Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-09
From the London Athen@um.
THE CATAC0MBS OF ROME.

The Reuue des Deur Mondes gives an ac-
count of the researches of NJ Perret in the
Catacombs of Rome, which will interest our
readers. 1t appears that the antiquarian in
question has been engaged for six years in ex-
ploring the catacombs, and in copying the re-
mains of ancient art hidden for ages in those
extraordinary chambers. Burying himself for
five years in this subterranean city, he has ex-
amined every part of it, in spite of difficulties
and perils of the gravest character: the refu-
sal of his guides to accompany him, the intri-
cacy of the passages, the necessity for clearing
way through galleries choked up with earth
which fell in from above almost as fast as it
was removed-the difficulty of damming up
streams of water which ran in from above, the
foulness of the air, and consequent difficulty of
breathing and preserving light in the lower
chambers.
During his long sojourn in the neither re-
gions, M. Perret succeeded in exploring the
whole of the sixty chambers and their connect.
ing galleries; and he has now returned to
France with collection of drawings which
extends to $50 sheets in large folio. Of these,
154 sheets contain representations of frescoes
65 of monuments; % of paintings on glass,
(medallions inserted in the walls and at the
bottom of vases,) containing Sc subjects al
drawings OF lamps, vases, rings and instru-
ments of martyrdom, to the number of more
than 100 subjects; and. finally, 80 contain
copies of more than 500 sepulchral inscrip-
tions OF the l54 drawings of frescoes two
thirds are inedited, and q considerable number
have been only lately discovered Amongst
the latter as we learn from the Revue are the
paintings from the celebrated wells of Plato
MIA, said to have been the place of interment
for a certain period, of st. Peter and st. Paul
This spot was ornamented with frescoes by
Pope Damascus about A. d. 365, and has ever
since remained closed up. On opening the
empty tomb by permission of the Roman Gov
ernment M. Perret discovered fresco paint
ings representing the Saviour and the Apos-
ties, and two collins of Parian marble. 1t is
stated, that on the return of M. Perret to
France, the Minister of the Interior entered
into treaty with him for the acquisition of his
collection for the nation The purchase has
been arranged, and the necessary amount, up
wards of f7,500, obtained by special vote of
the National Assembly. The drawings will be
published by the French Government in style
commensurate with their Importance.
EARLY RIsING.-Happy the man who is an
early riser. Every morning day comes to him
with virgin love- full of bloom, and purity,
and freshness. The copy of nature is conta-
gious, like the gladness of happy child
doubt if any man can be called I" old, so long
rs he is an early riser and an early walker.
And o youth take my word for it--a youth
in dressing gown and slippers, dawdling over
breakfast at noon, is very dccrepd ghastly
image of that youth which sees the sun blush
over the mountains, and the dews sparkle upon
blossoming hedge-rows- Wdter Cure Library
FREE BLAcKs.-A number of respectable
citizens of Montgomery, Alabama, publish
card in the papers of that city, in which they
say that, being satisfied that the accumulation
Of the free people of color in that State is just
cause of solicitude to every lover of his country,
and that their removal to Liberia will be alike
beneficial to the whites, to them and their
children, as we'll rs to Africa, they recommend
q meeting to consult on the expediency and
practicability Of establishing a State Colonial
tion Society, for the purpose of aiding free per-
sons of color to remove from that State 10 Lii
beria N@ -"a@a ' #.'..