Litchfield enquirer., 1848-08-31
Description of POrnpcii.


 bered, and very considerable part of this Grecian city is anveiltd. We entered by | the Appan way, through narrow street 1 of marble tombS. beautifully executed, with | the names of the deceased plain and leg be. We looked into the columbary below that of Marius Arius Diomedes, and per> ceived jars containing the ashes of the dead, with a small lamp at the side of each. Arriving at the gate, we perceived sentry found, with lamp in his hand proceed ing up the street beyond the gate, we went called a coffee>houSe, the marks of the cups being visible on the stone; we came likes wise to a tavern, and found the sign (noi very decent one) near the entrance. The streets are llned with public buildings and private houses, most of which have their original painted decorat lions. fresh and en- tire. The pavemenls of the street is much worn by carriage wheels, and holes are cut through the side stones, for the purpose of fastening animals ia the market Place-and Fin certain situations are placed stepping stones, which give us rather an unfavora> | ble idea of the state of the streets We passe. two heantful little temples; went | nto surgeons house in the operation : room of which chirugical instruments were found; entered an iron monger's shop [ where hammer and anvil were discover ed scnlptor's and bakers shop. in the latter of which may be seen an oven and grinding mills, like old Scotch queens. We 1 examined, likewise, an oilman's shop. and a wine shop lately opened, where money was found small pulpit, with steps up to 1 1t, in the middle of the department; great theatre, temple of justice; an amphi- theatre. about two hundred and twenty feet in length, various temples, barrack for soldiers, the columns of which are scrubbed l with their names and jeSts wells, cislernss seats, triclinums, beautiful Mosaic al- tars, inscriptions, fragments of statues, and many oher curious remains of antiqui- ty. Among tho most remarkable objects, was an ancient wall, with part of still more ancient ffieze, built in it as con- mon stone and stream, which has fow- I ed under this once snn,esranean ciiy lnne before its burial, pipes of4terra cOtta, to convey water to the different streets, stocks for prisoners, in one of which a skeleton was found. All these things incline one to almost look for the inhabitants, and won- der al the desolate silence of the place.
 The houses, in general, are very low, and the rooms are smali-I should think mol above ten feet h gh. Every house is pro- vided with well and a cistern. Every thing seems to be in proportion. The principal streets do not appear 10 exceed sixteen feet in width, with side pavemen,s of about three feet. Some of the subordi- nate streets are from six to ten feet wide with side pavements in proportion :; these are occasionally high. and are reached by steps. The columns of the barracks arc
 about l5 feet in height, they are made Q tufia, with stucco-one thir1. of the shaf is smoothly plas,ered, lhe rest futed to tn capital. The walls of the houses are of
 ten painted red, and some of them hav
 borders and antique orna naments, masks. ant
 in general, poorly executed. have ob , served on the walls of an eating room, va rious kinds of food and game, ublerabl. represented. One woman's apartment wal ornamented with subjects relating 10 lrve
 and mans with pictures of martia character Considering that the whole ha been under ground upwards of seventeen centuries. it is certainly surprising thn
 they should he as fresh as al the period o their burial. The whole extent of the city not one half of which is excavated, may b. about four miles.-[From Williams Tray els in Italy, Greece, &c'