The Nevada journal., 1852-07-31
MISCELLANY.
A VISIT TO poMPElI.

letter of Mr.. Weed, editor Of the Al
bany Journal, who is now travelling
in Italy, shows the progress that has
been made in excavations, and will be
found exceedingly interesting
The day chosen for o,n, visit to the
long buried city Of Pompeii proved
auspicious. We had the benefit Of a
bright sun and a balmy atmosphere.
To us it was a day of deep, absorbing
interest. We fingered for six hours
about the now solitary ediiices and ST.
lent streets, which two thousand years
ego toemed with a dense population.
1t is twelve miles from Naples to
Pompeii. The road runs along the
bay shore at the foot Of Vcsuyius for
ten miles, and then turns to tho south
east through valley, and near the ri
ver Sarno, which is supposed to have
been its ancient boundary, although
there is now fertile valley, mile in
extent between the city and the river
In going to Pompeii you pass through
sPorticos and Terni del Greco, towns
that have been built upon lava found
ations, and are sure to be destroyed
when Vcsuvius discharges itself in this
direction land yet the inhabitantslive
on as little concerned rs we are with
the idea that the world is, at some fu-
turc period, to be destroyed by fire
an idea, by the way, which finds
strong corroboratiye evidence in the
fact that internal fires are rending
,Inountains,and upheaving seas through
a region Of one hundred miles in cx-
tent. s ta u, aeae8 4; ,slq
~ The ancient city of Pompeii is
plainly indicated,b by a ridge or mound,
extending from the base of Vcsuvius
10 its excavated amphitheatre, which
is situated at its easterna extremity
Not much, il any more than one third
of the city has been cxcavated; and
most of this has been done by the
French, though the work has been
progressing moderately under the Me-
sapolitan government. The task is
hcrculean, for the city Hes buried un-
der VOLCANIC earth from ten TO twenty
feet deep, and as the roofs of the build
ings were all crushed, the apartments
were Of course filed with solid earth.
There are about fifty laborers en-
gagged now in, excavations. We were
allowed to use the pick, but not to take
away any Of the spoils, though, like
other visitors we did obtain afew spe-
cimens, among which were fragments
of stucco and etruscan ware. IVhen-
ever sovereign visits Naples, the
event is signalized by developing in
his presence the contents of house,
and these are given by the king to his
royal guest. Everything valuable
found at Pompeii has been carefully
preserved here in the museum, to the
which, as well as to Pompeii,strang
have free admission. sa ii W sst9a
a The excavations display streets, in
situations, dwellings,, shops, etc. in a
much more perfect condition than l
had supposed. These are all satifac-
torily identified. There. is neither
doubt nor obscurity as 10 the Panthe-
on, the Tribunal, the Temple of Isis,
Bacchus, Jupiter, Hercules: the thea
tres, the baths. the houses of Diomode,
Pansa, etc. Not only the walls of
these buildings, but their different
compartments, with in some instances,
elaborate paintings are seen. Entire
streets have been cxcavated and re-
numbered. Oil and wine stores were
identified by the jars and other vessels
in which these liquids were kept, and
which are still in use here. Ina large
bake-house, the ovens Of which are
perfect, bread, with the name of the
baker stamped on each loaf, was found.
In Diomede'sl wine vault, the wine
jars are still standing against the wall,
close to which several skeletons were
found, one Of which was supposed to
be either the wife or daughter, from
the rich necklace, bracelet and ear
rings that adorned the person of the
sufferer. Near the gate of the City
leading TO Herculaneum, the skeleton
: ola soldier. who perished on duty, with
his. armour on and his arms by his
side, was found. The sentry-box in
(which this scldier was found is perfect.
The amphitheatre was noble struc-
turc. Theseats were Of marble. Near
the arena are dens or cells in which
wild beasts, with which the gladiators
contended were Gagged. In one Of these
the skeleton of lion was found In
this amphithcatre it is said that 10000
spectators could be seated. g.r, w.
= The streets were paved with largo
stones Of irregular size and shape, but