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cried he tenderly, "c'est la réflexion de votre image!” meaning, if it comprehended a meaning, that he was her mirror; and that in regarding him she beheld purely the reflected lustre of her own charms. A pretty method of complimenting himself, for which the lady in question seemed not over and above thankful. She smiled with some apparent exertion, waved her hand, and retreated. Quadrilles, waltzes, and cotillions were the order of the evening; and, on the whole, the dark glittering of the Neapolitan women, contrasted with their sombre dresses, and the gay uniforms of the military, formed a splendid and interesting

eyes

scene.

CHAPTER III.

TUESDAY, 23d Nov.-To-day I made the tour of the Bourbonic Museum, in which the contents of Herculaneum and Pompeii, &c. &c. have been deposited. Amongst other things an exquisite bust of Caracalla, two feet and a half high, particularly delighted me: there is great expression in the face, and the disposition of the hair is admirable. A full length statue of Aristides in the act of haranguing, and Silenus intoxicated and reclining on a skin of wine, are each in their way delicious specimens of ancient sculpture; they were found in Herculaneum. Indeed, the statuary brought from this place alone is very extensive, and will afford many an hour of rich gratification.

In another part of the museum is preserved a vast variety of grain in the different states, discovered in Herculaneum, besides a burnt

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loaf of bread eight inches and a half in diameter marked

ERISQCRANI..... RISER..... This inscription, whatever it may imply, reminds one of the present practice of marking gingerbread and cakes. There are also snares, threads, and a bird-net-probably such as Horace mentions in the second ode of the fifth book

"Amite levi rara tendit retia,

Turdis edacibus dolos;

Pavidumve leporem, et advenam laqueo gruem,
Jucunda captat præmia."

And what is not the least curious, there is a quantity of linen cloth found in the washingtub.

In a painter's shop at Pompeii was discovered a pot of verde antique of an earthy character, and probably amalgamated with some mineral.

Two bronze seats, exactly similar to our garden chairs, deserve attention: with a number of helmets, cuirasses, spears, quivers, &c. &c. used both by the Greeks and Romans. A

NAPLES BOURBONIC MUSEUM.

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considerable quantity of rouge, metal lookingglasses, distaffs, ivory pins and bodkins, surgeons' instruments, &c. are arranged in tolerable order. Nearly three thousand Grecian vases have been collected, of which many are extremely beautiful. Of the picture galleries no mention is necessary; they contain the workmanship of the first artists in the world, and have been perhaps sufficiently illustrated by members of the fraternity. The most curious, and to many the most interesting, part of this collection will be the Papyri or ancient manuscripts found in the library of a disciple of Epicurus at Herculaneum, during the last century; they have the appearance of charcoal, and were so considered when originally met with. The account given of this discovery at Naples is, that on continuing the excavation an ink-stand and a number of pens were turned up, together with two or more bronze busts of Epicurus, whose name was thereon engraven : hence, concluding that the place in question was a library, by the assistance of one Antonio Piaggio, a monk, the Papyri were unrolled, although with extreme difficulty. The following is given as the process, but I am unable to:

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vouch for its authenticity, circumstances having prevented me from inspecting it.

“At the bottom of a glass box are fixed two metal screws inserted in a like number of semicircular plates, on which the roll of Papyrus is placed in an horizontal direction. These screws are used to raise or depress the Papyrus.

"The roll being placed upon the semicircular plates, and the beginning ascertained by means of incisions made as it revolves, threads are run through it and fastened to the upper part of the box, which support and draw up the Papyrus as it is gradually unfolded. In this state gold-beaters' leaf is applied to the back of the writing moistened with isinglass of more or less consistency, as the case may require. Thus strengthened, the unrolled Papyrus is drawn up, and when the surface of one page is found to adhere to another it is disengaged by means of a pointed iron. This process is continued till the whole be developed.

"In this situation it is spread over a small table, and an exact engraving is immediately taken. The defective parts are then supplied, avoiding every alteration of the original, and

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