at the Temple of Seraph. 98 
that state of depression it is now rising again. Breislac infers 
this from two facts, which he combines very ingeniously with 
the preceding; viz. the remains of some ancient buildings, at the 
foot of Monte Nuovo, five or six feet above the present level of 
the sea, in which are found the shells of some of those little ma- 
rine animals that eat into stone; and again, the marble columns 
of the Temple of Serapis, which are also perforated by pholades, 
to the height of sixteen feet above the ground. All these changes 
Breislac ascribes to the motion of ihe sea itself; a supposition 
which, as we have seen, cannot possibly be admitted, since no- 
thing can permanently affect the level of the sea in one place, 
which does not affect, it in all places whatsoever.” 
The interesting account of this Temple in the following commu- 
nication, translated from Gothe’s Morphologie , maintains, that 
the appearances are not connected either with a change on the 
level of the sea, or with sinkings or risings in the land, but with 
some local alterations induced by volcanic agency. — Edit.]] 
A FTER my return from Sicily to Naples, I found much still 
remained for me to overtake, which, in the bustle of other af- 
fairs, had been neglected ; and, among other things, the Temple 
of Jupiter Serapis at Puzzuolo, the remaining pillars of which 
have long been remarkable, as presenting an inexplicable phae- 
nomcnon to the naturalist. 
We went thither on the 19th of May 1787. I examined every 
thing minutely, and very soon determined with myself how the 
appearances were to be explained. What I then noted in my 
journal, with all that has since come to my knowledge, I shall 
here set down in due order, in reference to a very accurate en- 
graving. — See Plate III. 
Tiie situation of the Temple, or, more properly speaking, of 
its remains, is to the north of Puzzuolo, about 200 toises distant 
fiom the city, immediately upon the shore, and about 15 feet 
above the level of the sea. 
The building still occupies a space of 25 toises square, but 
from that are to be deducted the cells of the priests all round, 
leaving an inner court, with its colonnade, of 19 toises in extent. 
In the centre there is a circular elevation, 10 J toises in diameter, 
ascended by four steep steps, which supported upon pillars 
round open temple without cells. 
a 
