Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-12-12

Irlpergoias which ruins pfotrude themselves frol
the face Of the high ground all along the roadside
and you may trace in the broken banks Of earth til
pavements of Streets the division Of their house.
and even the frescoes that ernbellishea the wall.
Following this road, half an hour brought Us to tn
baths of Nero, the entrance to which is by an open
ing in the face Of the rock, some twelve or fitee
feet above the road. and from this opening cloud
of vapour might be seen rolling from within. w
assembled by footpath which led from the road
and no sooner had we entered, than the man q
cave." stripping himself Of his clothes. with tn
exception Of pair Of thin trowsers, took lighte
torch. couple Of eggs and : wooden pail, and dis
appeared through narrow passage, into which w
followed. I however had not proceeded more thai
two rods, when, oyerpoweredb BY the heat, and sui
located by the vapour, begged tobe allowed tore
turn, and made my way oat; and it was not lons
before my companions were obliged to do likewise
In about three minutes, we heard the man return,
ing alta pretty quick pace, gasping and moaning
and presently he rushed into the cave, his torch in
one hand and the pail filed with steaming water
and the eggs in the other these he quickly disposed
Of, then sat down and began wiping off the vapoul
and perspiration which was pouring off him in
streams, but happily as our cicerone told US, he
soon recovered his Sang froid," and claimed his
usual bonus. The water in the pail was so hot
that we could not bear our fingers in it an instant
and the eggs were sufficiently cooked to eat. Leav-
ing the cave we went a few rods ON the opposite
tide of the road to the shore washed by the waves
of the Mediterranean, and at the waters edge, dug
away the sand to the depth Of the hand; the
sands were so hot that we could not hold them ,and
that the waves dashed upon our feet After visit,
ing the Piscena, a huge subterranean reservoir
which furnished water or kept fish for the feet sta.
toned at Misena, the principal Roman station in
the Mediterranean, we looked into the hundred
chambers supposed to have been the prison of Ne
ro-then visited another grot Of the Camean Sybil.
From these we drove to the temple ofApollo, situ-
ated on the heights Of the ancient Guinea, from
whence we had fine view Of the seas, the bays,
and towns along the Mediterranean shores, besides
good idea Of the extent and grandeur Of this an
cient city, now in ruins in the earth beneath
we IO11OW TRACES VI uIlCAct
at some distance beheld the Arco Felice, the an
cient gate of the city, still in perfect preservation.
Every thing around betokened volcanic region the
height on which we stood, the buried ruins be-
meath our feet, the many conical shaped hills and
crater like decivities the suhterranean heat we had
ing forth fire and smoke at this very time were all
each tangible and ocular demonstration Of the dam
eerous ground on which we stood.
OF all the places which we have yet visited,
there is none where have been so deeply interes-
ted and where the interest has been 90 constant so
true and lastinga at Naples. have looked with
delight upon the varied beauties Of its landscape,
and dwelt with awe and admiration upon the natu-
ralwonders with which it 10 invested, and with
which its very site and foundations are teeming,
arising from, and peculiar to the volcanic nature Of
the country. Among the objects most interesting
more DESTROYS to see this, from having 90 often
heard it spoken Of, from having frequently read Of
it, and also from having heard professor Lyell in
troduce and describe it in his lecture upon volca-
noes and earthquakes AL the why's and where
fores and Effects pros and cons. to its sub
mergence and upheaval, have been so frequently
discussed by those able and competent to the task,
will give you only matter Of fact description
which may convey to you some idea Of its present
appearance. 1t has, like very many other things
here been enclosed, to ensure lie better preserva-
ton and fee. You descend few steps from the
road or street, and entering through the gate Of
board enclosure, spread out before you is an i'm.
mense platform of white marble; the pavement
Of this magnificent temple, magnificent in is ruin,
how splendid may it not have been in its Perfec-
lion and this pavement, though covered now with
two feet of water, still retains the singular purity
and whiteness of its original colour. Raised foot
paths, or narrow bridges Of mason work, have been
constructed in various directionsOser this platform
to enable visitors to and examine its every part
remains. Of four flights Of marble steps descend
from its raised centre, and near one Of these are
still remaining the rings to which the animals
about 10 be sacrificed were fastened a. are also the
receptacles their blood and ashes Three only Of
its tall and massive pillars of C;poIene remain
erect, though the broken and mutilafed fragments
of many lie scattered arOund-most Of them have
been taken to ornament the palaces Of the kings Of
Naples and Of Spain. In those remaining, 1t Is
curious to observe the holes bored in them by q
species Of muscle while Submerged and there ID al
90 distintly seen the waller marx showing that they
remained partly above water Tor some time, and
that effort or convuision OF nature, oid NOT e.
feet lie total submersion All these are spoken Of
by Lyell and treated according to his opinion.
though doctors do and will differ. ann net quite
sure, but think have some where read that this
was the last temple erected BY the ire worship
pers, and that from its destruction, together with
the progress christianity had made, this form Of
worship declined and the majestic orb Of day ceased
30 r. ~, oart of alteration his lesser glory being