The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-06-07

believe some respeetabIe v10gs have eiyer very
different account Of it, aud have formed some very
grand and imposing descriptions Of but am per-
snadcd that the OF these writer's OF ofdfscrptions
Ineycr took the trouble 10 ascend 10 this temple which
is situated the top Of very high hill, 20 ascend
which, in this enervatng climate, is no small labour
Certain am, however, that no man, Who has ever
seen these remains which are now Incorporated INTO
| the body of a. catholck church, (where, perhaps,
there is as much idolatry as beiore) can doubt,
that the style of the ancient temple mean and
vulgar at least if the pillars which now shcwn to
us, really part of the ancient facade. have
been the minute in this circumstances of the diff
ference between the real appearance of these ancient
remains and the descriptions of them in several books
oftraves, because the thing has occurred to me
frequently.
II i, fact that travellers, who make books, gen.
orally follow each other bndly without either taking
the trouble TO examine by their senses, when
on the spot, to see if the description, correct
and otentmes perhaps without visiting the objects,
which they attempt to describe shall occasionally
notice these blunders they occur OF which the des
crption of the temple Of Jupiter at Terracina is
tainly one. Terracna, in point of position, is one of
the most beautiful cities of Europe. Thelandscapes
around it, like all those upon the shores the Med
iterranean, are mixture of the sublime ard pctur
esque Surrounded on the land side byrocky noun
tains, which overlang the city, to the north the eye
ranges without limit the pontine marshes to the
west the view is terminated by the promontory of
before you On the top of the mountain, behind the
city, Thcodorck, the most powerful Of the Gothick
kings erected magnificent palace in the Gothick
style The remains of it are still extensive and no.
bic, and together with the rudeness and inaccessible
nature of the spot orciby recall the barbarous feroci
ty of the age in which it erected. With great
abour descended to the spot through thickets Of myr
tie and other evcrgreens whose beauty and fragrance
were enchanting. Under feet the antirrhinum,
and the daisy and several species Of narcissus now
in full bloom (December) enameed the mountain
side II is not surprising, that in climate and with
soil mild and fertile Virgil should have sung
swcetly Of rural scenes.
As you quit Terrscina, you enter the kingdom Of
Naples, and, in my opinion the most charming coun-
try in the world. At this season, inclement and
sterile in the greater part of the inhabited world the
orange and lemon III full fruit the olive and the cork
tree in glossy verdure the myrtle and the arbutus with
their fragrant flowers, enrich and beautify the
cry and regae the senses. Passing most wretched
dirty village of Fondi, which has retained its disa-
greeable character since the time Of Horace who
thus contemptuously speaks Of it, in description of
hi, tour to Naples, "Fondianos ibi Autdius Pretor
est, libenter reiinquimus," you arrive at the
charming village Of Mola da Gacts, which is admit
ted to be the scite OF the ancient Formia great
favourite with the Romans Here many OF their
most distinguished statesmen and writer's had their
villas Here Yas the favourite residence Of Cicero,
whose tomb, in very toerabls preservation, is sill
shewn a the entrance of this place. 1t was near this
spot, that he betrayed (you will recoilect) by
young man whom he had patronised, and where he
murdered by the assassins Of Mark Antony. The
spot, which these villas were situated, is truly
chanting, and justfes the good taste of Cicero in
lecting it for his residence
The sea has however made great inroads upon this
place, and you perceive the ruins Of palaces and Vii
las submerged at the distance of several rods from
the shores. Yours, &C.