The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-10 00:00:00

The Roman Discovery.

A correspondent of the Athenceum gives the fol-
lowing account of the recent discovery at Rome :
Righetti, a wealthy commoner of this city, has
lately purchased an old palace for an old song,
being in one of the dirtiest parts of Rome, called
the Biscione ; it is close to the Piazza Campo dei
Fiori, and not far from the Farnese Palace. Exten-
sive repairs were indispensable, for the building
was in a most rickety state, and, on setting people
to work to dig for a foundation, they came upon a
pavement composed of large slabs of that marble
called Porta Santa, which is dull, veined marble, of
a reddish hue, which comes from the Island of
lasus, in the Archipelago, and is properly called
" 111 armor Jasseuse;" it is however, better known
by its modern name, which it derives from its form-
ing the j imbs of the jubilee door at St. Peter's.
This pavement was found 30 feet below the present
level of this part of Rome; and here likewise they
came upon a massive wall, near which they found a
piece of building somewhat resembling a Noah's
Ark without the boat : the sides were of brick and
the roof was formed of large blocks of travertine
resting upon these walls, and uniting with bevelled
edges at the top (" rigging" as they call it in Scot.
land). There were two gable ends, each formed of
one huge block of travertine; on several of the
blocks are seen, large and well cut, the letters F C
S, which, as yet, the Bret w3logists here cannot ex-
plain. Great difficulty was encountered in conse-
quence of the hole continually filing with water,
and preventing the work going on ; but a steam
engine was procured to work the pumps, which are
now plied night and day. Oa opening the ark it
was found to contain a magnificent gilt bronze
statue of a youthful Hercules, 14 feet high, but
lying on his back, or, es the Romans graphically
describe it, " panza per aria."
In art this statue Equals the finest that ever
Greece produced, and the careful manner in which
it has been hidden and the means taken to protect

it argue that its value was known and appreciated.
I bnspect it must have been hidden in the fourth
century to prevent its being carried off to 13) zan-
tium by the son of Constantine, who made off with
every thing he could lay his hands on in the shape
of works of art, to enrich and adorn the city which
thenceforward was to bear their imperial name. It
is interesting to know that the coins found in and
about the statue were those of Domitian, Decius,
and Maximinius, commonly styled the Herculean.
There were likewise coins of the Lower Empire.

Over the gilding, which is very thick and bright
(and the patina of which is still perfect) is a rough
calcareous incrustation, which must be carefully re•
moved before the beauty of the statue can be tho-
roughly enjoyed. It was found imbedded in marble
chips, such as form the sweepings of a sculptor's
studio, and also wedged in by masses of architectu-
ral fragments. Inside the figure was found a very
pretty little f‘male head, sculptured in Parian
marble. The back hair is gathered up in a net,
much in the style as worn by ladies in the present
day, and which fashion prevailed from the style of
HAogabalus down to Constantine, as we see by re-
ferring to other statues and busts. The period of
art to which this little bust belongs is that of Con-
stantine, and therefore inferior.
On the first indications of this discovery much
speculation arose as to whether it were equestrian
or not, and whether it might not prove to be a por-
trait statue of Pompey the Great, since the place
where they are excavating is on the site of Porn -
pey's Theatre, which was the first ever made of
stone in Rome; and that its size was considerable is
known from the fact that it accommodated 20,000
spectators. These speculations as to what it is are
now pretty well at rest, as the statue speaks for
itself; at the same time, as there is a deal of that
incrustation above mentioned adhering to the fea-
tures, there are some who insist that it is a portrait
of Domitian represented as Hercules. It has been
raised to within 10 feet of the surface, and men are
busy exploring, in the hope of finding one of the
feet, which is missing. The club has come up in
three pieces, and the lion's skin, which has hung
over the shoulder (similar to that of the Theban
Hercules in the Vatican), and which has evidently
been recast separately, is especially interesting to
us moderns, as showing the mode in which the
ancients executed their work of casting.

Hercules being the tutelary deity of Pompey the
Great, it was natural that his image should be
chosen to adorn the building he erected. As a work
of art this statue is far superior to that found in
the Forum Boarium, which is also gilt bronze, and
is now in the Capitol. It has evidently been exe-
cuted by artists in the time of the Empire, and
stood in the Temple of Hercules in the Forum. The
beautiful marble statue of Hercules bearing Tele-
phus, which adonis the " Pio Clementino" in the
Vatican, was found in the Campo dei Fiori and
placed where it now stands by Julius 11. It should
be remembered that the noblest fragments of an-
tiquity existing was presented by that same Pon-
tiff to the Vatican ; it is a portion of a Hercules,
and, if I am not mistaken, I have seen a drawing
by Flazman, in which be restores it from an ancient
gem representing Hercules and Hebe. This frag-
ment was also found in the Campo dei Fiori (Pom-
pey's Theatre), and is known as the Torso of the
Belvedere.

THE EXPLOSION AT THE OLDFIELD COLLIERY.—
An inquest was held at Fenton, on Friday, on the
body of the boy " Joe," who met his death by an explosion
of fire damp at the Oldfleld Colliery on Wednesday. The
real name of the deceased is Job Bartlett, and hisawbe was
stated to be between 16 and 17. After evidence as to the
fact of the explosion had been given, Mr Wynne, Govern-
ment Inspector of Mines, was examined, and stated that he
examined the pit on Thursday. He found the workings
perfectly clear of gas, but they contained scarcely any air.
The ventilaaon was in the most miserable state he had ever
seen a pit, with one; exception. The air road was foul, and
no means had been taken tc; cleanse it, except that the de-
ceased and another boy had just egun to clear one end.
To his mind, it was perfectly clear that tLA deceased's life
bad been entirely sacrificed. If there had been al,; ventila-
tion with the clear works there were, there cou'd not i.3ve
ben sufficient gas,to vitiate the quantity of air that ought
to be passed along that air road. If there was gas suffi-
cient to fire there was not sufficient to very severely burn
any one, and if air had been passed in any quantity it
would have swept away the small quantity of damp which
made its appearance, and the pit would have been perfectly
safe. If the air had been good it would have carried away
all the gas in the pit, but the ventilation was not sufficient
to ventilate that room. There was not one-fifth the quan-
tity of air there ought to be, and not one-tenth the quantity
which should be allowed. The jury found a verdict of
accidental death, but recommended that the workings should
be closely examined, and that it should bo imperatively bind-
ing on those who had the management of the pit that it
should be kept properly and effectively ventilated. The
manager of the colliery, who was present, undertook that
this recommendation should be attended to.—Birmingham
Daily Toil.
NASTY PEOPLE I—The Lyons journals give partia
culars of a horse-flesh banquet that has just taken
place in that city. A largo number of amateurs assembled
in the dining-room of one of the principal restaurants, and
to them were served up no less than 11 dishes, all of horse
beef. These were two soups, bouilli, horse ala mode,
truftl3d sansages,:fried brains, lion a l'ltalienne, cauliflower
au jus de chcval, cold horse pie, and other ohevaline deli-
cacies. The fare was generally approved. Among the
guests were merchants, manufacturers, professional men,
journalists,veterinary surgeons, and physicians—these last,
it is added, were not numerous.
LOSS OF LIFE ON THE THAMES,—On Friday three
men, named Oram, Clark, and Kent, all carpenters,
n the employ of Mr Al‘Bride, of Deptford, had been out
all day repairing some craft, which was lying in the
the river, and were returning home, when Oram, who was
steering the boat, ran it between two barges, one of which
was stationary, the other was proceeding down at
rather a rapid rate ; the concussion was so strong as to
smash the boat, and all three men were immediately im-
mersed. Oram and Clarke were rescued and taken on board
the barge, but Kent was drowned.
The bulletin of the Paris Observatory gives the
following as the atmospheric state of Europe yes-
terday—" A storm is at this moment descending
from the high latitudes over the North of Russia,
and the wud blows strong from the N.W. at St.
Petersbnt g. The observation of Thursdarat Ha-
paranda, which reached us this morning, shows
that the storm passed on that day north of the
Gulf of Bothnia. Under the influence of that
movement, the barometer has again risen on the
German Ocean and on England. The bad weather
which prevailed on Thursday on the South of France
hes ex ;ended to the Mediterranean ; rain has fallen
at Alicant, Aj accio,ll arseilles, and Cette. The air
is calm. over France, and the wind is inclining to
that south over Ireland."

SPORTING NOTES.

THE CESAREWITCH.

The races of last week threw no light on the great event
to be decided to-morrow, with the exception of Mail Train
and Gratitude meeting with increased support, and the
firmness of Lady Hylda in the market after her easy defeat
of East Lancashire in the Guineas. There will, in all pro-
bability, be about 30 horses face the starter, to be selected
from the following :
Horse. age et lb Trainer.
Blackdown
Vermont ..
Despair
Accident..
Bellman 6 7 9 T. Clay
Dunne Canna
Hollyfox 3 7 0 R. Boyce
The Brewer
Lady Hylda
King Charming
Charming Woman
Raglan
Tattoo..
Mail Train 3 6 10 W. Day
Beaver
Crisis
Myrtle
Valiant

Planet 3 6 7 W. Goater
Suspicion
Beatrix ..
Higbflyer's dam colt .. 3 6 4 BAsham
Cathedral
Calista colt 3 6 4 J. Hayhoe
Nemo
Thalestris
Gratitude
Lady Frances filly
Wandering Minstrel
Auricula
Roly-poly . .
Alabama 3 6 7 Gilbert
Charmian
Battaglia
Speculation

Blaokdown, who won the Goodwood Stakes as a three-
year-old, heads the list, and if in anything like form
is certainly not out of the fray; but he does not look
as if he was wanted on the present occasion.
His stable companion, Dr. Syntax, may also
help to swell the field, but the opposition which set in
against him last week seems to have settled his chance.
Vermont and Miner are also probable starters. The latter
may run to assist his stable companion, but he has not the
ghost of a chance,as he is a greatly overrated horse. Despair,
5 years, 7st 121 b, is certainly not out of the race, and might
run into a "situation." Weathorbow will represent Sir
Joseph Hawley, but his previous performances have been
so moderate, that I am disinolined to place much confidence
in him. The old Brewer has been supported for the out-
side chance both by the public and his owner, in the expec-
tation that he may turn oat another Flash in the Pan.
Those who trust him will find out their mistake when the
numbers are hoisted. Ten Broeck has three engaged—viz.,
Cansonette, Myrtle, and Charmian. Ho is always to ba
feared for this race, and whichever he selects will be near
winning, if not the ac'ual winner. The money market
points to Charmian as likely to carry his colours. Mail Train
is the Simon Pure of William Day's lot, and the money
has been piled on as if the race was all over but shouting.
No trainer makes fewer m'stakes. With such tackle in the
stable to try his horses, he ought not to be left out
in any lot to beat the field. The Calista colt will repre-
sent Baron Rothschild. No horse could be better, or
more fit, and with such horses as Hipolyta and Evelina
in the stable to try him with, he ought to hold
safe all the three-year-olds. At all events the public are
certain to get a good honest run for their money, which is
more than can be said of nearly all the others engaged.
Gratitude, a brown filly by Newminster, out of Charity, by
Melbourne, has never yet won a race, although she ran five
times last year. She was once highly thought of for the
Oaks, but disappointed her party. She is now in fine con-
dition, and if she cannot win with only Cat on her back she
ought to be turned out of tra'ning and put in a cab.
Thalestris is one of the best bred horses in the race, and
after her defeat of Early Purl, quite a rush was made to
get on. That she can stay the distance admits of no
doubt. The money is on, and she is sure to take a promi-
nent part in the encounter. Crisis has do much weight,
and Planet will be more at home over a shorter course. Sus-
picion has been under a cloud for some time, but has now
resumed a more healthy appearance in the quotations. His
running with Red Cap and Magnum Bonum at Lewes was
no moan performance, and if he only goes fit to the post, it
will give the favourites all their work to beat him. Cathe-
dral is the hope of John Osborne's stable, and is said to be
batter than the Miner at even weights. He is about
the best place investment of anything in the
race, as the favourites seldom run into a place
if they cannot win. My final impression is
that the race will lay between GRATITUDE, MAIL
TRAIN, CALISTA COLT, SUSPICION, and TRALESTRIS
and, in ondeayouring to forestall the judge in his decision,
I shall place
MAIL TRAIN or GRATITUDE 1
CALISTA COLT .. 2
SUSPIClON

The Select Stakes will be secured by Cambuscan, and the
Beaufort Stakes by Sir Roger. Longdown ought to win
the Prendergast, and Fine de l'Air or Mail Train the
Derby. _ _ .

A FRESH MAN.

CITY BETTING.—TuII DAY.
CESAILEWITCTI.
7 to 2 agst Mail Train (taken)
6to 1 agst Gratitude (taken)
8 to 1 agst Calista colt
10 to 1 agat Thalestria (taken)
100 to 6 agat Lady Hylda (taken)
20 to 1 agst Cathedral (offered)
20 to 1 agst Suspicion (offered)
20 to 1 agat Charmian (offered, 25 to 1 taken)
33 to 1 agat Planet (offered)
33 to 1 agat Beatrix (offered)
40 to 1 agst Blackdown (taken)
60 to 1 agat Beaver (offered)
60 to 1 agat Alabama (offered)
60 to 1 apt Brewer (taken and offered)
100 to 1 agat Dr Syntax (offered)
100 to 1 agst Lady Frances (offered)
100 to 1 agst Roly-Poly (offered)
100 to 1 agat Myrtle (offered)