PROM Tf?E HELLESPONT TO HHODfJ. 
m- 
4'liem to Cos. They were intended, he said, for his son, who 
was to he educated in the Patmos monastery.* 
We were not permitted to enter the castie ; this is close to 
the town of Stanchio, on the sea shore, fortified by a moat upon 
the land side. Taking the small boat belonging to our vessel, 
we examined the outside of its walls toward the sea, and here 
had the satisfaction to discover one of the finest bas reliefs per¬ 
haps ever derived from the arts of Greece. It was employed 
by the Genoese as part of the building materials io the con¬ 
struction of the castle: being of great length, it was broken in 
four pieces: these are placed in the wall, two above and two 
below,f facing the sea. The subject seems to represent the 
nuptials of Neptune and Amphitrite. It contains fifteen fi¬ 
gures, although some are nearly effaced. Among these, the 
principal is a bearded figure of Neptune, sitting with a tri¬ 
dent or sceptre in his right hand, and leaning upon his left 
elbow. By his left side sits also a female, bolding in her left 
hand a small statue: the base of this rests upon her knee. She 
is covered with drapery, executed in the highest style of the 
art of sculpture, and extends her right arm around the neck of 
Neptune; her hand pending negligently over his right shoul¬ 
der. They are delineated sitting upon a rock. By the right 
side of the god stands a male figure, naked ; and upon the left 
of Amphitrite a female, half clothed, presenting something it* 
form like an ancient helmet. Before them, female bacchanak 
are introduced, singing, or playing upon the lyre and the tam¬ 
bourine. In the lower fragments of this exquisite piece of sculp¬ 
ture are seen satyrs, pouring wine from skins into a large vase* 
* The interesting intelligence, thus communicated, was the cause of my subsequent 
•visit to that island, and of the valuable acquisitions 1 there made. 
f The removal of this precious relique, to any of the Museums of Europe, must be 
a desirable object with every civilized nation. It is an honour reserved for some 
more favoured adventurers. The only power we possessed of adding to the stock of 
our national literary treasures, was due to our industry alone. The aid our national: 
situation, with regard to Turkey, might then have afforded, was studiously withheld. 
An absolute prohibition was enforced, respecting the removal of any of the antiquities 
of the country, excepting by the agents of our own ambasadov at the Porte. Mr. Gei!» 
author of “ The Topography of Troy,” fee. was actually interdicted making drawings 
within the Acropolis of Athens. While I must lament the miserable policy of such a 
measure, and a loss affecting the public, rather than ourselves as individuals, I can on¬ 
ly add, that every exertion is now making toward rescuing from destruction, not only 
the valuable monument here alluded to, but also many other important objects of ac¬ 
quisition lying scattered over the desolated territories of the Turkish empire. To 
a British minister at the Porte, their removal and safe conveyance to England would 
be the work merely ofawish expressed upon the subject to the Capudan Pacha; and 
for the measures necessary in removing them from their present place, no injury 
would be sustained by the fine arts, in the dilapidation of any Grecian building .— 
English travellers, distinguished by their talents, illustrious by their rank, and fortu ¬ 
nate in their wealth, are now traversing those regions, to whom every instruction has 
been given that may facilitate and expedite their researches ; it is hoped success will 
attend their promised endeavours to enrich their nation by the possession Of 
limble documents. 
