Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1852-07-01
POMPEII.

ta .f89 - = ---r- ------- "a %as ss#
'eE POMPEII. g2a a@f
la The public have had no recent des-
cription of Pompeii. The following let
ter from Mr.. Weed. editor Of the Al6any
Euening Journal. who Is now travelling
in Italy, shows the progress which has
been made IN theexesvation, and will be
found exceedingly interesting
bsasas azla sNAPLEs, Feb 30, 1852.
The day chosen Tor our visit to the
long buried city Of Ponpeii proved
suspicious. We had the benefit ola
bright sun and baluny Atmospheric.
ITO US it was day Of deep absorbing in
terest. We fingered for six hours about
the solitary edi6ces and silent streets,
which two thousand years ago teemed
with adense population.
It is twelve miles from Naples 10
Pompeii. The road runs along the bay
shore at the foot Of Vesnsips for ten
miles, and then turns to the southeast
through valley and nearthe SArno river
(which is supposed to have been It. an
| cient boundary, though there 10 now o
valley mile in extent between the city
and the liver. In gsing 70 Pompeii yea
pass through Portici and Teini del Gree,
towns that have besn built upon lava
foundations, and snre 70 be destroyed
when Vesuyius discharged ilaelf IN this
direction; and yet, the inhabitaptsa live
on o. little coneernsd % We ore eth
the idea that The world 10 d some eu~
ture period b. be destroyed by Are-aa
idea. by the way. which fnds strong
ccrroboratiye evidence in the fact that
internal 6tes are rending mountains md
upheaving seas throughoue Q region Of
one hundred miles in extent. Da
The ancient city Of Pompsii u plainly
| indicated by'a ridge or mound extending
from the base Of vosuvins to tits exoaya.
ted amphitheatre, which y sisuated at
lie eastern extremity. Not mach e
any more than one>third OF the city has
been sxcavated and most Of this was
done by tho French. though the work has
been progressing moderately under The
NeapOlitan governments The task IL
hsrcMlean. for the city lies buried under
volcanic earth from ten 10 tWenty feet
deep, as the roofs Of the buildings we're
all crushed. the apartments we're Of
course filed with solid earth.
There are about City lahourers enga-
ged now in excavations. We were allow-
ed TO use the pick, but not TO take away
any OF the spoils, though like other yisi-
tors. we did obtain a fsw specimens,
among which were fragments Of ssucco
Etruscan ware. Whenever a soveraign
visits Naples, the event is signalized BY
developing, in his p, essence, the contents
Of house. and these are given by The
king to his royal guest. Everything
found at PompeI, has been carefully
preserved here in the museum, to which,
as well as to Pompeii, strangers have
free admission. .....s.....a .s.sg.. ..a
The excavation displays streets. insti.
tutions, dwellings. shops, DC. &c., in
a moro perfect condition than had sup.
posed. These are all satisfactorily
identified. There Is neither doubt nor
obscurity as 10 the Pantheon, the Tri,
bunal the Temples lof. Iris, Raochus,
Jupiter, Hercules the theatres, the
baths, the houses Of Diumede. Panaa,
&C., &c. Not only the walls Of these
| buildingt. but their different compart-
menLs, with, IN some instances. elaborate
irescoe paintings, are seen. Entire
sreets lay. been excayased and ye-
numbered. Wine and oil stores were
Unidentified by jars and other vessels in
which these liquids were kept, and
W hch are still in use here. In q large
bake house, the oyeas Of which are
perfect. bread. With the name Of the
baker stamped on each Loaf. was found.
In Diomede's wine vault, the wine Jars
are still standing, close 70 which several
skelel ons were found. one Of which vas
supposed to be either the wife or daugh-
tier. from tie rich necklace. bracelet and
ear rings that adorned the person OF the
sufferer. Near the gate Of the city
leading to IIerculaneum, The skeleton OF
q soldier, who persisted on dutys With
his armour on. and his arms BY his side.
was fund, The scntry-h0xe In which
this soldier was found WA pesfecssI
The amphitheatre YES q uobls struo.
ture. The seasssweEsof marble. Near
the arena are dens oF,eells inwhich The
wild beasts with which the gladiasora
contended, were Gagged. in one ofthesa
| the skeleton Of lioa was found. In
this Amphltheatrs is Is said that 10000
spectators could be seated. go.
The s.ree.s were paved wah laEga
alonas Of irregular siss and ahapas D.
with . Cat surface 10 uhiah M1EN ASa