MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE.

ETRURIAN ANTIQUITIES.

A Letter from Rome.

2000 years; and with whom, however, the pictures that surround us seem to bring us on a sudden into an almost immediate connexion. These representations are no less interesting when considered as developing the early pregress of art, and bringing before our eyes the difficulties with which the infant arts of design had to contend, than when viewed by the philosophic eye of the observant archæologian, and used as means to throw more light upon the wonderful economy of the human mind, which, in ancient as well as modern times, has developed itself according to the same eternal and immutable laws. One of the most common representations in these sepulchral chambers is that of a triclinium, where the deceased persons are seen reclining at ease, according to the Roman fashion, and enjoying the same viands which they had so often participated in while on earth. This

SIR,-Being just returned from a most interesting excursion through the neighbouring district of Etruria, I do not think I can do better than make known the attractive novelties which there excited my admiration, through the medium of your widely circulated Journal. I do this the more readily, because I suspect these most singular and interesting regions are as yet but very little known to the British public; nay, I might even say to the most distinguished of our archæological literati. I hear, indeed, that our great antiquarian luminary, Millingen, has lately published some account of the re-occupies the end wall. The two side walls are often cent discoveries in Etruria; but, though I cannot, from personal reading, judge of this work, still I am, on pretty good authority, inclined to believe, that the distinguished author had not had an opportunity to visit in person the interesting vicinity of Corneto, where excavations have of late been made, and are still making with such distinguished success. If we except that part of Etruria, through which the two great high-roads pass between Florence and Rome, this once celebrated country, which, before the times of the Romans, was adorned with many rich and flourishing cities, is but little known to the general traveller, and even to those whose Italian wanderings have more of a professed archæological bent. It is but too true, that travellers in general, and most of all English travellers, rarely deviate from the beaten track; and this truth receives a new verification from the interesting tracts of Tuscany which are yet altogether, or comparatively, unknown.

But to proceed. Corneto, the first point in the antiquarian tour of which I shall now endeavour to give you a rapid sketch, is situated in the States of the Church, about sixty miles north from Rome, and twelve miles beyond the harbour of Civita Vecchia. Though not itself a maritime town, it lies on an eminence only about two or three miles distant from the site of the ancient city Graviscae -a Tyrrhenian harbour, scarcely otherwise known to the modern ear than through the verses of the Mantuan bard. About a mile from Corneto, still further inland, is the site of the ancient city of Tarquinii, so celebrated in the early history of the Etruscans, as the place where Demaratus first improved the rudeness of Etruscan art by the introduction of Corinthian refinement, and was destined to give in his progeny a king to Rome, who should be the first to introduce a taste for a massive and dignified architecture among an association of rude and barbarous warriors. 'Tis to this ancient city that those sepulchral monuments belong, which form the principal object of attraction to the stranger who visits Corneto. Hither, therefore, I hied, as soon as I had a little refreshed myself from the fatigues of an Italian vettura. Nor were my expectations disappointed in visiting these long-forgotten, but now revived monuments of the Etruscan dead.

An immense range of conical tumuli, called by the inhabitants of Corneto, Monte Rozzi, immediately attracts the attention of the traveller, and makes even the most careless observer suspect that the interior of these evidently artificial mounds must contain some curious ancient remains. Nor is he deceived. These tumuli contain one or more sepulchral chambers, for the most part painted in a style which proclaims a very ancient period of Etruscan art, and at times accompanied with inscriptions in that interesting language, which, alas! after all the endeavours of Lanzi and his followers, remains as inexplicable as ever. The impression is more to be felt than described, which is produced when one descends from the bright splendour of the Italian day, into these gloomy subterranean abodes of human beings, who are removed from us by the immense gulf of more than

filled by dancing Bacchic figures, which, however little they may seem to agree with the solemnity of death, yet tend to represent to us in a very lively manner the universal belief of mankind in a future life, and to teach us that the ancient world, far from considering death with the cold hopeless eye of modern materialism, were accustomed to look to it as the introduction to a more perfect state of existence, where rest and quiet should be obtained after the labours and troubles of the present life.

On no other principle can be explained another set of representations very frequent in the Etruscan as well as in the Roman sepulchral ornaments-I mean that of dolphins and other marine animals, of which the most likely interpretation is, that they represent the souls of the blessed, gamboling through the waves to the happy islands of the Atlantic. And here it is strange to remark the coincidence of the most ancient Etruscan with the earlier Christian ideas; for nothing is more common in the Christian monuments than the representation of dolphins and other fishes-the explanation of which, as referring to Christians, will easily occur to those who are conversant with the works of the early fathers.

But to return from digressions. Though the paintings have been well preserved, yet have these sacred abodes been in early times robbed of their movable treasures ; and therefore it is, that these tombs of Corneto, or rather of Tarquinii, have not enriched the excavators with those immense treasures of fictile vases in which the Etruscan graves in other parts of the country have been so fruitful. The ground which has in so short a time furnished Lucian Bonaparte with a museum of above three thousand vases, is about eighteen miles farther up, in the Etrurian territory, near the site of the ancient town of Vulci. This place, of which we have so very scanty notices from antiquity, seems, nevertheless, to have been one of the largest of the cities which composed the Etruscan confederation, if we may judge, as well from the wide extent of its walls, the foundations of which are yet to be traced, as from the immense tract of ground which is occupied by its sepolcretum, which has already been so wonderfully fertile in the most beautiful productions of ancient Grecian art, and is still continuing to yield enough to satisfy the continued excavations of three considerable proprietors. You are aware that the property of Canino, belonging to Lucian Bonaparte, occupies the greater part of this precious territory; but he does not exclusively monopolize these classical treasures-the Signori Candelori and Feoli occupying also no inconsiderable portion of the Vulcian burying-ground, and extracting from thence their proportional share of its tressures of art. Nevertheless, it is but fair to state, that the excavations have, during the present year, ceased to be so fortunate as in the first attempts; but it was not to be expected that the soil could long continue to be so very fruitful as it at first was. The labours, however, are still going on, and I had the satisfaction to see several interesting objects which had lately been dug up. Among these, the most curious were several pieces of sculpture,

so lately shown how entirely destitute they are of every spark of noble sentiment, by remaining quietly and voluntarily in the chains of the most corrupted government of Europe?

Before I leave Vulci, I may just give you a slight intimation of the great literary controversy which the vases here brought to light have lately produced, and which has caused a division between the foreign literati resident in Rome, and the Coryphæus of the Roman Grecians, the well-known Abbate Amati. Lucian Bonaparte, not content with having in his own private possession the largest and most valuable collection of vases in Europe, took it also into his head to refuse to other countries the possession of such vases, and even went so far as to deny that certain vases, which Herr Wolff, a Prussian sculptor, brought from Greece, could possibly have been found in that country, asserting that if it really was the case that said vases were found in Egina by Mr Wolff, nevertheless they were not to be esteemed Grecian vases, properly so called, but were merely exportations from Etruria, the only country which was able to produce these singular works of art. Once determined to claim exclusively for Etruria those works of art, which the universal consent of the learned had united to denominate Grecian, the Prince of Canino did not hesitate to sacrifice to this patriotic feel

whose general style and accessory ornaments place in a very remarkable point of view the connexion of the ancient Etruscan with Egyptian art. The same conclusion is drawn from the architectural mouldings with which many of these subterranean chambers are adorned, and which very often exhibit a confused insieme of the Egyptian style, and the most ancient Doric architecture of the Greeks. But of the architecture I must speak again, when I come to mention the superb amphitheatre of sepulchral monuments sculptured in the natural rock, which exist in the district between Corneto and Viterbo. But to be more particular. The grotte sepolcrali of Vulci are distinguished from those of Tarquinii, by being dug in the ground, and then covered up, without the addition of any artificial tumulus, if we except the single immense tumulus, called the Cocumella, where the Prince of Canino has made such interesting discoveries. These sepulchral chambers are about the size of a small closet, cut out in the natural rock, or rather earth; for the soft volcanic tufa which here abounds deserves more the name of an earth than of a rock. They are, for the most part, simple and devoid of ornament; at the farther end, and on the two sides, are cut out in the same mass simple banks, which serve for the resting-place of the dead body; for here, as well as in Nola, was it the general custom to bury, and not to burn the dead. Nor do the Vulcianing, for his own Etrurian property, the united testimony vases, in whatever abundance they have been found, ever contain ashes. The vases are found beside the banks on which the dead body was laid, though in many tombs there are decided indications that they were, along with other ornaments, suspended from nails on the walls of the sepulchral chamber.

of ancient writers, that the arts were brought from Greece into Etruria by Demaratus of Corinth. As soon as historical testimony was disregarded, it was no difficult matter to create out of nothing a splendid Etrurian dynasty, flourishing in all the highest culture of art, before even the first rude attempts at design were made in It would be tedious and uninteresting to particularize the Grecian islands-whose inhabitants, hitherto conupon the plans of the sepulchres, and the architectural sidered as the parents of all that is elegant in the Euro mouldings with which they are often ornamented; such pean arts of design, were indebted for their knowledge an extended description belongs more to a separate treatise, in these arts, and especially in the art of painting vases, than to the limits of a common letter. We can, how-to those numerous artists, who, proceeding from Etruria, ever, assure the British archæological public, that it will as the centre of civilisation, spread a refined taste for the not be long ere their curiosity on these points be grati-arts through the republics of Greece, from which, as we fied, the indefatigable German architect Herr Knapp being at present engaged in preparing an accurate account of the Etruscan sepulchral architecture, to be submitted to the European public in the Annals of the Archæological Institution.

While on this subject, however, I cannot forbear to mention, in suitable terms of censure, the conduct of the present excavators, in regard to the interests of archæological science. The interesting excavations which we have just been describing, have unfortunately fallen into the hands of men, who are actuated much more by the Italian spirit of personal gain, than by any the least zeal for the interests of science; insomuch, that we do not speak too harshly when we assert, that their great and only object is to spoil the dead of the precious treasures which were buried along with them, with a view to their own personal gain, without the least regard to the advantages which science may reap from their discoveries. The subterranean recesses of the immense Vulcian sepolcretum are scarce brought to light, and emptied of the vases and bronzes which they may contain, when they are immediately covered up again, before the archæologian or the architect have had time to visit them, and draw from their general disposition and particular decorations inferences of the highest importance, not only in themselves, but as tending to the elucidation of the singular objects of which they have been for ages the repository. Science is as much degraded as religion, when it becomes an object of selfish merchandise; but it is a lamentable truth, that Signor Campanari and his associates do not show the least desire to render their discoveries of any use to archæological science, but rather use every means in their power to prevent every person but themselves from deriving any advantage from their monopolized treasures of art. But let us leave this disagreeable subject; for what can we expect from the base-minded Romans, who have

know, they at last proceeded back to their native Italy. His excellence had certainly the merit of producing a singular opinion, and might, perhaps, have had the satisfaction of remaining alone in his singularity, had not the above-mentioned Abbate Amati, no contemptible Hellenist, conceived it his duty as a true Italian patriot, to join with the prince in defending as Etruscan the origin of vases, which the strongest internal, as well as external, evidence proclaims to be Grecian. The external historical evidence I have already alluded to the internal evidence is no less strong and convincing to every one who is not predetermined to believe the contrary. The Vulcian vases resemble, in every respect, those found in Greece and Magna Grecia,-in their style of art,-in the subjects represented, which are found in the Grecian, and not in the Etruscan mythology,-in the inscriptions, which in all vases yet found are Greek, and never Etruscan. And yet all this weight of evidence will not prevent men, fonder of singularity than of truth, from recalling the old and almost forgotten idea of the Etruscan origin of these vases-an attempt from which they might have been deterred, by the difficulties in which Passeri and others found themselves involved, who, in the past century, attempted to explain the vases on this false supposition.

But enough. We shall allow the airy speculations of theoretical antiquarians to vanish in their own inanity; we hope the time is at length arrived when archæologians are convinced, that solid testimony, and a collection of incontestible facts, form the only foundation on which the building of their science can be raised; and that though this fact-founded building may not be so splendid and so complete in all its parts, as those perfect edifices, which rise of a sudden into complete existence before the magic wand of hypothetical speculation, still they have this one decided advantage, that they are not liable to vanish away from their mushroom-like exist

of Auvergne; they loved each other mur natives latitude they may be found."" You are in the right,"

rate of twenty louis-d'or for each song, and he was placed in the rank of the Fares, the Chalieus, the Hamiltons, the Sarrasins, and the Ecotures.

1

He

acquire from madame without occasioning trouble to either party." Madame at this discourse embraced the courteous blockhead, and said to him, "It is evident, monsieur, that you are the most learned man in the The marchioness, believing herself the mother of a world-my son will owe all his education to you. I ima-bel esprit, gave suppers to the beaux esprits of Paris. The gine, however, it would not be amiss if he learnt a little head of the young marquis was completely turned. of history.' "What good would that do?" replied he; acquired the habit of speaking without understanding, "it is only the history of the day that is either useful or and he arrived at great perfection in the happy art of agreeable-all ancient histories, as one of our wits re-speaking without having any thing to say. marks, are nothing but fables; and as to modern history, When his father saw him so eloquent, he regretted not it is a chaos which no one can disentangle. Of what having made him learn Latin, as he would have bought consequence is it to your son that Charlemagne instituted him a post in the law. The mother, who had more elethe twelve peers of France, and that his successor was a vated sentiments, took on herself the task of soliciting a stutterer ?"—" Nothing can be more just," said the tutor, regiment for her son-and in the meanwhile, the mar"they stifle the minds of children under a mass of use- quis made love. Love sometimes costs more than a reless learning; but of all the sciences, the most absurd, in giment the marquis spent lavishly, and his parents spent my opinion, is that of geometry, which has for its object, still more in living like the great. A young widow of surfaces, lines, and points, which have no real existence. some rank, but of small fortune, resolved to appropriate Truly geometry is but a sorry kind of amusement." to herself the wealth of Monsieur de la Jeannotière by Monsieur and madame did not understand one word of marrying the young marquis. She drew him to her house the tutor's discourse, but that did not prevent them from she allowed herself to be loved and she permitted him adopting his opinion. "A nobleman like the marquis," to see that he was not indifferent to her. This conduct continued he," ought not to dry up his brain with these enchanted him, and she gave him so much praise and so useless studies. If he requires geometry to lay out the much good advice, that she became the dear friend of the plan of his estates, gold will enable him to get them sur- father and mother. An old neighbour proposed the marveyed. If he wishes to investigate the antiquity of his riage, and the parents, dazzled with the splendour of this family, which may be traced to remote ages, he sends for alliance, accepted the proposition with joy. The young a Benedictine. It is the same with all the arts. A marquis was about to marry a woman whom he adored, young gentleman of good birth is neither a painter, mu- and by whom he was beloved-the friends of the family sician, architect, nor sculptor; but by munificently en- congratulated them the settlements were in progress— couraging these arts he causes them to flourish. It is and the marriage dresses and epithalamium were nearly without doubt much more pleasant to protect than to ready. exercise them-it is enough if the marquis has taste-it is the artists' business to work for him; and it is on this account that one has so much reason to say that persons of quality (I mean those who are very rich) know every thing without having learnt any thing, because, in the long run, they know how to judge of the thing which they order and for which they pay."

The courteous blockhead then took the word. "You have well remarked, madame, that the great end of man is to succeed in society; and is it by the sciences that this success is obtained? Who ever speaks, in good company, of geometry, or thinks of asking a man what star rose with the sun to-day? or who ever enquires at supper if Clodius the Long-haired passed the Rhine?"-" No one, certainly," exclaimed the Marquise de la Jeannotière; "and my son ought not to extinguish his genius by the study of all this trash; but, after all, what should he learn-for a young man should be able to shine occasion ally?

f 19

He was one morning at the feet of the charming spouse, whom love, esteem, and friendship were about to bestow on him-they enjoyed, in a tender and animated conversation, a foretaste of their happiness-they arranged to lead a delicious life, when a valet-de-chambre of Madame la Mère arrived in a fright. "Here is fine news," cried he "the officers of justice are stripping the house of monsieur-every thing is seized by the creditors-they speak of arresting monsieur. I must run and get my wages.' Let us see what all this is about," said the marquis. "Yes," answered the widow; 66 pray go and punish these rogues."

39

2

His fa

He hastened away, and arrived at the house. ther was already imprisoned-the domestics had absconded, taking with them whatever they could lay their hands on-his mother was alone-deserted by every onebathed in tears-nothing remained but the remembrance of her fortune, her beauty, her errors, and her extravagance.

I have heard an abbé say, that the most agreeable science was one of which I have forgotten the name, but it began with an H and ended with a y.”—“ Ah, I understand, madame, it is Heraldry—a very deep science, but it is now quite out of date, and has become unfashionable, since we no longer paint our coats of arms on the panels of our carriages. In a well-governed state it is a most useful study, but it would be endless, as now-a-you, Monsieur de la Jeannotière? days there is not a barber who has not his coat of arms; and you know that whatever becomes common ceases to be valued."

After the son had wept a long while with his mother, he said to her," Do not despair; this young widow loves me ardently, she is even more generous than she is rich-she will fly to you, I go to bring her." He returned to the house of his mistress, and found her têteà-tête with a handsome young officer. "What! is it

At length, having passed all the sciences under review, it was decided that the young marquis should learn to dance.

What brings you

here? Why do you abandon your mother? Go home to the poor woman, and tell her I am interested in her welfare. I am in want of a femme de chambre-I will give her the preference.' "Young man," said the officer, you are tolerably well made-if you are willing to enter into my company, I will give you a good engagement." The marquis was stupified; with rage in his heart he went to seek his tutor to deposit his griefs in his bosom, and to ask his advice. He proposed that the marquis should become a tutor like himself. "Alas," said the marquis, “I know nothing-you have taught me nothing -you are the first cause of my misfortune."-" Write

r

Nature had bestowed on him a talent which soon developed itself with prodigious success-it was that of singing vaudevilles in a charming style. The graces of youth, joined to this superior gift, caused him to be regarded as a young man of the greatest hopes. He was admired by the ladies, and having his head full of songs, he composed some on his fair adorers. He pilfered Bac-romances," said a wit who was present, "it is an excelchus et l'Amour from one vaudeville, le Nuit et le Jour from another, les Charmes et les Alarmes from a third; but as there were always in his verses some feet more or less than were necessary, he got them corrected at the

lent resource at Paris." The marquis was ready to faint; he was treated much in the same manner by all his friends, and he gained more knowledge of the world in balf a day, than in all the rest of his life,

ORIGINAL POETRY.

As he stood plunged in the depths of despair, he saw approaching a strange-looking machine, a kind of covered cart, with leather curtains, followed by four well-loaded A MIDSUMMER DAY'S DREAM. waggons. There was in the carriage a young man, coarsely dressed, whose round face bore an expression of sweetness OFTEN it chances that a dreamy mood and gaiety-his wife, a pretty brunette, jolted at his side. Comes stealing o'er me, and my rapt thoughts brood The machine not moving so rapidly as the cabriolet of a On things long past, or things that ne'er can be, petit maître, the traveller had time to contemplate the mar- Until my mind, like a small skiff at sea, quis, who stood immersed in grief. "Ah, heavens," cried Goes dipping up and down from wave to wave, he, " surely that is Jeannot." At this name the mar-Dancing o'er billows that might be its grave; quis raised his eyes, the carriage stopped. "It is Jeannot To no point steering, holding no fix'd course, it is Jeannot ;" and the little man leapt out, and ran to But yielding to the fickle current's force. embrace his old playfellow. Jeannot recognised Colin ; love the idlesse of that tranquil hour, shame and tears covered his face. "You have abandonAnd all my nature hath confess'd its power. ed me," said Colin; "but in spite of your being a great The landscape then that stretches far away, lord, I shall always love you." Jeannot, confused and Till in the distance fields and woods look gray, softened, recounted to him a part of his story, "Let us Is present to the sense, yet is not seen, go into the auberge where I lodge," said Colin, "and you For many aërial fancies float between, shall tell me all about it-embrace my little wife, and Though whence they come, and whither they may go, let us go and dine together." He walked on, follow- I never knew, and never hope to know ;ed by the waggons. "What are all these things in the Fair fleeting fancies! like a morning mist, carts?" asked the marquis; "do they belong to you?"Whose fleecy robe the golden sun hath kiss'd, "Yes, to me and my wife; we come from the country. Breaking it down to many a phantom shape I am at the head of a manufactory for tinning iron and Of banner'd castle, or high jutting cape, copper utensils. I have married the daughter of a rich Romantic city crown'd with tower and spire, tradesman; we work hard-Heaven blesses us-we have Or fairy palace bursting into fire: not changed our condition-we are happy-we will assist The pageant changes-disappears-returns ;— our friend Jeannot. Be no longer a marquis-all the In richer hues the shatter'd rainbow burns, grandeurs of the world are not worth a true friend. You Till oue by one they fade, and who can tell shall return with me to the country. I shall teach you Where now they throw their unsubstantial spell. my trade-it is not difficult. I will take you into partnership, and we shall live gaily in the corner of the world How many thoughts are but the mists of mind! where we were born." Jeannot was divided between joy Which he who thinks them, cannot chain or bind ;and grief, tenderness and shame, "All my fashionable Less useful they in nature's general plan, friends," ejaculated he, " have betrayed me, and Colin Than the least atom in the frame of man,alone, whom I neglected, has come to my succour." What Less gross in essence, and less known in space, a lesson ! Gone in a moment, and without a trace!

Whose thoughts are register'd to bless mankind;
There did they spring, and there they buried lie,
Wrapp'd in the shroud of that great mystery,
Beneath the shadow of whose wings we live,
And know not why, or what it is we give
When we surrender life, and lay us down
In the green churchyard with the prince and clown.
We nothing know-not even the cause that brings
Before our eyes these poor imaginings,

The goodness of Colin developed in the heart of Jean-Yet did they spring perchance in some high mind, not the germs of the amiable disposition which commerce with the world had not yet stifled; he felt that he could not abandon his parents. "We shall take care of your mother," said Colin; "and as to your father, who is in prison-I understand these matters-his creditors seeing he has nothing, will be satisfied with a small compensation. I take it on myself." Colin accordingly released the father from prison, Jeannot returned to the country with his parents, who resumed their original profession. He married the sister of Colin, who being of the same disposition as her brother, rendered him very happy; and Jeannot the father, Jeannotte the mother, and Jeannot the son, acknowledged that happiness is not to be found in vanity.

EDINBURGH DRAMA.

H. G. B.

LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES.

MR JOHN LOTHIAN has nearly ready for publication, an Atlas of an intermediate size between the common school Atlas, and the

kind was needed.

ALFRED presents compliments to his constant readers, larger and more expensive works of this class. Something of this and doubts not that they will be as much concerned as he CHINESE ADVERTISEMENT.-Chang-chaou-lai, who issues this is to learn old Hurlothrumbo positively declares that he thanksgiving advertisement, lives outside the south gate, in Great has no room for a regular theatrical article this week. Tranquillity Lane, where he has opened an incense smoking mos Meanwhile he begs leave to inform them that he has been quito shop. On the evening of the 12th instant, two of his fellow. highly pleased with the Edinburgh Adelphi-its beauti-drug, which, by its fumes, sunk all the partners in a deep sleep, workmen in the shop, Ne-ahung and Atik, employed a stupifying ful scenery, clever actors, and precision of acting and during which they robbed the shop of all the money, clothes, &c., scene-shifting. In particular, he has been much amused which they could carry away. Next morning, when the partners by the comic dance by Constance and Celeste, who, he is awoke, no trace was to be found of these two men. If any good of opinion, far excel Ducrow's celebrated grotesque. people know where they are, and will give information, a thanks Yates has not made his appearance yet, but Murray is offering, in flowery red paper, of four dollars will be presented. there in all his greatness. He was particularly sublime, a few evenings ago, as Marmaduke Magog, a parish constable. The air with which, when the Squire ordered the servants to turn him out of doors, he held his baton over the offender's head-" Sir, consider yourself taken "-was the most sublime instance of the insult conup"structive upon record. An attempt shall be made next Saturday to do justice to the new-comers, They deserve a welcome, and shall have it.

If both the booty and the two men be seized, and delivered over at my little shop, ten dollars will be presented. De. cidedly I will not eat my words. This advertisement is true. Ne-ahung is about twenty years of age, short stature, has a white face, and no beard. Atik, whose surname is not remembered, is upwards of twenty years, is tall, has a sallow face, and no beard. Reign of Taou-kwang, 9th year, 9th moon, 3d day.--Canton Ro. gister.

Mr Carew, the sculptor, is at present employed upon a Statue of the late Mr Huskisson, which is intended for erection in the

Cathedral Church of Chichester.