* vial or lachrymatory veffel, tinged with a reddish colour, which they call blood, though perhaps it is nothing but ruft, they conclude the body to be that of a faint, or martyr, to which they are at no lofs to give a name. Many mistakes of this kind have been discovered; and even Mabillion detects the ftory of St Veronica. Neither does the emblem of the palm, or perhaps the cypress tree, often found on these fepulchral monuments, prove that the dead there buried were Chriftian martyrs; for these fymbols were used by the heathens and Jews, as well as by the Christians, as appears from infcrip. tions. The Pope makes prefents of these bodies to princes, to ambaffadors, and to great perfonages. The learned and diligent Muratori, who has thrown fo much light on the hiftory of the middle age, mentioning the facility with which the people conferred the title of Saint, obferves, "Parte la pieta, parte l'interreffe extravano a moltiplicare i Santi. Ognum ne voleva ; e chi piu ne avea, fi ri puta. va piu felice degli altri." Herculaneum. you the following account of Herculaneum, had I not known your love for antiquities, and the defire you have to be informed of the prefent flate of that discovery; efpecially as fo many false and ridiculous relations have been given of it: but, as I have had opportunities of examining this celebrated place feveral times, during the two months I have spent in this country, you may depend on my exactnefs. To defcribe it, Sir, as it ought, would require one of your happy turns who examine every thing with fuch tafte, and whofe ideas of what you do examine are never imperfect. were Herculaneum was a city of vaft antiquity, dedicated to, or, as fome writers fay, founded by Hercules. This heroic divinity was much ef teemed all over the then known world. Temples and altars w every where erected to him; witness the famous temple of Cadiz, built by the Tyrians,-"extra Herculis columnas in Gadibust,"-the boundary of his expeditions to the weft. The Carthaginians offered him human facrifices; and the Romans made vows to and confulted him in their great I fhould not have ventured to fend eft enterprizes. This * The learned are divided in their opinions about the ufes of thefe glafs vials, commonly called lachrymatory veffels. Some of them are of a confiderable fize, but the fmalleft of them would be, alas! more than fufficient to contain the tears of the moft afflicted friends and relations of the deceased. The real ufe of thefe veffels feems to have been to contain perfumes and balfams, which they poured on the funeral piles of the dead, and which they afterwards placed in their fepulchral urns. As fome of thefe drugs were of great value, they were generally put into very small veffels. The various colours, or iris, which we commonly obferve on them, is what happens to bottles, efpecially when thin, long kept in cellars, or to window-glafs expofed to the vapours of putrid animal fubftances, or to volatile alkali. But it does not appear that the Chriftians ufed these rites in their funerals. †The two promontories, at the entry of the Straits, the one in Europe, and the other in Africa, were called, by geographers, Hercules's Pillars. The former, Calpe, is Gibraltar in Europe, and the latter, Abila, is Ceuta, in Africa. The fabulous tradition of the old Spaniards was, that these mountains were cut afunder by Hercules, by which means the Atlantic ocean rushed in, and formed the Mediterranean fea -Abila Africæ, Europe Calpe, laborum Herculis metæ. Quam ob caufam indigenæ columnas ejus Dei vocant, creduntque perfoffas exclufa antea admififfe maria, et rerum naturæ mutaffe faciem." Plin. Hift. Nat. I. iii. Proem.-But befides thefe fictitious pillars, the temple of Hercules at Cadiz was ornamented with real columns of metal, and covered with infcriptions, as mentioned by Philoftratus, in his Life of Apollonius Tyanæus, l. v. c. I. Indeed, the expreffion of Pliny, l. ii. c. 107.-" ab India ad Herculis columnas Gadibus facratas," -means thefe real columns. This city ftood where now ftands thers, a fort of lime and hard cement; the royal village of Portici, washed by the fea, four miles from Naples, and about three from the top of Vefuvius. It seems, as likewife Pompeia* and Retinat, to have been buried in the great eruption of that mountain, in the time of the emperor Titus, by which Pliny the elder was fuffocated ‡. This was not the firft eruption of Vefuvius. Diodorus Siculus §, contemporary with Auguftus, and confequently older than Pliny, fays, that the eruptions of that mountain were as old as the fabulous ages. Is it not, therefore, furprizing that this should not have been mentioned by Pliny, that great hiftorian of nature? But, perhaps, that part of his work is loft. Although the eruptions prior to Pliny had not been recorded by any author, yet their effects were visibly traced, in digging at the foot of the mountain, in the year 1689. Obfervations on this excavation have been published by the learned Bianchini . As a farther proof of the antiquity of these eruptions, we have only to remark, that the streets of Herculaneum were paved with lava, or basalte, which furely had been formerly thrown out from Vefuvius. But what are our oldest records compared with the lafting monuments of nature? The city is between feventy or eighty feet below the prefent furface of the ground. The matter with which it is covered is not every where the fame. In fome places it is a fort of burnt dry earth, like afhes; in o and elsewhere, it is covered with Nothing is more difficult than to explain this furprizing effect. The learned are much divided in their opinion concerning it; the moft general opinion is, that the mountain first threw out fuch a quantity of cinders as covered the city, and then the fea penetrating into the bottom of the volcano, was afterwards vomited out, and in its courfe pufhed the cinders, earth, &c. into the houses. Thefe erupons are probably produced from marcafites, or pyrites, and fulphurious and bituminous fubftances mixed together in the earth, and humected by water. Many authors affert, that Vefuvius in its eruptions throws out more water than fire. In the eruption of December 10, 1631, it is faid, the harbour of Naples was, for a moment, quite emptied, and that all forts of fhell-fishes were mixed with the lava that came from the mountain. Pliny the * Pompeia stood on the banks of the Samo, near to the place called Torre dell' Annonciata, ten or eleven miles from Portici. um. † Retina, or Refina, was probably a country seat, or small village, near to Herculane Plin. Secund. 1. vi. Ep. 16. § Hift. l. y." Herculis deinde a Tiburi profectus, per littus Italiæ ad Cumeum vcnit campum in quo tradunt fuiffe homines admodum fortes, et ob eorum fcelera gigantes appellatos. Campus quoque ipfe dictus Phlegræus, a collequi olim plurimum ignis inftar Ethnæ Siculi evomens, nunc Vefuvius vocator, multa fervans ignis antiqui vefti gia. " La Storia univerfale provata con Monumenti, &c. Roma 1747, p. 246. the younger, giving Tacitus an account of the death of his uncle, fays, that the fea feemed to go back*. The water entering the volcano, probably gave rife to this obfervation. -Perhaps, too, the eruption was attended by an earthquake, which may have affilted to fwallow up the city. But to return : Herculaneum lay thus buried from the year 79 to the year 1739. The Prince of Elbeuf, indeed, in the year 1711, building a houfe near to Portici, and diggiug for a well, found fome pieces of wrought marble; and afterwards difcovered a temple of a round figure, the general form of thofe dedicated to Bacchus, adorned with pillars of yellow marble and fome fine ftatues: viz. a Hercules, a Cleopatra, and three elegant veftals, which he fent to Vienna, to Prince Eugene of Savoy. The veftals are now at Drefden, in the noble collection of the Elector of Saxony. But the difcovery went no further; nor did they fufpect that this was part of Herculaneum. It was in the beginning of the year 1739 that digging for another well, fome more marble was found. And being ordered by the King of Naples to dig towards the grotto, formerly discovered by Elbeuf, the workmen found two confular ftatues of marble, one of which was Auguftus; afterwards fome brick pillars, painted with different colours. And, continuing the fearch, they fell on the theatre, which was built according to the rules of Vitruvius. It confifted of eighteen feats for the fpectators, and was incrufted with marble, and beautified with pillars, ftatues, and paintings. Nor is it trange to find a theatre in a country once inhabited by the Ofci, a people remarkable for having invented thofe licentious performances, called the Ed. Mag. June 1797. Ofcenian comedy, and Fifcenine verfes. I fhall not wafte time in defcribing the many ftatues already found here. I cannot, however, omit mentioning an equeftrian one of marble, with the following infcription on its pedestal; an inscription which leaves no doubt to whom it belonged, and that this was the ancient city of Herculaneum. M. NONIO. M. F. BALBO. PR. PRO. COS. Some connoiffeurs fay that this ftatue is preferable, in point of execution, to the fo juftly celebrated one at the Capitol, of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, of Corinthian brafs. The former is indeed more ancient, and perhaps the work of a more eminent mafter: but, "Non noftrum inter vos tantas compo"nere lites." This ftatue of Balbus, and another of his father, were found in the portico of the forum, or chalcidicum, fupposed to be the place where the courts of juftice or public affemblies were held. It feems to have been a rectangular building, furrounded with a periftyle, ornamented with columns, ftatues, and paintings. Satisfied that they had at laft difcovered Herculaneum, they continued to work on, and near the theatre they found another temple, dedicated to Hercules. It has been disputed if the ancients used to build temples fo near their theatres. The one here found is a proof of the affirmative; and indeed altars have been erected within theatres themselves. Sacrifices preceded their games and plays, which were connected with, and made part of their religious ceremonies. 3 G * Præterea mare in fe reforberi, et tremore terræ, quafi repelli videbamus. Certe procefferat litus, multaque animalia maris ficcis arenis detinebat." Lib. vi. Ep. 20. remonies. Here were got fmall fta- one of Hercules, of brafs, and all the tues of feveral deities, particularly inftruments proper for facrifice. THE ANECDOTES OF LORD LOVAT. From Memoirs of his Life, by himself. HE Mafter of Lovat no fooner a rived at Inverness, a town whofe inhabitants are almost all of his clan, and as true to his interefts as thofe who live at the very gates of Lovat, than he learned that Lord Salton had once more given himself up to the direction of Robert Frafer and his affociates; that they had jointly concefted their affairs at the houfe of the Dowager Lady Lovat; and that he meaned to return the next day into his own country, without waiting to fee either Lord Lovat or his fon, notwithstanding his having given them his word that it was for their interefts that he had come into the province. Simon, who was at that time very young, and eager in his temper, was extremely irritated at this behaviour. He fent a letter with all diligence by a gentleman of his train, in which he called upon Lord Salton to adhere to his word, paffed to his father and himself, and to meet him the next day, at two in the afternoon, three miles from Beaufort, either like a friend, or with fword and piftol, as he pleased. Lord Salton received this letter at fix o'clock in the evening, and immediately called together his cabal, by whom it was refolved, that it would be proper to fend word to the Mafter of Lovat, that Lord Salton would meet him at the time and place appointed, as his good friend and fervant. In the mean time they determined, that as the rendezvous was given only for two o'clock in the afternoon, they ought to fet out at break of day, and pass the bridge of Inverness before eight in the morn ing. It was not doubted, that thus they would efcape the Mafter of Lo vat, who would have no suspicion of fo precipitate a retreat. Lord Salton accordingly returned a polite anfwer, affuring the Mafter of Lovat that he fhould be happy to meet him, in order to give him the proofs of that friendship and respect he entertained for him. The gentlemen, however, who attended the Mafter, had a mistrust of all that was concerted at Beaufort. They recommended to him to proceed for Lovat early in the morning, before it fhould be poffible for Lord Salton to escape. The Mafter accordingly proceeded, and paffed the bridge of Invernefs very early, attended by fix gentlemen and two fervants, on horfeback, completely armed. The inhabitants, obferving their alert and fpirited appearance, lifted up their hands to heaven, and prayed God to proper their enterprise. They had not proceeded more than four or five miles beyond Invernefs, when they obferved a large troop of runners iffuing out of the wood of Bonshrive, which is croffed by the high road. It is a cuftom in the north of Scotland, for almost every gentlemen to have a fervant in li very, who runs before his horse, and who is always at his ftirrup when he wishes to mount or to alight; and, however fwift any horfe may be, a good runner is always able to match him. The gentlemen who attended upon the Mafter of Lovat, feeing this large troop of runners were immediately fatisfied of the duplicity of Lord Salton, and affured him that it was his Lordship, Lord Mungo Murray, fon of Lord Athol, and the reft of the cabal who were advancing. The 66 66 me my The Mafter reprefented to his atten- "brains." Lord Mungo, mounted dants, that such an affront was too a- upon a very fine horfe, the property trocious for him not to exact fatisfac- of the late Lord Lovat, his brothertion for it, or to perish in the at- in-law, instead of firing his pistol, tempt; and he demanded of them dropped his bridle from his hand, and whether they were willing to run the exclaimed aloud, "My dear Simon, fame hazard which he was determin- "and is this the termination of our ed to do. The gentlemen of his par- "long and tender friendship! Grant ⚫ty were offended at the question, and life." The Mafter replied; affured their chief, that his own heart "You are a base coward, and deserve was not more faithful to his purpose no quarter, but I give you your than they were to expofe their lives "life" and faying this, he difarmed and fortunes for his honour and inte- him in a moment of his piftols and reft. He replied, that fince Lord his fword. No fooner was this done, Salton and Lord Mungo Murray than turning round, the Master of were, if they might judge from the Lovat perceiving one of his attendappearance of the troop of runners, ants in the very act of difcharging four times itronger than himself, he the contents of his carabine, at the would call out Lord Salton in duel, diftance of only three inches, into and Lord Mungo as his fecond, and the body of Lord Salton, Simon imhe entreated his attendants not to fire, mediately threw himself before his till the combat should be finished be- attendant, and called to him with all tween him and Lord Salton. Having his might not to fire. Thus his genethus concerted their proceedings, rofity faved in one day the lives of they marched on to the rencounter, two noblemen, who the very night the runners having affured them that before had confpired his deftruction, the company that was advancing, was and who had formally broken to him that of the Lords whom they fought. their words of honour. Lord, Salton and Lord Mungo Murray, with their train of attendants, iffued from the wood, at the moment the Mafter of Lovat was about to enter it. Upon fight of them he drew a pistol from his belt, and a very brave gentleman of his party, by name William of Erchette, who was behind the Mafter, obferving this action, without uttering a word, level led a carabine which he had upon his horfe, at Lord Salton, crying out, Since, however, the two lords had more than forty horfemen behind them in the road, the Mafter of Lovat gave orders to all the gentlemen of his party, to prefent their carabines to the breafts of Lord Salton, Lord Mungo Murray, and the perfons who were already come up, and to fire upon the first perfon who moved hand or foot, while he alighted from his horfe, and difarmed the remainder of the troop as they arrived. In this Stop, traitor, you fhall pay with manner the Master of Lovat took your hide your irruption into this from the enemy more than 40 pair country in hoftility to our laird." of piftols, together with a number of At these words they all stopped short. fwords, without the fmalleft refiftThe Mafter of Lovat inftantly ance from any individual, except the fpurred his horse into a flight gallop, valet de chambre of Lord Salton, making towards Lord Mungo, who who was a lowland Frafer, and who was foremost in a narrow path lead. would not give up his arms, till the ing out of the wood. As he ap- Master ftruck him a blow upon the proached him the Mafter of Lovat head with the flat fide of his fword. cried, his pistol in his band," Fire, In the mean time the nine persons "traitor, or I will blow out your of whom the Mafter's troop was 66 3 G 2 com |