An ExtraSi of a Letter Written from Rome, dated the 
1 6th. of November laft, to Signior Sarotti^ concerning 
aDifco^ery made upon the Inundation of theTcvcvc. 
Tranjlated out ofthe ltAisiU. 
I Believe you have already heard how the Inundation of 
our River has done ieveral confiderable Mifchiefs all a- 
bout this City, fpoiling ieveral fine Houies, and very large 
Aqueduds, by breaking down their tondufls, &c. It has 
in feveral Places, ( efpecially without this City ) by breaking 
the Groundjdifcovered Vaults unknown bcfore,great part of 
them full of earthen Urnes, and iepulchers, but of no great 
confideration, by the Infcriptions they had upon them : On- 
ly in a Place within two Miles of this City, where there 
was fbme great antient Ruines, the Water having pierced 
a ftrong thick Wall which joyned to a great Country Pa- 
lace, and paffing under the lame, broke out at a corner of 
an Aquedufl: by the laid Houfe, where there was found a 
fmall Vaulte of an Oval Figure, in which there was a Stom 
^pulcher pretty large, with the following Infcription P. M. 
R. C. cum Vxore. and more, which could not be diicerned ; 
By this fame there was a great earthen Urne fhut up very 
clofe, which being opened, there came out fiich a ftrong 
Araoake, that it made the Man that was by it almoft giddy ; 
the <Smell was like Bitumen, but being quickly difperfed, 
they found in the bottom of the faid Urne an earthen Pot 
made up as a Lamp, full of a Materia Oleofa^ which by de- 
grees, as the cold Air got into it, grew hard. 
. Several peribns fuppofe' this to be one of thole perpetual 
Lamps that the Antients mention : For my part, I cannot 
give yet my ludgment ; but after that the bulinefi lliall be 
better examined, I lhall give yon a further Account of it ; 
intending to go my ftlf to fee it, becaule the Gentleman in 
whofb Palace it was found is my good Friend. 
