Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-28

beyond his own humble merit
rs hold your good opinion in high cstina-
ton, the favourable view that you have been
pleased to take of my conouct is grateful to
me-but Unjust recoiiect that your cxcellen-
cy measures my military character by the scale
OF friendship; always remembered that the
government OF my country subjected itself TO
grcatrespousiblity in assigning to me the office
OF General, SO in turn, believed it to be an
incumbent duty not to shrink from any respOi-
sibilIty imposed upon me. TO this sentiment,
aided by the distinguished men with whom
nave mad the happiness To be associated, and
the undoubting confidence with which have
always viewed tho uncqualicd qualities of the
American soldier, is mymlitary fortune. what
ever It may have been, undcrGod, to be as
cribed.
Ertrcct cfa letter from, L;emenaHt Samuel L.
Brecst, on bodrdt he u. s. s. Fab ne tom dutsd
Naples, dagmst 90 ISI6, to his friend in Utica.
We arrived here from Gibraltar the 18th
Mt. hut were obliged to ride quarantine IL
days before we could communicate with the
shore. embraced the first opportunity that
otfered 10 visit the curlositieS that abound ms
about Naples. Mount Nesuvius is in full view
before us. ana ennis constantly flames and
smoke. The appearance AT night is grand in
the extreme. The objects that present them
selves of primary importance to strangers
notice, are the remains of Pcmpie and EerC1-
laneum, towns, situated ut the foot Of Mount
Ncsuvius and destroyed by its eruptions i'm the
year 10. Several streets are cleared out from
Pompic, and disclose theatres, palaces, tenn
piles, &c. with whole rows of private buildings
The marble fioorings and Mosaic work i'll the
temples and palaces are superb-the paintings
on the walls retain the briliancy of their color,
notwithstanding the lapse of ages, though much
dishgured, and mutlated by the hands of
workmcn and visitors. Under one of the Villas
Is an extensive cellar. in which are thirty or
forty large jars capable of containing three
gallons each, in the same situation as when
found, i'll which tho owner of this mansion
doubtless kepths FdlerniGn Wine. so much ex-
toiied by the Latin Poets. Little did the own
er OF thus mansion imagine, that after lapse
OF nearlylS centuries, hundreds from part of
the globe otthen supposed TO be in existence)
quite as luxurious as himssIf would travel his
tavorite villa, examine his cellar and uine Jugs
and though mourning for its untmely fate. re-
grct that some OF his good FGiernidR, had not
escaped the ravages of the storm. So quickly
eftaced are empress ous wrought OH us by scenes
of awful calamity aud desolation
The town is surrounded by a wall ont side.
ofwhich areseveral monuments and cemeteries
in one of which we saw the ruins of the iIIns'
trlous dead-remainiug as when found The
aqueduct that afforded water to its inhabitants
- still III good order, and the water, of which
drank, was excellent, pure, and good
+" In licrculanenm, but one theatre ONLY is
dug ont; as this place was DESTROYED bv the la
va, if ~ a work of Inmense labor to cut thro'
It--whereas, POmplc was DESTROYED by the
ashes and cnders emitted by the volcano. -
While in the theatre. we plainly heard the car
riages rolling over our heads
" We next visited the Tomb Of FirgH, situated
near the Grotto of porsiilipo one mile from
naples. never expected, while school boy
under the tuition %! MIR. III =, at W
10 trace the ground he made the scene of his
story, and enter the tomb where once rcposed
the mortal remains of the Prince Of Latin Pc.
cts.
"The grottos of Porsilpo and DeIano are
remarkable /; the first from its extent. three
fourths of mile, and being cmt entirely through
the morntdin, the latter. for the noxi0us vapor
eXhaiet from. its bottom. fatal to every thing
brought into it, We saw the experiment tried
on dog, which, after remaining fe ~ moments
IN the cave, became totally inanimate torch
placed within foot of the ground, is immedi-
ateIy extinguiscd.
" The castle s. Elmo is an antique & strong
work, commanding the town. The Cartlusiau
moDastry near it, the CatacOmbs &. the Sti,dij
are worth attention, and rank among the curi-
oSities of Naples. The Library of the Stndi
contains, 1t issaid, 300, 900 volumes. The pic.
t"fe gallery contains some specimens of the
best artists, particularly by Raphael-but as
am no colInoiseur, will nor attempt 10 define
ate their several merits. PIA, abont twelve
miles from Naples, visited in company with
other officers OF the ship. II is situated on a
bay OF thesane name. formed ty the prnmonfo-
Ties of PorsillipO and Miseuium II is cele.
brated for having been the retreat of Roman
Emperors and Stgtesmen, who, divestne them
selves OF the burden of public ddfieS, retired
hther, to cnj0y amid its luxnries " ofia,a cnp,
G!gmtdte. There are now to he seen the re-
mains of several temples, Neros hot and cold
hathS, his prison, remarkable reservoir for the
use OF tic Roman fleets, fomb of ligerippina. &c.
Wa had from the pfOnOufory of Missenum. a
bne and near view of the river SiHr and the
Eigsidn Fields. but no Charon answered to sur
repeated calls, and in vain we looked fer his
crd-y bout.
" Ut was en- ibis prOBOniorv TsHeqs is said by
Virgil to have first landed in Ttalv in search of
the promised JA.tiNm. / visited The LIKE 1rer-
ms, su posed to be The entrance, and through
which Fnfas is said to have descended into the
JWunGl RegisHs. Near this is the yrotio of
the SrJ{i, whose residence was at CH,ur "A
town situated once about four miles from il.
and then OF great size and Opulence but now to-
falls extinct here She delivered her or1cles.
aud here lEHeds demanded other knowie .lge
OF bs destiny, and by her command visited the
Nhadfs. entered tho ~fotfO, and was carried
on the back of NV guide ten 0r fifteen rods in
10 herprivaie bathing apartments. Tie nor =
foot deep ia water. and very dark and rionn,v
About mile from this is The I,ucerjce Ls,le
from Which the luxurious Romans procured
their fdmOus cgsiCrg.
At PNsc9H, on the opposite side If the l,av.
are remains OF bridee erected by Galigaiq.
connecting Biz and paz,oG-iea piers reg,gja
entire. At PGzl0li. are the remains of an ampi-
theatre. and several temples, particularly one
10 Juyifcr Sgrnpis.
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