founded on a practice adopted upon much and able, astonishment in the minds of posterity, as is now discussion, and after mature reflection.-The only excited on reading the account of London, left us argument attempted to be given, why the spirit of by the monk of Canterbury-[Democratic Press. the act will be eluded by a delivery on bond, is The situation thereof Amongst the noble cities that defective appraisements will be made, and of the world, honored by fame, the city of London that they will operate as so many encouragements is the one principal seat in the kingdom of England, to the introduction of future vessels, in violation whose renown is spread abroad very far; but she of the act. To this argument, I respectfully reply, transporteth her wares and commodities much farthat if defective or improper appraisements should ther, and advanceth her head so much the higher. be made, this court will be ever ready to afford Happy she is in the wholesomeness of the air, in that redress which is amply within its power; the Christian religion, her munitions also, and namely, by setting aside appraisements and appoint-strength, the nature of her situation, the honor of ing new appraisers as often as corrupution or mis her citizens, the chastity of her matrons Very conduct may have exhibited an inadequate estimate pleasant also in her sports and passtime, and reof the property. A vigilance of this kind will always plenished with honorable personages, all which I secure an ample substitute for the thing proceeded think meet proper severally to consider. agamst, which will remain within the power of the Court, to respond to the United States, for the breach of their statute, made by the lawless intrusion of vessel of a prohibited character.

a

Temperateness of the air. In this place the calmness of the air doth molify men's minds, not corrupting them with venereal lusts, but preserving them from savage and rude behaviour, and seaBut will it be equitable to order the sale of a ves-soning their inclinations with a more kind and free sel and cargo, when possibly she might have enter- temper.

ed our waters without any intention of violating, Of the Christian religion there. There is in the the navigation act? might not a sale operate as a church of St. Paul, a bishop's see; it was formerly premature penalty on an innocent person, and aa metropolitan, and it is thought, shall recover the decree of restoration remit to him the scanty pro- said dignity again, if the citizens shall return back ceeds of a hurried sale of his property?-While in into the island; except, perhaps, the archiepiscothe case of a condemnation, the bonds will afford to pal title of St. Thomas the Martyr, and his bodily the prosecution ample amends for the violation of presence, do perpetuate this honor to Canterbury, a public and beneficial law. where now his reliques are. But seeing St. Tho Lastly, this court is of opinion, that the fourth mas hath graced both these cities, namely, London section of the navigation act, recognizing as it does, with his birth, and Canterbury with his death, one the course of proceeding prescribed by the revenue place may allege more against the other, in respect laws, in terms at once broad and comprehensive, of the sight of that saint, with the accession of ho(nd inclusively too from the commencement to the liness. Now, concerning the worship of God in close of the prosecution) impliedly at least, adopts the Christian faith; there are in London and the the provisions of the 89th sec. of the collection law suburbs 13 greater conventual churches, besides in relation to the delivery on appraisement and 26 lesser parish churches: [39 churches in all.]* bond, and as nothing restrictive of any practice of Of the strength and site of the city. It hath on the judiciary, heretofore existing on the subject of the eastern part a strong palatine, very large and delivery on bonds, is discoverable in the navigation very strong: whose court and walls rise up from a act, the inference is a fair one, that no alteration of deep foundation; the mortar is tempered with the such practice was in the contemplation of congress when the act was passed.

The decree of this court, therefore, is that the sloop Pitt, her tackle, apparel and furniture, together with her cargo, be delivered to the claimants, on their securing duties payable by law, entering into bonds to respond the appraised value, &c. &c.

Fitz

blood of beasts. On the west are two castles well fenced. The wall of the city is high and great, continued with seven gates, which are made double, and on the north, distinguished with turrets by spaces. Likewise on the south, London hath been

*In 1810, which is the latest account of London
I have, upon which I can rely, the following is
given as a list of all the Christian places of worship
in London.
Churches of the established religion,
Chapels of do.

Foreign protestant churches and chapels,
Roman catholic chapels,

Meeting houses and methodist chapels of va-
rious sects, dissenting from the established
church,

109

57

19

13

136

The City of London-12th Century. The following "description of the most honorable city of London," was originally written in La tin, by William Fitz Stephen, who died in 1191. It was translated early in the 18th century, and is the oldest description of London extant. Stephen was a monk of Canterbury, and was present when archbishop Becket was murdered at the altar of the Cathedral. In the account which he pub. lished of the murder of the archbishop, he took Mr. Johnson, a builder in London, in 1780 oboccasion to introduce this very curious description tained a patent for a new stucco for the outside of of the capital of E gland. In the hope of giving buildings, the improvement was the mixing up of additional interest to the description we shall sub the materials with blood This is another illustrajom a few notes, generally with a view of contrast-tion of the truth that there is "nothing new under ing the state of London in the reign of Heary II the sun."

Quaker meetings.

Making 340 public places of worship.

with what it is in the reign of George III Colqu The walls and gates of London, except Templ houn's Police of London, is a work of considerable Bar gate, have long since been demolished. In the merit and great industry. reign of Edward IV. the whole extent of the wall

In less than six centuries, a desire to ascertain was something more than two miles. Originally the present condition, trade, police, manners, &c. there were but four gates, corresponding with the of the city of Philadelphia, will lead to much cu-great military roads, to which six others were rious research, and the result will excite as much added, as new roads were constructed.

inclosed with walls and towers, but the large river with rhetorical orations, speak handsomely to of Thames, well stored with fish, and in which the persuade, being careful to observe the precepts of tide ebbs and flows, by continuance of time, hath art, who omit no matter contingent. The boys of washed, worn away, and cast down those walls. divers schools wrangle together in versifying, or Farther above, in the west part, the king's palace canvas the principles of grammar, or dispute the is eminently seated upon the same river; an incom- rules of the præter, perfect and future tenses. Some parable building, having a wall before it and some there are that in epigrams, rhimes and verses, use bulwarks; it is two miles from the city, continued that trivial way of abuse. These do freely abuse with a suburb full of people. their fellows, suppressing their names, with a

Of the gardens planted. On the north side are fescennine railing liberty; these cast out most fields for pasture, and open meadows, very plea-abusive jests: and with Socratical witty expressant; among which the river waters do flow, and sions, they touch the vices of their fellows, or per-. the wheels of the mills are turned about with a haps of their superiors, or fall upon them with a delightful noise. Very near lieth a large forest in satirical bitterness, and with bolder reproaches which are woody groves of wild beasts; in the coverts than is fit. The hearers prepared for laughter, whereof do lurk bucks and does, wild boars and make themselves merry in the meantime. bulls. How the affairs of the city are disposed-The

Of the fields.-The arable lands are no hungry several craftsmen, the several sellers of wares and pieces of gravel ground; but like the rich fields of workmen for hire, all are distinguished every Asia, which bring plentiful corn, and fill the barns morning by themselves, in their places as well as of those that till them, with an excellent crop of trades. Besides, there is in London upon the river's the fruits of Ceres. bank a public place of cookery, among the wines

Of their Wells.--There are also about London, to be sold in the ships, and in the wine cellars. on the north of the suburbs, choice fountains of There every day we may call for any dish of meat, water, sweet, wholesome and clear, streaming roast, fried or boiled; fish, both small and great; forth among the glistening pebble stones: in this number, Holywell, Clerkenwell, and St. Clement's well, are of most note, and frequented above the rest, when scholars and the youth of the city take the air abroad in the summer evening.*

ordinary flesh for the poorer sort, and more dainty for the rich, as venison and fowl. If friends come upon a sudden, wearied with travel, to a citizen's house, and they be loth to wait for curious preparations and dressings of fresh meat, let the ser. Of the citizens' honor.-This city is honored with vant give them water to wash, and bread to stay her men, graced with her arms, and peopled with a their stomach, and in the mean time they run to multitude of inhabitants. In the fatal wars under the water side, where all things that can be desired king Stephen, there went out to muster, men fit are at hand. Whatsoever multitude of soldiers, for war, esteemed to the number of 20,000 horse- or other stangers enter into the city at any hour men armed, and 60,000 footmen. The citizens of of the day or night, or else are about to depart, London are known in all places, and respected they may turn in, bait here, and refresh themselves above all other citizens for their civil demeanor, to their content, and so avoid long fasting and not their good apparel, their table and their discourse. go away without their dinner. If any one desire to Of the chastity of their matrons.-The matrons of fit their dainty tooth, they take a goose; they need this city may be paralleled with the Sabine women.t not to long for the fowl of Africa, no, nor the rare Of their schools. In London three famous schools Godwit of Inia. This is the public cookery, and are kept at three principal churches, St. Paul's, very convenient for the state of the city, and belongs the Holy Trinity, and St. Martin's, which they to it. Hence, it is we read in Plato's Georgiac, that retain by privilege and ancient dignity; yet, for next to the physician's art is the trade of cooks. the most part, by favor of some persons, or some Of Smithfield-Without one of the gates is a teachers, who are known and famed for their certain field, plain, (or smooth) both in name and philosophy, there are other schools upon good will situation. Every Friday, except some greater and sufferance. Upon the holidays, the masters festival come in the way, there is a fine sight of with their scholars celebrate assemblies at the good horses to be sold; many come out of the city festival churches. The scholars dispute there for to buy or look on, to wit, earls, barons, knights, exercise sake; some use demonstrations, others citizens, all resorting thither. It is a pleasant sight topical and probable argument; some practice there to behold the animals well fleshed, sleek, and enthymemes, others do better use perfect syllo- shinning, delightfully walking, and their feet on gisms; some exercise themselves in dispute for either side up and down together by turns; or else Ostentation, which is practised among such as strive together for victory: others dispute for truth, which is the grace of perfection. The sophisters, which are dissemblers, turn verbalists, and are magnified when they overflow in speech and abundance of words: some also are entrapped with deceitful arguments. Sometimes certain orators,

*London is now, and has long been supplied with water, by means of leaden pipes. The new river and London Bridge water works supply the city with great regularity. There are about 170,000 houses into which the water is conveyed, at an average expense to each house, of less than two dollars a year.

trotting horses, which are more convenient for men that bear arins: these, although they set a little harder, go away readily, and lift up and set down together the contrary feet on either side. Here are also young colts of a good breed, that have not been well accustomed to the bridle; these fling about, and by mounting, bravely shew their mettle. Here are principal horses, strong and weil limbed. Here also are breast horses, perhaps race horses, fit to be joined by couples, very fair and handsome, and

*The number of taverns, eating houses, cook shops, alamode beef houses, soup shops, &c. &c. in London and its environs, is now some hundreds, besides that in every decent public house, enter†This is a very curious compliment. It was, tainment may be had. The number of public however, written many hundred years before Lon-houses are about 5000, and the quantity of liquor don became notorious for the number of its trials sold by them in a year, is calculated to be in value, for Crim. Con. 3,000,000l. sterling, equal to $14,666,666 67 cents.

leek about the ears, carrying their necks aloft, others fling down their fellows and get beyond being well fleshed and round about the buttocks. them.

In another part stand the country people with cattle,

In Easter holidays they counterfeit a sea-fight; and commodities of the field, large swine, and kine a pole is set up in the middle of the river, with a with their udders strutting out, fair bodied oxen, target well fastened thereon, and a young man and the woolly flock. There are also cart horses, stands in a boat which is rowed with oars, and fit for the dray, or the plough, or the chariot; and driven on with the tide, who with his spear hits some mares big with foal; together with others the target in his passage; with which blow, if he that have their wanton colts following them close breaks the spear and stand upright, so that he hold at their side. footing, he hath his desire; but if his spear continué Concerning shipping and merchandise.-To this unbroken by the blow, he is tumbled into the city merchants bring in wares by ships from every water, and his boat passeth clear away; but on nation under Heaven. The Arabian sends his either side of this target two ships stand inward, gold; the Sabean his frankincense and spices; the with many young men ready to take him up after Seythian, arms, oil of palms from the plentiful he is sunk, as soon as he appeareth again on the wood; Babylon her fat soil, and Nylus his precious top of the water; the spectators stand upon the stones: The Seres send purple garments; they of bridge, and in solars upon the river, to behold Norway and Russia trouts, furs and sabies; and the these things, being prepared for laughter. French their wines * Upon the holidays all summer, the youth is Ite antiquity and government-According to the exercised in leaping, shooting, wrestling, casting report of chronicles, it is more ancient than the of stones, and throwing of javelins, fitted with city of Rome; for both being descended from the loops for the purpose, which they strive to fling same Trojan stock: Brute builded this, before beyond the mark: they also use bucklers, like Remus and Romulus did the other. Whence still fighting men. As for the maidens, they have their ituseth the same ancient laws and common institu- exercise of dancing and tripping till moon-light. tions For this our city, like to that, is distinguish- In winter, almost every holiday before dinner, ed by wards and several limits; it hath sheriffs every the foaming boars fight for their heads, and preyear, answerable to their consuls; it hath aldermen, pare with deadly tushes to be made bacon: or else enjoying the dignity of senators, besides inferior some lusty bulls or huge bears are bated with dogs. magistrates; it hath also common sewers and con- When that great moor which washed Moorfields, veyances for water in the streets. Concerning causes at the north wall of the city, is frozen over, great in question, there are several places and courts for companies of young men go to sport upon the ice, causes deliberative, demonstrative, and judicial; and bind to their shoes bones, as the legs of some upon their set days also they have their common beasts, and hold stakes in their hands, headed with council and great assemblies. sharp iron, which sometimes they strike against

The only pagues of London are immoderate the ice, and these men go on their speed, as does drinking of idle fellows, and frequent fires.+ the bird in the air, or darts shot from some war

Of sports and pastimes-Every Sunday in Lent, like engine; sometimes two men set themselves at after dinner, a company of young men ride out into a distance, and run one against another, as it were the fields on horses which are fit for war, and prin. at tilt, with these stakes, wherewith one or both cipal runners; every one among them is taught to run the rounds with his horse.

parties are thrown down, not without some hurt to their bodies; and after their fall, by reason of The citizens' sons issue out through the gates their violent motion, are carried a good distance by troops, furnished with lances and warlike one from another; and wheresoever the ice doth shields, the younger sort have their pikes, not it bare: and if one fall upon his leg or arm, it is touch their head, it rubs off all the skin and lays headed with iron, where they make a representation of battle, and exercise a skirmish. There usually broken: but young men being greedy of resort to this exercise many courtiers, when the themselves in counterfeit battles, that they may honor, and desirous of victory, do thus exercise king lies near hand, and young striplings out of bear the brunt more strongly when they come to the families of barons and great persons, which it in good earnest.

have not yet attained to the warlike girdle, to train

and skirmish. Hope of victory inflames every one; Many citizens take delight in birds, as sparrow. the neighing and fierce horses bestir their joints, nawks, goose-hawks, and such like, and in dogs to and chew their bridies, and cannot endure to stand hunt in woody ground. The citizens have au. still; at last they begin their race, and then the thority to hunt in Middlesex, Hertfordshire, all young men divide their troops; some labor to outstrip their leaders, and cannot reach them;

Perhaps there is no one particular in this de scription so remarkable and pregnant with so much useful reflection, as the wonderful revolutions in commerce, which have taken place in the world, since Fitz Stephen wrote his account of London,

The first mention of London, in authentic history, is by Tacitus, who speaks of its being sacked, A. D. 61, by the British queen Boadicea,

the Chilterns, and in Kent as far as Gray Water.

Natives of London.-The city of London has brought forth some who have subdued many king. doms, and the empire of Rome to themselves; and many others, who, being lords of this world, were deified in another.‡

And in the times of christianity it brought forth the noble emperor Constantine, who gave the city of Rome, and all the Imperial arms of God, to St. Peter, and Sylvester the Pope, whose stirrup,

Since the days of Fitz Stephen, London has been sea-fight on the Serpentine river, Hyde Park, in *It would appear from this, that the counterfeit often visited with the plague. We have accounts 1814, was only a revival of an old custom. of it in the years 1346-1362-1379-1500-1594 --1604-1625 and 1665. During the last plague, in the place of which they were used. †These bones were evidently the origin of skates, Charles II. removed bis court to Salisbury, and it We have not been able to ascertain, with any is computed, that 65,596 persons died of it. Intolerable precision, the names of the deities here 1500, Henry VII. removed his court to Calais. Jalluded to.

be refused not to hold, and pleased rather to be Augustus, indeed, the same author asserts, forcalled defender of the holy Roman church, than bade the publication of the former to be continued; emperor of the world. And lest the peace of our but there is no reason to think this prohibition ex. Jord the Pope should suffer any disturbance by the tended to the latter. It is certainly suitable to the noise secular affairs, he left the city, and bestowed genius of an absolute monarchy that its councils it on the Pope, and founded the city of Constantino-should not be publicly known; but the amusing and ple for his own habitation. London also, in these trifling topics of discourse, which the common latter times, hath brought famous and magnificent events of a great city afford, are so far from being princes; Maud, the empress, king Henry third, offensive under such a constitution, that they raand Thomas the archbishop, a glorious martyr of ther serve to draw off the minds of the people Christ, than whom no man was more innocent, or from enquiring into affairs of a more important and more devoted to the general good of the Latin secret nature. world.

Ancient Roman Newspapers.

FROM A BELFAST PAPER.

even makes use of them to correct a passage in Livy. Dodwell also inserted them in his Camdenian Lectures, together with some additional Acta of the year of Rome 691. A friend of his, Adrian Beverland, had received them from Isaac Vossius, who transcribed them from a parcel of inscriptions which Petavius had prepared for the press.

The antiquaries pretend to have discovered some of these papers. Those which relate to the 585th year of Rome, were first published by Pighius, in his Annals. He tells us that they were given to him by James Susius, who found them among the As we are apt to look either with an eye of papers of Ludovicus Vives. He does not seem to 'contempt or surprise, on the customs of other. na-have the least doubt of their being genuine, and tions which differ from our own, so we cannot help being pleased with any which bear some degree of resemblance to those of our country; the pleasure seems to be stronger the further we carry our views back into ancient times, and observe this analogy of fashions; whether the veneration usually paid to antiquity itself heightens the satisfaction, I shall now venture to make a few extracts from or whether we regard it as the voice of nature, pronouncing such a custom rational and useful, the papers themselves, observing only, that the by the consent of distant ages. To apply this ge. names of Paulus Emilius, the conqueror of Maceneral remark to a particular instance: every body don, Popitius Lenas, the famous ambassador, Julius, must allow that newspapers, by the materials Cæsar, Cicero, and Hortensius, give an air of impor they afford for discourse and speculation, contribute tance and perhaps occasion the most trifling cirvery much to the amusement of the public; their cumstances being mentioned. cheapness brings them into universal use; their variety adapts them to every one's taste; the scholar learns what is going on in the literary world; the soldier makes a campaign in safety, and censures the conduct of generals, without fear of being pu nished for mutiny: the politician, inspired by the fumes of the coffee pot, unravels the knotty in trigues of ministers; the industrious merchant observes the course of trade, and the rates of ex change; and the honest shopkeeper nods over the account of a robbery and the price of the markets, till his pipe is out.

I have purposely kept as close to the originals as possible, that the form and manner of drawing them up may be preserved:

"A. U C. 585. 5th of the Kalends of April.

The Fasces with Emilius the Consul. The consul, crowned with laurel, sacrificed at the temple of Apollo. The senate assembled at the Curia Hostilia, about the 8th hour; and a decree passed that prætors should give sentence according to the edicts which were of perpetual validity. This day, M. Scapula was accused of an act of violence before C Babius the prætor.-Fif One may easily imagine that the use and amuse-teen of the judges were for condemning him, and ment resulting from these diurnal histories, render thirty-three for adjourning the cause. them not likely to be confined to one part of the globe, or one period of time. The relations of China, mention a gazette published there by authority, and the Roman historians sometimes quote the Acta Diurna, or Daily Advertisers, of that empire.

4th of the Kulends of April.

The Fasces with Licinius the Consul It thundered, and an oak was struck with lightning on that part of Mount Palatine called Summa Velia, early in the afternoon. A fray happened in a tavern at the lower end of Banker's-street, in The Acta Diurna, were journals of the common which the keeper of the log in Armour tavern, occurrences of Rome, as the trials, elections, pu- was dangerously wounded. Tertinius, the Edile, nishments, buildings, deaths, sacrifices, prodigies, fined the butchers for selling meat which had not &c. composed under the direction of the magis-been inspected by the overseers of the markets. trates, committed to their care, and laid up with The fine is to be appropriated to build a chapel the rest of their records, in an edifice called the to the temple of the goddess Tellus. Hall of Liberty. Like all other public papers, the access to them was easy. The historians appear, It rained stones on Mount Veientine. Posthumus, as already noticed, to have collected materials from them; nor is it improbable that copies were the tribune, sent his beadle to the consul, that he frequently taken by particular persons, and dis-should not convene the senate on that day, but the persed about the city, or sent to their friends in tribune Decimus putting in his veto the affair went the provinces, that no Roman might be ignorant no further. even of the minutest event which happened in the metropolis of the world.

3d of the Kalends of April.
The Fasces with Emilius.

Pridie. Kal. April.

The Fasces with Licinius.

The Latin festivals were celebrated; a sacrifice Sentonious mentions a little particularity with regard to these Acta Diurna, which may serve to performed on the Alban Mount, and a dole of raw confirm the notion of their bearing a pretty near flesh distributed to the people. A fire happened resemblance to our newspapers. He says that "Ju-on Mount Culius; two trisula and five houses were lius Cæsar in his consulship ordered the diurnal consumed to the ground, and four damaged. Deacts of the senate and the people to be published.” Imiphon, the famous pirate, who was taken by Lici

mius Nerva, a provincia! lieutenant, was sacrificed. (should be repaired for twenty-five sesterces. Q. The red standard was displayed at the capitol, and Hortensius harangued the people about the centhe consuls obliged the youth who were enlisted sorship, and the Allobrogic war. Advice arrived for the Macedonian war, to take a new oath in the from Etruria, that some of the late conspirators Campus Martius. had begun a tumult, headed by L Sergius."

Kal. Apr.

An admirer of antiquity may, perhaps, find Paulus, the consul, and Ch. Octavius, the prætor, the same conciseness, clearness, and simplicity in set out on this day for Macedonia in the habits of the Acta Diurna, which so eminently distinguish war, vast numbers of people attending them to the inscriptions upon the medals and public mothe gates. The funeral of Marcia was performed numents of the ancients. I must, however, own with greater pomp of images than attendance of mourners. The pontifex Sempronius proclaimed the Megalesian plays in honor of Cybele.

4th of the Nones of April.

that they want that sprightly humor and diffuse kind of narration which embellish the compositions of our modern natural historians.-The Roman gazettes are defective in several material ornaments A ver sacrum was vowed pursuant to the opinion of style. They never end an argument with the of the college of priests. Presents were made to mystical hint-"This occasions great speculation." the ambassadors of the Etolians. Ebusius, the They seem to have been ignorant of such engaging prætor, set out for his province of Sicily. The introductions as "we hear"-"it is strongly reBeet stationed on the African coast, entered the ported;"-and of that ingenious but threadbare port of Ostia with the tribute of that province. An entertainment was given to the people by Marcia's sons at their mother's funeral. A stage play was acted this day, being sacred to Cybele.

excuse for a downright lie-"it wants confirma. tion," nor do they seem to have been aware of the advantages of inserting a falsehood one day, in or der to revive it by a downright contradiction the next. It is also worthy of remark, that the præ. Popilius Lenas, C. Decimus, and C. Hostillius, tor's daughter is married without our being told were sent embassadors in a joint commission to that she was a lady of great beauty, merit, and the kings of Syria and Egypt, in order to accom-fortune.

3d of the Nones of April.

modate the differences about which they are now at Another remark, which is naturally suggested war. Early in the morning they went with great by several articles in these journals, is the great attendance of clients and relations, to offer up regard which the Romans paid to the superstitious sacrifices and libations at the Temple of Castor ceremonies of a false and ridiculous religion. Not and Pollux before they began their journey." a day passes but some prodigy is observed, some

The second set of the remains of the Acta Di- sacrifice or festival performed to implore the blesurna belong to the year of Rome 691. I have al-sing of their deities upon the arms and councils of ready mentioned how they were discovered, and the state. Three men of the greatest quality in shall only add, that they are fuller, and more en-Rome, before they set out opon an embassy of imtertaining than the former, but seem rather more portance, go in a solemn manner, accompanied by liable to objection on the score of authenticity:

"Sylianus and Murena Consuls.
The Fusces with Murena.

3d of the Ides of August.

Murena sacrificed early in the morning at the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and afterwards assembled the senate in Pompey's senate-house. Syllanus defended Sex Ruscius of Larinum, who was accused of an act of violence by Torquatus, befo:e Q Cornificius, the prætor. The defendant was absolved by forty votes, and voted guilty by twenty. A riot happened in the Via Sacra be tween Clodius's workmen and Milo's slaves.

5th of the Kal. of September

their family and friends, to beg the assistance and protection of the gods, as a necessary preparation for a long journey and a weighty employment.

These researches may induce some of our learned correspondents further to elucidate this curious subject, which cannot fail to prove interesting to many of our readers.

Egyptian Antiquities.

FROM A PARIS PAPER.

M. Belzoni, commissioned by the English go. vernment to collect antiquities in Egypt for the British museum, addressed the following letter M. Tullius Cicero pleaded in defence of Cor- to M. Visconti, requesting that he would publish nelius Sylla, accused by Torquatos of being con- it in the Paris journals. When the letter arrived cerned in Cataline's conspiracy, and gained his in France, M. Belzoni no longer existed. With. cause by a majority of five judges. The tribunes out doubt our readers will regard with pleasure of the treasury were against the defendant. One our compliance with the wishes of the learned au of the prætors advertised by an edict that he should thor. put off his sittings for five days, upon account of of his daughter's marriage. C Casar set out for his government of the further Spain, having been long delayed by his creditors. A report was brought to Tertinius, the præ'or, while he was trying a cause at his tribunal, that his son was dead: this was contrived by the friends of Coppomus, who was accused of poisoning, that the prætor, in his concern, might adjourn the court: but the magistrate, having discovered the falsehood of the story, returned to his tribunal, and continued in taking information against the accused.

Cairo, January 9th, 1818.-I am just arrived from Upper Egypt, and am preparing to return to Nubis for the third time. On my first voyage to Thebes, in 1816, I succeeded in embarking at the Nile, the largest part of the famous statue of Memnon. This enormous fragment, which has been buried so many years amongst the ruins of the palaces overthrown by Cambyses, is at present on the way to its destination, the British musuem. It is a colos. sal bust, formed from a single block of granite, ten feet long from the breast to the top of the head, and weighs twelve tons. Other travellers had previously contrived the means of transporting The funeral of Metella Pia, a vestal, was eele-it to Europe, but being unable to devise means to brated: she was buried in the supulchre of her remove it, they were compelled to relinquish the ancestors in the Aurelian road. The censors made idea. The great difficulty was to convey such a a bargain, that the temple of Aius Loquens body a distance of two miles to the river Nile,

4th. Kal. of Sept.