The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-23
AMUSING MISCELLANY.
Original Letters, from aa .i.aericsn Trapcilcr
ia Esrefe, 10 his friends IN this country.
LETTER FIFTEENTH.
CCsnekaasd]

rhe poran cnpcrcurs, tken the masters Of the
void, thargh dependent fer eN shear power, on n
E.y cosorfs and disorderly ard turbulent populacc,
Introduced the system Of supporting that people in
idcncss, s:d cf amusing them by publck cxbiLit-
iors. Na.ing several centuries, the Roman people
ro lcnrcr engatcd in constant wars, nor occupied
with any profitable or honourab!c employment, were
supported bv The contributions OF tributary ma
,ons, with every species OF games, ard speetac!es,
which proud or inG on;ou5 inagnihccrcc could invent
Tho relcts Of the splendid edces for these spec
taccs excite the astonshlnent ct every visitor of
Rome Almost every emperour had the pride
vanity to erect new place ofexhbiiion.
The Circus .ax,Tus was the largest and most
magnificent Ct these pieces of publcE spcctac!cs.
Authors differ about it's dimensions. The most cx-
tlavngant saw, that it capable OF containing
3gO0 0CC, and tic most moderate, 150GG0 persons
Either si them would exceed all bclicff the scte and
general dimensions were net, ~ this day perfectly
visible a place that could have contained the in-
habanss OF every city inthc U. States, must, you will
admit, have bc,n phenomenon worthy OK adTnra-
t.n Of this building very little remains except its
Foundation, wh;ch scws its form. and greatvaliety
OF detached ornsmcntS, which have been transferred
70 a,or The different editcc5 of modern Rome. The
situation Of these grand cdiiccs may be an object Of
curicsity to yau. The Circus Max.mus was situated
directly opposite to the magnificent palace ct the
Ce.ars and The cmpcrouls snd imperial family u.s.
uay enjoyed The publck spcctac,es from the balcony
Of tic palace. The circus Maxnius was not, rs its
or oval This MAS also t.c with all the circrses,
t.,e remains of which have seen. The amphiihea-
tres were generally, and believe universally, crcu-
lar. ,t.
The ,c;gcus CT Caracal!a was also most noble
tw, ling, OF which the walls arc still entire, and which
e,be you 20 form correct IDEA OF this species of
building.
rnc ,heetrc of1arcc.us, so called in honour of the
nc,Ecw g. Aagrssys Cesar, who dicJ at carly age,
anl who wss intended to be his successor, very
nearly ia The centre OF the citv. and superb
bsi,S;ng. We arc indebted for what remains Of il
10 the cupidity rather than the god sense of the
mascrn I,osnans. rhcy have elcctcd dwelling hcil-
s., upon ,c old walls, that you can perfectly dis
,n.ctc siilc ossrchiiec.rsc, and Is scne s amen-
su,,s.
Ratu the most con,p'ce-ct6ccs OF this nature, if
we lonsdr its original hiagnihcenca, or its present
ste OF scsy.tion is the COLISEUM, as il is vulgar
ly c!.e1 on,a colossal statue Of Nero, which stood
II, the centre OF it. rc.ly the Favian theatre.
so-cae,l ~ l,oasarof Flavis ves?asianus the cam
pcrour, who erected It upon his successful return
tom tse war ssanst the Jews, avbcl,h he had taken
ycruisaarn hin said, that /. was erected by the Ia
bour of 1900 Jewish prisoners, whom vcs?ss;a:,
brought W.T.. 1ir. When tiethestrc was dedicated
T,tus epwc 4 great spee'acl- OK co,njs:5 Ie.wccn
si..disso.s s-sl n:I beasts.