[ 48 5 ] 
fubterrarreous Town at Tortici -f , a fmall Village at 
the Foot of Mount Vejuvius ; and that our old Friend 
Sig r Giofeppe Couart , as Sculptor to the King, had 
the Care of the Statues found there, with Orders to 
reftore them, where they are damaged. Within thefe 
few Days he is returned hither to fettle his Affairs, and 
has informed me of fome of the Particulars, in fuch a 
Manner as very much incites my Curiofity, and 
Defire of communicating them to the Public, by 
making Defigns of them on the Spot,. He tells me, 
they enter into this Place by a Pit, like a Well, to 
the Depth of Eighty-eight Neapolitan Palms * * ; and 
then dig their Way (after the Manner of our Cata- 
combs ) under the bituminous Matter,, thrown out 
of the Mountain in the Time of great Eruptions, 
and called by the People of the Country, the Lava? 
which is as hard as a Flint. And when they meet 
with any thing that feems valuable, they pick it out, 
and leave the reft. But I ana afraid, that after they 
have fearched, they throw the Earth in again ; by 
which means many Curiofities may be loft, not being 
underftood by thefe Labourers. They have already 
found the following Things : 
An Amphitheatre, with its Steps. 
An Equeftrian Statue, but all broken to Pieces. 
A Chariot and Horfes of Brafs, which have had 
the fame Fate. 
A large brafen Difh, faid to be found in a Temple. 
They have alfo dug out many other Bronzes, with 
feveral Statues and Baf-relieves, which Sigr Giofeppe. 
is now reftoring. 
f See thefe Tranfatiiotis, N° 45 6. p. 345. 
* A Neapolitan Palm contains near Nine Inches, 
There 
