The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-06-08
the flowers she so much resembled--her
name is left in our hearts Yale Magazine.
THINGS IN ROME.

MI Dhoohc, III ONO oi his lcttcrs udteu
at ROVE in October last, gives the follow
ing interesting description -
81 crossed the Forum went through
the ruins of the Basilica of Constantine.
found myself soon in another stranger
position, where life was mingled with
desolation, where man seemed to have
made discovery, and to exult in his-suc.
cess. Huge masses Of broken granite
columns stood up in regular order. The
earth had been cleared out for a wide
space, and the area cleared had been
fenced in. A Doric column, adorned all
over with bassi riliepi, was placed at the
further end. There was no mistaking
this, for it must be the historic column of
Tralan. Trophies, eagles, wreaths, all
proclaimed it, but why was st. Peter
standing in the top Of Trajan's column,
the Apostle OF Peace, surmounting the
sculptured wreath, proclaiming Roman
Emperor's triumph over the fallen Da.
Clans"
{" The Tiber, the far famed Tiber,
which Roman poetry has adorned with so
many charms, was one the next objects
ofmy visit but the golden Tiber found
to be like the Po, yellow muddy stream,
which in America would be classed a.
mong the streams of the eighth or tenth
class. The Androscoggin in Maine, is a
larger river. Cape Fear River in North.
Carolina rolls volume of water far
larger, and only mention this in compari-
son, because it is the only one Of the pro-
minent southern rivers that at this mo-
ment strikes my attention. But upon the
little Tiber, as is London on the Thames,
was situated that mighty city which once
ruled not only the land, but the waves.
The Tiber exhibits at present nothing
very remarkable upon it, but Its ruins.-
There is no commerce there, or signs Of
CONNER ce,-and the only gdlleys Of the
present day are little i'll built boats, that
never trust their heads far beyond Ostia,
the ancient port. The bridges, however.
or the relics of bridges, have history of
intense interest, as well as the stream that
has borne upon it so many vast events
The Bridge of ST. Angelo, adorned with
statues, angels and saints, is the most beau
tiful of the bridges of the present day;
but the wandercr never thinks of them
when he is passing it, while he sees be-
fore him the mighty mausoleum of Ha-
dran, and at his side the Triumphal
Bridge on which the Roman heroes pass
ed triumphant 10 the Capitol. The little
relics of the Sublician Bridge, peepIng at
times above the surface ofthe Tiber when
the water is lower, recall to ones memory
the famous flight of Horatius Coolies, when
with his single arm he beat back Porsen-
mas troops, and thus preserved the capt.
tol and though even little or nothing IS
left of the Ancient Aemilian Bridge, yet
when one sees where it was, the Pointe
MoUc the present day, he understands
the history ofthe arrest of Cataline's con-
spirators under the Consulate of Cicero,
as well as the story of the battle OF the
Christian Constantine with the tyrant
Maximius. OF the eight ancient bridges
of the Romans, there now exists only
two, and some ruins Of two others.
One of the many huge masses of stone
that attract the attention of a stranger in
Rome, is the vast mole of the Emperor
Adrian, who in laying thus broadly the
basis of his tomb, and piling thus high
upon such foundations maUsoleum,
grandeur than modern palaces, little
dreamed what citadel he wa makings
for others to fight in and from, and how
contemplate his own proud ashes would
be in it. The tomb of The Roman ruler
for three centuries, has been the Citadel
of Rome. Rome has been defended there.
The Popes have made it their castle, and
Rome was theirs when Hadrian belonged
to them. The crusaders have assaulted
it in vain. Frederick Barbarossa battled
against it. The Gothick Theodore made
his prison there. The triumphant rage !
of the whole city has been spent upon it,
in vain attempt to dislodge their tyrants;
but the indssoluble structure has with.
stood force and tame, and is standing yet
as massive fabric that bids fair for an
existence in centuries to come, though
nothing is left of the builder, not even his
bones or his dust--nothing of his relics
even, but the walls of his mole, and his
marble bust. So firm has been this mole
as a castle of defence and assault, that it
has been remarked, that by lamentable
coincidence,t the tomb of one Of the Roman
despots has helped to perpetuate the SUBJ
lection ofthe Roman people.
Far different, however from this has
been the destiny of the mausoleum of
Augustus on the north side Of what was
once the Campus Martius. The classi.
cal reader may perhaps have in his me-
mory some one of the descriptions which
the Roman writers have given of this
proud mausoleum once holding the ashes
of the masters of mankind, and built to
brave eternity. If so, he will recollect
that it was incrusted with marble. and
was raised 10 n preat heipht. so as to