The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-07-12

.Nahlcs, ian. 2, 1905.
MY DEAN sIsrER, s
THE country around Naples originally oct
tied by Che Greeks and was known by the ancents
under The name Of Magma Grrcia. Possessing.
mild and deigltful climate, volcanck soil, and the
most enchanting landscapes il was always fMouritc
spot With the Roman Poets, and in tho later times OF
luxury and eEernpacy it became the fashionable re-
sort oi'the rich and yoluptuous. Always subject to
volcan;ick cruptions, its bosom nclospg great va
r;ey OF Setallick substances in state of chcthica
change Il has in All ages exhibited
baye either arrested the attention OF the philosopher
orccntr;butcd to the gratAcaio Of tho sensnaliot
TIA great rarictyof plxes in this neighbouihocd
ere 10 be found hot splngs and warm vnIois, which
yc Romans converted TO purposes ofuxufy hesth,
pu, which their insolent succcssours wholly neglect
Nboni six mics from Naples the beautiful bay
Of Eaia, stands the ancient town Of Pecoll by COR
ruptioh now called puzzuol This city Was in former
tunes respectable hut by earthquakes and volcanoes
the face Of Na,ure has been changed, that lit
lie remains OF It's ancient spendour There arc still,
however some vast ruins, which project into the o.
ccan, aud which are by the vulgar called the Bridge
,f Calgua, but which the antiquarics have decided
20 be the remains Of the ancient mole, which formed
,i,e port 10 an American this idea Of forming
artificial port Isl happily for orr country. strange
enc Nature has been so liberal in its indeptations
,,f our coast our harbours naturally detcndcd
either by promon,olies or islands, that we have ns
neccssi,y to form artificial dcterccs against the rava
ycs of tcmncsts In the European world, and paltic
ularIy in the Meateranean, it is far otherwise. Al
noyt every port in this part OF itayis directly open
10 the inycads Of the ocean, and the Inhabitants
their security 10 artificial, not to nstuiA boundaries
Thcsc no!es, the NEST expensive, are III some instan-
ccs the most stuYcndcuo works OF ancient or mod
SIN tm4s Itis probable, that tho ruins, which they
cal, Cagulas BRIDGE were part oil the mole OF this
c;tv which in those days, was a very considerable
one but there is colour for tic opltion of the yrl
gar, as it is corceGed, that Caligu'a did build
bridge in the direction over the bay OF Baia,to
connect the city of that name with Puzzuo, or Put
coli. THAT weak and wicked reocstcr took fancy
90 initiate the naval triumph of NerScs, and did ac-
cord;nr!y construct a brnlge OF boats from Baia to
putcoi Ia distance of three mile sover which he passed
q splendid triumph for three successive days
Near puzzuoh there is alsoa ruin ofa temple ot
ru,iter Scrps, which from the size aud elegance of
tie pillars must have been splendid cdifce. The
,-a;ns of am a,nph sleatre, which arc also found m
81, unquestionable shape, serve to shew how widely
and universally ths spiSt of luxury and dissipation
rervaded every part soi u'e ieomah oominons' rco
rot recolcct, that have scsn one considerable city
yI;ch could not show some rclicks of an aInphtca-
Near paia YOU sre shown sorno huge and mishapcn
rs,;ls which they call the bavhs of Nero All this
ars Of hc territory Of Naples has been SO repeated
fy coavulscd Ivy earthquakes, or covered with the
hcs Of volcanoes, that i, is very difficult To- trace
With any accuracy the position of ancient edifices
y,at variety of compartments and brick arches rem
Ter IL highly probable that this was really wnat VII
oar tradition has represented h Entering. low
ssrot,o. which WAS evidently an antique arch, yon
,rsuc an artificial passage. which rapidly dcscends
towards these celebrated springs. AS soon es you
enter. YOU encounter hot and sufiocatpS ynp0sns
which the strongest man could nos long support
,hc cuiJes accustomed to this office, arc stripped 20
the skin and even IN ~ situation they come ons N
49, - -. being xDc.ifical1y Eg'her li>aA the