The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-10-04
LETTER EIGHTEENTH.
Rome, Dec. 8, 1904.

.
HAVE said great deal about baths. and
aqnedets, and arches, and mausoea and eatrcs, and
coianns, and o6eiisks, much more 10 my salts
faction, fear, than to that Of my friends but
think they must have at least been convinced Of one
truth that the Romans exceeded all other nations
the sp.cndour and magnfcence of their publick
works 1t was not to be expected that people SO
proud of rearing monuments of glory to successful
heroes, should be less socitous TO pay the nobcst
tributes 70 the gods, whom they ignorantly worship
ped. The Romans, always superstitious, were, in
scairest periods Of their history, sincerely devont
and moral people; for must honour with the name
of devotion, that respect for false gods, which
80 accompanied with purity of morals, when the per-
sous who exercise ithave means Of enlightening
themselves ] pity their ignorance and dcuson, but
honour their respect for their religion so long
and SO far az IL is siacers. No man can read the
beautiful nunctions Of Virgil to the husbandmcn TO
address the gods before they begin to sow or to reap
the yellow harvest without adniring the pure,
though mistaken picty, which breathcs throughout
his beautiful lines on this topick. That their reg-
ion was an extremely bad one, cannot be denied
and it produced the effects that might naturally be
expected from system, so corrupt. Leaving howev-
er these reflections, which the revelation of pure
andunde6led religion enabled us to ma,sr, Twill only
remark, that the Romans exhibited all their taste
for grandeur and expence, in the temples which they
raised in honour OF their gods. The multiplicity of
the gods in the Roman mythology, and the variety of
their supposed attributes gave rise to corrcspon-
dent number and variety of edifces.
10 give you detailed description even Of the
ruins of those which remain, would be to insist on
your commencing antiquary, and entering upon the
career cf Madame Dacier. II will be sufficient TO
say. that Rome Is yet full Of remains, more less
mutilated, of ancient temples
Wherever they were so perfect as to admit Of it,
they have been converted into churches, The TEN.
PIES Of Jupiter Capitolinus, of Minerva, of Fortuna
Nirilis OF Vcsta, of Romulus and Remus, Of Pudic-
Ia, of Hercules, and MANY others, are among this
number. Of others, only single columns of facades
more picturesque and beautiful are yet left To us
These are innrmerablc The most striking are those
Of Jupiter Tonans, Jupiter. Stator, Aatoninus and
Taustina, of the temple of Concord, temple Of the
Sun, Of Juno, and of Peace.
The most beautiful temple, however, which re-
ans is that which was devoted all the gods, and
was for that reason called the Pantheon This build
ing is the most perfect model Of architecture II
the world, and is entire. Il Is now, with mater
iel change, converted into church, called the Ro
fonda. It was erected by Agrippt, in the time o
Augustus CHsar, when the fine arts we're at the
meridian at Rome. 1t is perfectly round and q
ronfs formed like the dome Of the state house q
Boston. Its proportions arc the most beautiful tha
caa be conceivedof Not a pillar to support its ex
tensivc roof projects from the sides more than fey
feet All the centre is supported BY the art and skill
of the mechan cs. HNt
It has not a single window in It, and yet from
small aperture in the roof injurious either TO Il
beauty or strength, it is perfectly and agreeabl
lighted. This window, if it may be so called, ha
never been glazed, Ii is and has been open for a
r,ost 1900 years, without injurny the edi6ce. o
the whole we must sskaewkdgc, that, though inf.
tcly infsiour to St, Ptulsin size, or ST. Peters
splcndour, il exceeds them both in simplicity an
grandeur. What gives the ancient edihces va
superiority over the modern, Is the noblencss
their pillars. Not content with introducing the di
ferent styles OF architecture, which moderns ha,
meyer been able to improves they choose tohavc the
pillars correspondent to the grand simplicity of the
architecture. For thousand wears, the Mcditcrral