The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-01

I Toyage continued-Elb -Vesuvius-entrance
Of the Bay Of Naples-Appearanc Of tie
city-Pu5Ac Gardens ezzaroni-- GARRISON
I to Ponpeii- Of the city-incidents at
f its suerttroao-H House of Diomedes-Neso sca-
cations.
CONCLUDED
After passing through the usual formahties
at the Custom House on the morning of our
arrival, and settling ourselves at our HOTEL
we engaged valet and started Immediately
for Pompeii. We went out to the neighbor-
hood of the place by railway, and then rode
small distance by vettura to the entrance of
the city. The whole region around the city
and over that part which has not been exhum-
ed, is one vast vineyard belonging to the gov
eminent; and as Pompeii was covered, not
with lava, but with ashes, the soil is mellow
and fertile and well adapted to that purpose.
AS we approached the entrance of the city.
we W ere struck with one thing which do
not remember to have seen mentioned by any
traveller. We came to three or four of the
most beautiful weeping willows I ever saw,
SO set that their long dropping branches hung
over and about our path, affording at once a
delightful arbor, and touching monition
that we were about to enter the buried city.
They seemed like the guardians of the place,
Tending in the sadness of tender SORROW
Passing these, we socn came to the gate of the
city on entering which we found ourselves
in one of the principal streets. There we
began to see with our own eyes what has often
been SO well described, but of which descrip-
ton can give but faint impression. Pom
peii is seven miles from Vesuvius, and it was
buried from fifteen to eighteen feet above the
tops of the buildings from which may be
imagined the tremendous nature of the erup-
ton by which it was overwhelmed. AS I
walked through tho desolate streets and into
fhe chambers, beautiful even now, admiring
at every step the fine mosaics, frescoes and
other remains of ancient art I was all the
while, as it were involuntarily, trying to pic
ture to myself the horrors of that dreadful
day when God made Pompeii and Hercula-
neum even as Sodom and Gomorrah. The
sentinel was found sitting at his post oy the
ments of the Roman soldier striking illustra-
ton of the saying of the Psalmist. that except
the Lord keep the city, the Waterman waketh
but in vain. There were the master with his
servant, and wearing the rings of Roman
knight; the matron dressed in rich attire and
adorned with jewels, having her female SER
wants gathered around her the mother with
her infant in her arms and leading by her
hand her little one the priest employed in
sacrifice, the lovers of pleasure at their sports.
and the man of business at his counter ;-and
together they were entombed at once, to sleep
undisturbed for almost eighteen hundred
years, and then to be exhibited melancholy
spectacle to the living world. 1t is place for
reflection as well as observation; and no one
unless greatly wanting in sensibility can fail
to be deeply affected by what he sees, and
what is necessarily suggested.
1t would occupy too much time and space,
to go into particular description of the
various objects which we found to interest
us and this is the less necessary, because
the place has been described so often. The
street already mentioned into which we came
on passing through the gate, is now ascertain
ed not to have been, as was first supposed, the
main street of the city. 1t is perhaps a third
of mile in length, having for some distance.
side of the way, with the tomb of the family
directly opposite on the other. Among these
houses, the most remarkable is that of Dome
DIES, near the gate. The walls of this are
nearly all standing so as to exhibit the several