363 
of wood, moss, birds-nests, &c. Even old wigs and hair-brooms are 
subjected to the power of these waters, to furnish subjects of amuse- 
ment to the visitors at this place. 
The waterfalls of Italy used also to supply the light-hearted with 
amusement ; small white oblong, or round concretions, being formed 
by them, which have much the appearance of sugar-plums. These 
are put up in boxes, which are ornamented in the mode usually em- 
ployed for boxes of sweet-meats, and thus offered to strangers, who, 
being frequently thus deceived, become the subjects of a harmless 
laugh. Those concretions, which are thus employed at Rome, are 
known by the name of Confetto di Tivoli, from their being chiefly 
obtained from the river Tiverone, the Anio, Anien, and Anienus, of 
the ancients, which waters the charming town of Tivoli, the favourite 
Tihur of Horace. The same name is, however, generally used for 
such as are obtained from the other rivers. 
A much more rational and pleasing application of this natural 
process is made at the baths of St. Philip, in Tuscany. Dr. Leonard 
Vegni has established there a manufactory, to precipitate this fine 
tufa on medals and bas reliefs, and to get by that means the finest 
impressions. He causes this hot incrustating water to fall, from on 
high, into a large vessel, and to break upon a wooden cross, whereby 
it is separated into a fine spray, and directed against the sides of 
the vessel, on which, all around, the medals or bas reliefs, or their 
mouldings or forms, are hanging. The falling or breaking of the 
water imparts a greater impulsion to its drops, and to its turfo or 
tartaro; which, without this manipulation, would be but farinaceous, 
friable, and spongy. Mr. Ferber, from whose work the above 
account of this process is extracted, says, that Dr. Vegni has succeeded 
already in casting busts of this tufo, and he soon hopes to cast 
statues of a natural size*. Since the publication of the above 
# 
Travels through Italy, p. 245. 
