[ 622 ] 
covered ; befides other daily and accidental occur- 
rences ; employ my time fo intirely, that I have not 
a moment’s repofe, but in my bed. 
The fquare belonging to the palace, in which the 
mufeum is depoiited, will be finilhed, and completely 
ornamented, by Eafter. In the center of it I have 
placed the bronze horfe, which was broken in many 
pieces, and reftored by me, as mentioned in my laft. 
In the walls of the colonades are affixed all the in- 
lcriptions hitherto difcovered : and I fhall yet adorn 
them with altars, curule chairs, and other antiquities 
proper for fuch places. The principal entrance into 
the mufeum hath been made to correfpond with the 
"rand ftair-cafe. On the right fide of it Hands the 
confular ftatue of Marcus Nonius Balbus, the father; 
and on the left, that of Marcus Nonius Balbus, the 
fon ; with two infcriptions relating to, and found near 
them. Upon the ftair-cafe are placed eight antique 
ftatues in bronze, on beautiful pedeftals of poliffied 
marble. In an opening in the center of the right 
hand colonade is fixed the ftatue of the wife of the 
elder Balbus, with the antique infcription belonging to 
it. At the entrance of the fquare, a magnificent pair 
of iron gates, with palifades, are juft put up, orna- 
mented with many bronzes, which are gilt ; and on 
the fides of thefe gates are two other confular ftatues 
of perfons unknown. 
The whole day and night of the 24th of laft 
month it feemed as if Mount Vefuvius would again 
have fwallowed up this country. On that day it fuf- 
fered two internal fradtures, which intirely changed 
its appearance within the crater, deftroying the little 
mountain, 
