Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-01
Ponpeil.

visit to Pompeii :
There are about fifty laboegs engaged now
in excavations. We were allowed to use the
pick, but hot to take away any of the spoils,
though, like other visitors, nf ID lhtain few
specimens, among4which w agments Of stuc-
co and Etruscan ware. WheneVer a sovereignvis-
Its Naples the event is signaIized by developing,
in his presence, the contents Of house, and
these are given by the King to hi5royal guest
Every thing valuable found at Pompei has been
carefully preserved here in the Museum, to
which, as well as to Pompeii, strangers have free
admission.
The excavations display streets, institutions,
dwellings, shops, ETC., in mucl more perfect
condition than had supposed. These are all
satisfactorily identified. There IS neither doubt
nor obscurity as to the Pantheon the Tribunal
the temples Of Iris, Bacchus, Jupiter, Hercules ;
the Theatres, the Baths, the houses Of Diomede
Panza, etc. Not only the walls of these bull .
dngs, but their different compartments, with, in
some instances, elaborate Fresco paintings, are
seen. Entire streets have been excavated and
renumbered. Wine and oil stores were identi-
fed. by the jars ard other vessels in which these
liquids were kept, and which are still in use
here. In large bake house, the ovens of which
are perfect. bread, with the name Of the baker
stamped on each loaf, was found. In Diomede' g
wine vault, the wine jars are still standing
against the wall, close to which several skele.
tons were found, one of which is supposed to be
either the wife or daughter, from the rich neck
lace, bracelet, and ear r-rings that adorned the
person of the sufferer. Near the gate of the
city leading to Herculaneum the skeleton of
soldier who perished on duty, with his armor on
and his arms by his side, was found The sem
try-box in which this soldier was found is perfect
The amphitheatre was noble structure. The
seats were of marble. Near the arena are cells
in which the wild beasts with which the glad
iators consndcd, were Gagged. In one of these
the skeleton of lion was found In this am
phitheare, it is said that 10000 spectators could
be seeAed.
The streets ,vere ravnd nth larra stonaa of
irregular shape and size, but WithE Eat surtAce,
in which were cavities evidently caused by the
wheels of the vehicles. The side walks are
raised like ours, and handsomely paved with
pebbles. and around Temples, etc, with Mosaic
In front of the House of the Vestas there is a
fine Mosaic pavement with the word " saIve 5"
fwelcome) on the sill of its entrance. In one of
the largest and most elegant houses were mar.
BILE dining tables.
The King keeps intelligent guides at Pompcii
for the twofod purpose of showing visitors
through The city and protecting its treasures.
We were fortunate, in addition TO the informa.
ton given by the guide, in having Mr. Morris,
our representative to this government, who knows
Pompeli as he knows his OWL city OF Phladel-
phia, with us. Having wandered for hours,
which took us about two thirds through the city
we sat down upon the broken wall oil the TIT
bunal, in view of the Pantheon, the Theatre, ec.
to our lunch, mostcning our bread with Faler-
main wine, distilled from vineyards growing over
city whose inhabitants, eighteen centuries ago.
held this beverage as fit for their gods. Having
discussed our viands, we resumed aud completed
our pilgrimage, passing out Of the city at gate
which opened upon an Appian Way that led to
Rome, on either side of which for some distance,
were Tombs. | wish 1t were possible to inpart
to friends even faint idea of the soIemnity AM d
impressiveness of Pompeii, Though walking
literally among the Tombs, all the aspects Of
Pompeii are cheerful. The streets are clean
and all around you is a stiffness in harmony with
the scene and its associatons.-Y look up or
smoking Vesuvius, down which the burning lava
ran, making for itself channels which hstill remain
Having thus explored Pompei, we repaired to
the Museum where its recovered treasures arc
: deposited and here again, mingled amazemen
and admiration, with inGeSsea intensity, arc
awakened These treasures belonging in part
to .Ierculaneum) fill eight spacious halls each
devoted to classified articles. The room we Wis
tied first contains kitchen furniture of every de
scripton mostly in bronze, and bearing strong
TCBcIlUluICG u dILlClGS lUW III uSC' III WIS ut
! partment of domestic life the Pompeiians were
not behind those of our day. An adjoining
room is devoted to Etruscan vases OF beautiful
: form.-In this room are several magnificent Mo
F., sacs. Then comes a room devoted to glass il
: various colors, and for nearly all the purpose;
for which it is row used. And yet, while this
knowledge belonged to the buried inhabitants o
, Pompeii nearly 1000 years ago, its uses ant
existence was comparatively unknown in Eng
land thousand years afterwards Anothe
:, room is devoted to sacrihcial vases and othe
r appendages of beathen worship, among whicI
are vessels for incense, idols, deites, &c. The
! comes a room devoted to weights, measures
: scales, lamps, candelbras, etc., among which arr
!, steeyards with the name Of Augustus inscrbc,
= under figures of Romuus and Remus. Th
II articles show higher state OF civilization in thi
J. respect than existed in England during the reigi
b of Elizabeth and proves that the ages whcI
S succeeded we're indeed dark ones, Two room
d are devoted TO miscellaneous articles, includin!
. iron stocks found in front of prison, agricul
e tural Implements, vases, essence bottles found il
), bath-houses a helmet with bas relief represen
e ting the conaagration of Troy bells of variou
s descriptions, and those for cattle precisely suc
e as are used now with Aat-irons similar to ou
n own letter for stamping bread, 80 like our Typ