The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-06-29
BkOOKS' LETTERS.

following interesting extracts -
The Fountains of Rome are among
the most signiGccnt in the world, and cer-
tainly by far the most magnificent ! have
seen. Though the barbarians oyerihrew
the aerial aqueducts of the Romans, yet
water does not cease to flow from the
mountains, and even now it is conducted
into the streets and piazzas of homc,
with a manner and a pOmp suited to the
dignity Of the Eternal City. The FOn-
TAM di Iermini has q statue of Moses, OH
each side Of which is basso rilcyo--
the one representing Aaron conducting
the lsracltes to quench their thirs the
other, Gideon encouraging them to pass
the river Jordan, ,and directing his soldiers
to lead the way. In the Piazzo NaUona
are two fountains, one of which is orna-
mented with a Triton and other sculp-
ture and out Of the other rises upon
rock, the statue of a sea horse on one
side, and on the other, of a lion, the four
sides Of which rock that an obelisk sur
mounts, being embelished with four CO.
lossal statues, representing four of the
the Nile, with its head covered, to signify
that its source was unknown,) the Plata,
and the Danube. This Place Navona is
sometimes permitted to be overhowed by
these fountains, and in the basin that it
makes, representations of sea fights are
given. The Fountain of Trevi is one of
the grandest in Rome. Among the inches
in the columns over this flowing river, is
a Neptune carved upon coach, drawn
by horses of the sea that Tritons conduct.
Intwo otherniches arc allegorical figures,
the one representing Salubrity, and the
other, Health. Above these statues are
has reliels--one representing Agrippa
conducting the water TO Rome. and the
o,ber, young girl. pointing out the
source ofthis wafer TO the soldiers. The
cornice supports four other statues also
allcgo-ical--onc the Goddess of Powers,
another the Fertility of the Fields, another
the Autumn or Fruitfulness, and the last
the charm of the parairles enamelled with
flowers, or tho Spring. The coach Of
Neptune throws out great quantity of
water, and it comes spoutlng and tum-
bling over the rocks and though the ef.
feet is grand, vet the crossway where
the fountain is, is not large enough for
such magniGccncc Of work. Beautiful
idea however, this is, particularly in
climate like that of Rome, Of thus bring
Eg refreshing cataracts into the very
streets, and to the very doors ofthc people
and among the many things here that we
ought to copy as age comes upon us
| this is not the least.
have not spoken of the Pantheon yet,
| but have not forgotten lt--lor one of
the first objects sought out was this, the
Oldest building ia the world, the glorious
relic of sixteen centurles-,he pride of
old Rome, aud the ornament of the new.
A market place is now around its noble
portico, and upon the fountain opposite,
many young Roman urchiu was trailing
down his mouth the long strings of his
maccaroni. Dirt, filth. every thing un-
attractive, was all momd; and it was
the very last place in which stranger
would expect to find the temple of all the
! gods, The preservation ofthis building.
and the general destruction of old Roman
cditices is wonderful /; and to what mira.
culous chance we are indebted Cor it, no
man can tell. One of the old Popcs, we
know, (Eugenius w. cleared away
ruins all around the Pantheon, and the
piazza, in which it stands, was choked
up with them.
But the Pantheon does not stand as il
did, high and elevated in an open square.
whore all of lis beauties might be bcheld
and approached, for the accumulation of
earth has buried five of its steps, and a
part fits foundations, and dry buildings
are crowded. around all but It's Portico.
The marbles which once mcrusted il,
are chiefly gone, and only the ugly bricks
are left to ornament les exterior. The
Popcs have plundercd it of its bronze,
aud Gcnseric. king of the Nandals los, its
: costly doors in the Sicillan sca.--A for.
tress It had become at last. and then a
church, the Church of the MARTYRS. and
: the tweutyeight carloads of relics of
Christian saiuts there deposited, conse.
Grated 1t to the Christian God, aud saved
il from Christian pillage, aud the malicious
demon, who, 1t is said. long attacked with
blows the worshippers that would invade
the Pantheon of the Pagan gods. The
PorIlco and the frieze are, however in a
, good state of preservation. The stately
vestibule supported by sixteen maguf.
cent Corinlhian columns of red oriental
granite, with their bases aud capitals oI
+. white marble. antique in point of beauty
and the entabiature and pcdimcnt of the
Portico. in the tympm of which arc hole:
F, that once served for bassi rilievi, eaci
. and all. yet stand as a monument of Ro.
n man art even in its lustrous days. Bu