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LXXXV. Extract of a Letter from Camillo 
Paderni, Keeper of the Mufeum Hercu- 
laneum, to Tho. Holies, Efq\ dated at 
Naples, April 27, 1754. 
o 
NE reafon for not anfwering your 
Read June 1 3, 
> 754 - letter earlier has been the embaraff- 
ments, which 1 have had about the mufeum, elpecially 
in forming the place itfelf to a convenient lhape for 
the things, which it is to contain. Till this was done, 
the whole was unavoidably in great confufion. I had 
the direction likewife of the people, who work’d 
under-ground, and of the feveral artifls otherwife 
employ’d. Befides, I was defirous to fend you the 
printed catalogue of the mufeum, which has long 
been order’d, yet cannot ftill be publiflfd thefe three 
or four months. When it is out, I fhall be at liberty 
to write more fully and freely than is at prefent per- 
mitted. However, I can now fend you an account of 
the difcoveries made of late, that is, within thefe 
twelve months, in the pretended city of Herculaneum. 
I fay pretended , becaufe it is my own opinion, that 
the place, where they have dug for fome time paft, 
and actually do now dig, is not Herculaneum, but a 
different place from it, tho’ almoft contiguous to it; 
as I could eafily make appear, was I at liberty to 
write : But time will clear up this matter. My duty 
made it neceffary for me to defcend into it almofl 
daily ; and when my bufinefs was done, 1 alw T ays 
indulged my curiofity and genius in viewing and 
examining the leveral objects there. The place 
where 
