The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-15
Herculaneunl.
A correspondent writes to the Lond'

A correspondent writes to the London
Atheneum as follows:-
NAPLES, Feb. 10, 1861 have most inte-
resting intelligence to communicate. On Mon
day last the King paid an unexpected visit to
Herculaneum, and made arrangements for the
immediate commencement, or recommenoe-
ment, of the excavations of that rich treasury
of antique art. His Majesty was aooomps-
MED by his Ministers, and by the Commenda-
tore Fiorelli, who has so long and 30 ably
directed the excavations of Southern Italy,
and who is now reorganizing the museum in
such way as to render it one of the most
precious ornaments of Italy. OF course the
subterranean theatre was brilliantly lit;
but the attention of the King was
desideratum, the disinterment Of treasures of
incalculable value. You will remember that
several years since / announced that all diff
culties had been surmounted, and that only
the completion of the formalities by the ap-
preparation of some garden was need to COM
mence operations; but year after year has
passed away, and Herculaneum has fallen inte
oblivion. The story, believe, is as follows
The garden belonged to priest who begged
hard for his bit of ground, saying that he
should soon die il it were taken from him.
The public service, however, was alleged as
the necessity for action; proceedings were
commenced, the ground was alienated after
the long and tedious deliberations of the tri-
bunals, and the Directory put in possession of
the land. The poor priest died soon
after. But there was no money to pay for
the excavations, and it is just this which his
Majesty has supplied out of his own purse. He
has promised to give for this purpose 5000 lire
annually for five years, "and ifanythng more
be wanting" he added to Fiorelli, "you
may apply to me-" The Director then offered
the King small spade. "What must
Il lA atr tha 10
into the ground, 30 that the excavations
may be said TO have commenced not only
under the auspices but with the hand labor
of Victor Emanuel. The facts are more espe-
cially interesting, as they show that the
warrior king, whose life has been, and still
is, one of continued political agitation, is no
less the patron Of art. 1t is forty years since
this mine of wealth was worked, or rather
since the works in it were suspended. How
great a revolution in taste the beautiful
objects found in Herculaneum produced
the world well knows-an influence
which has not yet ceased to exist.
We all anticipate fresh discoveries
eagerly, and shall probably have to record
many "eurekas" which will make your mouth
water. The ground to be worked is con-
tinuation of the present long line of street or
streets in the direction of the sea. After the
ceremony of inauguration, il 30 may be called
the plupgng Of spade into the soil by royal
hands, the Marchesa Gualterio, Master of the
Household, made short address, winding up
by reading the decree which appears in to-
days papers. The Bourbons declared the
Museum and all that was found in the exca-
vations to be the private property of the
Crown, by royal decree. Victor Emanuel,
on the contrary, commences his decree in the
following :-"Considering that it is our
duty to give the example Of pstronizing all
great national designs, and to guard the de-
corum of whatever forms the secular patri-
mopy of the glory of Italy, we have decreed
and do Decree" etc. The contrast between
the two DEGREES marks the difference be tween
an absolute and eonstit utional sovereign.