r 4S8 ] 
Circumference of the Walls, and the large Steps, 
which are (till preferved. But it is impofiible to fee 
the Symmetry of the Whole; becaufe one mud 
travel through ftreight Paflagcs, like our Catacombs in 
Rome. After having gone a good Way under-ground, 
I arrived at the Place in which the Paintings had been 
difeovered, and where they are daily difeovering 
more. The firft Midake thofe Men they call Intern 
dants have committed, is, their having dug out the 
Pi&ures, without drawing the Situation of the Place, 
that is, the Niches, where they hood : For they were 
all adorned with Grotefques, compofed of mod 
elegant Mafques, Figures, and Animals; which, not 
being copied, are gone to Dedrudion, and the like 
will happen to the red. Then, if they meet with 
any Pieces of Painting not fo well preferved as the 
rdf, they leave them where they found them. Be- 
fides, there are Pillars of Stucco extremely curious, 
confiding of many Sides, all varioufly painted, of 
which they do net preferve the lead Memory. But 
what is mod curious, is to fee thefe Paintings all 
covered with Earth, which when taken off, they 
appear to have fullered nothing by it. I believe this 
may be accounted for, by there being no Damp or 
Moidure in the Place ; and that the dry Earth has 
been rather prefervative, than hurtful to them. The 
anticut Beams are yet difcernible, but they are become 
like Charcoal. And 1 have feen there a Place where 
anticntly they kept Lime for building; a great Quan- 
tity of which yet remains as frefli as if made but 
Vedcrday. In a word, perceiving all thofe who are 
called Supcrintcndants of this Affair, wholly ig- 
norant of what they arc about, I began to differ in 
a 
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