The Sun.
London, England, 1806-08-20 00:00:00

TILE-ISLAND OF n4P.111.1.

• ME Island of Capria is situated in the Gulph of
Naples. It is four miles in lougth from.cast to west,
and one in breadth, and 'Much better,known in eras-
.
sicallhan political stbry-
--,-, Quern rupcs Caprearurn terra latebet .
Incesto possessa Seni

It was there that AUGUSTUg used to retire for re-
creation and health; and there TIBERIVS
,NVaSOllt
to revel in impure debauchery. A greater change
has taken place on the surface of this Island than
in many other places, where the antient scenery may
still be traced with little variation ; but there is enough
remaining to impress the voluptuous fancy With a live-
ly idea of what it once has been. The sides of Vesu-
vius which are full in prospea, and which once were
covered with vines and myrtles- and verdant shrubs,
now present to the eye a dead and Melancholy heap
of ashes, and all the images of recent desolation : but
there is a spot still existing in the midst of the Island
itself AvhiFh might vie in riches with the Vale of
Tempe, or the fabled Gardens of • Hesperia, where
-Convents are embowered in groves of fig, orange,
!almond,plive trees, jessamines, and fields of corn,
and where the religious votary is a emitted on earth
.to More than a fancied fore-taste of the enjoyment of
-a future Elysium. In former times
Here BACCHUS oft to the co9l shades retired,
And his own a itive 4 ISA less admired ;
ALctv es here, here VENUS graced the shore,
Nor loved her fav'rite Lacedemon more.

The whole Island was probably cut into several
easy ascents, plapted with a variety of Palaces, and
adorned with as great a multitude of Groves and
Gardens as the situation of the place would suffer.
The works under ground were, however, Still'enore
extraordinary than those above it, for the rocks were
all undermined with 'highways, grottos, galleries,
bagnios and subterraneous retirements, which suited
the brutal pleasures of TIBERIt We know that
after the death of the Emperor, the Romans sent thi-
ther. an_ army, todemolish the buildings and deface the
beauties of the Island ; and what they left undone,
subsequent earthquakes and volcanos have almost.
completed.
Medals are found at this day.upon the Island, and
a great proportion of those called the Spinifia have
been dug up here. They generally bear on.one side'
some lewd invention of the Society which SUET°-
. Nrus'clenominates by the title ofillanstrosiConeubitas
rep.ortpres, and on the other a particular Drubber.
These were the curiosities with which the Emperor's
Cabinet was..stored, and were colleCted with the
same taste which introduced the ..most lascivious
figures and pictures 113 the „ornaments Of his bed-
.
chambers.
, .
One would have thought such a possession so
trell adlpted,to gratify the desires of some . of, the
modern libertines who surroutipowArXttrrn, that
ho would riot have suffered it to slip se easily out of
his hands.

Monday as a cart was standing in James-street,
Haymarket, the horse 'suddenly took ',fright; and
ogallopped off. A Iran in endeavouring to stop the

hors',
was..thrown down, rind the .wheal unfortun

ately went. over his head and part of his body. He
Navas taken up I,vithont a,ny sign of life, acid conveyed

to an hospital..• The horse rushed -across the Efay-
Inarket, and dashed his head through .a
,shop-wilF
dow, by which means be was stopped.
Yestetday afternoon, a fine boy, about four years
'of age, in the aft of running across the road,--facing
the Duke of York pnblieT houge, on the :Peekhain
I.cas run over by a-hackn,ty each, and killed
•
on the -spot,.