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but we had the fatisfaCtion of viewing the traces and 
remains of what it had been. Nor could the adepts 
in architecture fufficiently admire the fkill and faga- 
city of the builder, who, compoling it of a number 
of lmall arches, which together formed a kind of 
net-work, and filling up the intervals between with, 
pumice-ltones and mortar, gave it that ftrength and 
lighrnefs, whereby it has probably flood fo many 
ages. 
The evil would be comparatively fmall, had the 
projedt extended no farther, than what has been re- 
lated ; but they are now bufy in removing the Attic 
order, to make room for a new invention, luitable 
to the trifling tafte, which at this day prevails. And 
not content with that, they think of taking away the 
ancient pavement ; and, what is ftill worfe, its pe- 
culiar beauty, the open circle at the top, to place a 
lanthorn inftead of it, as is ufual in modern cu- 
pola’s. 
You had the good fortune, Sir, to view this remark- 
able temple, in that ftate, wherein it was left by the 
ancient barbarians : but thole, who fee it hereafter, 
wiil find it in a much more deplorable condition, 
ftripped of its precious marbles and ornaments ; and 
fo difguited by modern alterations, that the noble 
form given it by Agrippa will be no longer diftin- 
guifhable. 
It is faid II Signor J. B. Piranefi, the architect, 
who publifhed the antiquities of Rome, and divers 
ingenious works of that kind, has taken accurate 
plans of the Attic order, and every other particular 
relating to it. Thefe he propofes to engrave and 
publifh,, with exaCt explanations annexed to them ; 
together 
