

 found., which he foon after made a prefent of to prince 

 Eugene ; after whofe death they were fold to the king 

 of Poland for fix-thoufand Fix-dollars. 



When the late king of Spain, at that time king of 

 the two Sicilies, had built himfelf a fummer-palace at 

 Portici; that attentive monarch, in the year 1738. had 

 the abovementioned well made deeper and wider : till 

 at length, with inexpreffible labour, they came to the 

 middle of the theatre, which lay at the depth of more 

 than one hundred roman palms* under the furface of 

 the earth. 



The incredible magnificence of the theatre excited 

 in the late abbe Winkelmann an ardent dehre to fee it 

 free, and entirely cleared from the fiery afbes which had 

 forced their way into every part of it, and were nearly 

 in a Hate of petrifaction. However, he was not in- 

 dulged in his wifh. Whereas thofe who now travel to 

 Portici, may enjoy that glorious fight. Even the ftage, 

 or the plaice where the actors came on and performed 

 their parts, is at prefent perfectly cleared of the petri- 

 fied afties. It would have been a happmefs to Winkel- 

 mann, as he often faid, if he could but have beheld 

 the entire frage. It is much to be lamented, that the; 

 lava is not broken away which covers the uppermofl 

 part of the theatre, and that fo the whole of the fump- 

 tuous edifice, which can now only be feen by the light 



* A rrrnan palm contains 12 roman inches; or 8J engfifh, or 8^ 

 freneh inches. 



