Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-12-12
Letters from Abroad. :. No. XXI.

PuoicauOn. Although retrograding for little, an
suspencng the descriptions Of the wonders of Rome
s9ch ls the interest attached to the vicinity Of Ma
pies, that the following sssouvenrs' Of its interest
ing environs should not be omitted in the series
letters now publishing. .' 2
MY DEAR BRorHER,-I put no date at the com
mencement Of this, but viii merely premise that
am writing i on a rainy day at Rome, where W
arrived the last day Of the year 43. The weathe
precludes all sight seeing and for my part am in
state particularly eligible for day of quiet enjoy
ment within, after fifteen days of constant sigh
seeing and marvel hunting Here, by the by,
think have already committed Bull, Gan Irisl
one at least,) and you will not require much cy
Iphering to make out the date Of my letter. An,
thing Of this kind need not surprise you, haling Al
| do from the heart Of the Papal dominions, and
inhating as do, the NAL area'' of the Vatican
have given in my last letter TO the children. ar
account Of my excursion to Vesuyius and some 9th.
er matters. and now instead of giving a detail Of
the sums Of the eternal city, intend writing my
g SOpSenirs Of Naples" and dedicating them 10
YOURSELF. have just mended my pen with your
last new years gift, and thus far it has gone to dis
prove the old adage on the danger of presenting
edged tools as tokens Of Friendship or affection;
the said gift has thus far accompanied me in all my
travels by sea and land, and par consequence, ne-
Their few nor far between have been my reminisn-
ces of yourself, though would not have you think
that but for the knife you would have been un-
thought Of or aforementioned. There is no need of
aids or assistants to recolectons Of friends at
home; but even Of these there is no want. In the
many beauties and wonders of Gods creation which
we enjoy, how often do sigh for your presence to
participate in that enjoyment which would be
increased and multiplied hundred fold, aided and
heightened by your knowledge and explanations;
aud when my heart is swelling with pride and de-
light on witnessing the beautiful and exquisite pro-
ductions of mans genius and talents in the various
works Of art, my rebellious feelings will not be
satisfied, that they permitted to luxurate and
revel in the delicious food that is set before them,
but my thoughts instantly revert to many dear and
valued ones, whose society and sympathy would
supply the only deficiency of the banquet; and
without any wish to underrate the natural gifts and
manifold blessings bestowed on me by kind and
bonntiful Providence, do often call to mind very
many, who, from their natural talent and powers
of mind. as well as superior requirements, would
be more benefited themselves, and from whom
would accrue greater profit to Others did they pos
sess the same opportunities Of experience and in
struction that is youchsafed to myself. Among the
aids and assistants to our pleasant memories OF
home, are sachletters as we receive from yourself;
the last we received ON the third day Of our arrival
here, {the iates seemingly against US; for when
we arrive in any of these Catholic cities where
letters awaiting US, il is sure to be on ete-
day; and our letters are fated to be detained till it
is past,) then can assure you it was perused with
feelings Of pride qualification, affection and enjoys
ment-pride and qualification in the well being and
doing Of our country, and Of which from you only
do we receive decentralization and enjoyment,
sad, but not sorrowful, called forth by your pic
lures and descriptions Of home scenes and domestic
incidents. The letter, itself memorial Of your
remembrance, evidencesby its length, your willing
ness to bestow some time and trouble for our en-
joyment had no idea Of this long preface when
commenced. So now we viii set out at once up
on our excursion to the enyirons Of Naples In one
of these, we paused at thelake Arvernus. the Tar
iarus Of Virgil, a lake formed in the mouth Of an
extinct volcano, and poisonous, that birds were
said to fall nying over it but It's now beautiful
placid sheet of water, and possess no such del
eterious qualities, as nyriads Of birds resting
upon the surface of its quiet waters Near this is
Monte Nuovo. formed in three days during the
earthquake Of 1888, which filled up part Of the
Lucrene lake driving its waters for time upon the
ste Of the temple Of Jupiter Scraps. Vending our
way along the shores of the lake, short walk
brings Us to the Sybils Grot On the opposite side
of the lake are the picturesque ruins of the temple
of Diana. Entering the archway Of the grot, we
found ourselves in long vaulted passage; should
judge. near quarter Of a mile inlength. There
are doubts as to the original use Of the passage
but the most plausible purpose seems to be, that
Of subterranean canal for the conveyance Of water
to some baths or temple in its neighborhood. AZ
ter raxersing the passages to nearits extremitywe
turned into side entrance, and descending few
PAGES. our guides plunged into water near three
feet deep, then turning their backs, desired Us to
mount; and in this novel manner, we were carried
through rooms where day light never entered, and
by the aid of torch lights viewed the different
apartments and baths, said to have been used by
the Cnmean Sybil; but to me they seemed more
like the apartments and compartments in the eata-
combs Of Malta and Syracuse. The waters which
now ms the apartments was not formerly here,
but was driven in BY the same earthquake that fill
"a ,,r. fha rirrene lalA ysas heartily clad when