250 ROME ANTIQUITIES. above mentioned is built of immense blocks of Grecian marble, with recesses, in which statues were placed. 29 MRS. S often kindly invites us to be the companions of her walks, and this day took us to the baths of Titus, through which we had no light to guide our steps but the torches provided by a cicerone. Some of these under-ground arches appeared of colossal height. The building was originally of an enormous size, including the imperial palace, &c. There are said to have been more than eight hundred public baths besides private ones. The emperor's bath was cased with the richest marble, the pavement very beautiful. In a niche was found the Laocoon. The building consisted of two stories, one for the baths, in the other, games were exhibited. By the light of the torch, held up for the purpose, we could discern some beautiful female figures, and several birds and beasts, supposed to have been executed nearly eighteen hundred years ago; and though during a considerable part of ROME ANTIQUITIES. 251 that period, they have been buried under ground, they still in many places retain their original freshness of colouring. Many beautiful specimens of these ancient frescoes have been dexterously cut from the walls, particularly that much admired one which is now in the Vatican, the Nozze Aldobrandini, said to be the finest relic of antiquity in this art. Many copies have been taken of it by celebrated artists, but Nicolo Poussin has excelled them all in producing a very beautiful picture, which may be seen in the Doria palace. Near the baths was the reservoir for water, and a number of rooms, seven of which still remain, called Le Sette Sale. They are situated in a vineyard. Some ancient mosaic pavement may be seen in the under-ground part of the beautiful little church of San Martino, where part of the baths also remain in their original state. This church is adorned with pillars of Giallo Antico, alabaster, and other rare and beautiful marbles. The church of St. Pietro in Vincolo, also covers part of the ruins of these baths. In this church is the famous statue of Moses, by Michael Angelo. I admired the statue very much, but not the horns, which are intended to represent those rays of glory which rendered his countenance too dazzling bright for the children of Israel to look upon. May 3. This used to be a day of gladness to our little family party, being the anniversary of the morning on which our darling Anny first opened interment in the day-time, a deputation was sent to the higher powers, in consideration of the advanced age of Sir W., his recent affliction, and delicate health, to ask permission that the funeral might take place in the morning. This permission was not only readily granted, but, as an additional mark of respect, a troop of cavalry received orders to be ready to attend us, in case any insult should be offered. But so far was such an attempt from being made, that even the very soldiers stood near the grave with their muskets lowered, looking on in solemn silence, as did a numerous concourse of persons, who respectfully followed the procession of carriages, in which were some of the Roman nobility, as well as Germans and English. Two young English clergymen officiated, and never was our beautiful burial service read in a more impressive manner. He who "does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men," supernaturally sustained us in that trying hour, when the heartrending sound reached our ears, of "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust," and the inanimate stones fell on the coffin which contained her who was alike inanimate. We were borne up by the sure and certain hope of the joyful resurrection unto life eternal through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when, at the sound of the last trumpet, this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality. DEPREDATIONS OF BANDITTI. 253 act, in every word, he preserves the consistency of the Christian character; even, when lately bending under the severe dispensation, which deprived him of his beloved daughter, no word escaped his lips which did not indicate a heart resigned and submissive; but it is the opinion of Dr. Clarke, that his efforts to suppress his own feelings, in order that he might support and comfort her whom he loved better than himself, was the predisposing cause of his present illness; he had also been in the habit of taking very long walks during the melancholy period of suspense; as he expressed himself to his wife, he felt like a machine wound up, going forward unconsciously till recalled to recollection the weariness of his little companions, Richard and Elizabeth, who always attended his steps; the former of whom particularly, could, by no inducement, be prevailed on to leave his papa's side. He watched his looks with the tenderest solicitude, and tried every childish endearment to amuse his thoughts. As I can be of no use in the sick room, the task now devolves on me to walk out with these dear children, whose health of body and of mind requires exercise and amusement. May 11. We hear melancholy accounts of the daring depredations of banditti. All the monks have been carried off from a convent, at Frascati, into the mountains, and the sum of eight thousand scudi is demanded from the Roman government faith is too weak to reveal to us Christ as he is! We give way to impatience and fretfulness because we do not love the Lord, but are in our hearts ready to rebel against his righteous decrees when opposed to our will; though with our lips we may confess that he doeth all things well, and though we acknowledge the necessity of having our affections weaned from this world, which was never intended for the place of our rest! The loss of every dear companion who is removed from the believer, teaches him more fully to know the instability of human enjoyments; and while by the eye of faith he contemplates the loved object unclothed of the defiled garments of sin, and robed in the righteousness of Christ, his love is purified; and he feels a more ardent desire to be also unclothed and clothed again: he longs to join the celestial company above, and to unite his voice in an endless hymn of praise to Him who hath washed us and redeemed us with his own blood. Some well-meaning but mistaken persons here have been endeavouring to persuade us again to mix in society, in order to dissipate our grief, and to turn away our thoughts from her who so lately was the delight of our eyes; but if we could do so, it would not be fulfilling the gracious purpose for which we have been chastened. The Lord never gave that dear child and took her again that we might forget her; but that we might consider our own ways, and look unto Him to open for us the |