the publick classes, they retain their habits of association and intercourse, even when the immediate connection of pursuits is lost in the difference of their plans for future life. The Irish students, however, who are very numerous, compose a body almost entirely distinct from the rest: they usually make their appearance at the college about a month or six weeks after the commencement of the session, and as their pecuniary resources are not, in general, very abundant, the greater number of them take wing several weeks before the termination of the publick business; thus resigning all prospect of the prizes, and other honourary distinctions of the college. The number of English students at Glasgow, though it has been gradually increasing for the last few years, is at present by no means considerable. They gener. ally come to the college when between sixteen and eighteen years of age, and entering themselves first to the logick class, pursue their course forwards through the classes of moral and natural philosophy, occasionally concluding their studies by taking out a degree of Master of Arts. As the student, if he possesses active and industrious dispositions, may easily conjoin two or three separate courses of lectures, with the business of the publick class in each session, this general plan of study seems the most judicious and complete that can be pursued; and it is probable that there are few modes of education which would furnish a more secure aud substantial basis for the business and pursuits of after life.

The literary and debating societies in the college are numerous, and in some instances conducted with considerable spirit. The principal among them, is that of which the several professors are members: at the meetings of this society, papers are read on various literary topicks, with a view of promoting their fair and liberal discussion; and not unfrequently their debates are distinguished by much animation and ingenuity. Another society, for the investigation of theological questions, has been instituted among the divinity students, to whom, of course, an admission into it is exclusively confined. The remainder are of a more general description, and in some cases established only for a single session; the questions proposed for discussion, being usually those of an historical, political, or moral nature. Habits of dogmatism and self-conceit may occasionally be produced by a familiarity with the forms of argumentative debate but, upon the whole, it may safely be presumed, that the operation of these societies is favourable to the general interests of education.

Such, Sir, is a brief sketch of the present state of the university of Glasgow. Its deficiencies are, probably, numerous, but I believe I may venture to say, that it possesses the merits of accuracy and imparti ality. With the earnest wish that it may afford some gratification te the readers of the Athenæum,

I remain, Sir, yours, &c.

AMICUS.

Rome, Dec. 1, 1804.

MY DEAR SISTER,

ON our route to Rome, we made a small detour to see the celebrated remains of a magnificent bridge, built by Augustus over the river Nera. Whether it was designed merely for a bridge, or for an aqueduct, is not apparent from its present state, but for whatever purpose intended, it bears the characteristick stamp of grandeur, which is imprinted on all the labours of the Romans. The river flows between two lofty hills, and, not content with enabling you to pass the stream, they have chosen to spare you the labour of ascent and descent, and have carried the bridge across upon a level with the tops of the hills. Nothing is more striking than a comparison of this relick of antiquity, with a tolerably respectable modern bridge, which has been erected to supply its place. There remains one entire arch of the ancient bridge, and the abutments of the others. The width of the arches is very great, the height stupendous; but the most interesting part of the structure, is the solidity and beauty of the masonry. It consists of vast blocks of stone, well hewn, nobly arranged, and not connected by any cement whatever. All the buildings of the Romans, designed for durability, are constructed in

this manner. Nothing but earthquakes, or some calamity independent of the ordinary efforts of time, could destroy them. Why then has this bridge fallen? Because its foundation was treacherous; the bottom is sand, the river a rapid torrent, and the stream undermined the foundation. It still rests an august monument of Roman industry, ingenuity, and taste, and a lasting proof of the degeneracy of their descendents in their publick works of a like nature.

When at Terni, we paid a visit to the very justly celebrated cascade, situate upon the Velino, about four miles from that city. The road to this celebrated cataract, winds along the Monte Marmore, one of the Appennines, and gives a continued succession of romantick and wild scenery.

The fall itself, taken in connection with its scenery, and its perfect perpendicular descent, may be fairly rated among the greatest wonders of nature, if it cannot be placed at the head of them. Our Niagara, to be sure, is more grand and sublime, on account of the volume and immense force of its water; but it yields to the cascade Delle Marmore, at Terni, in beauty of surrounding scenery and in heighth. The falls of the Rhine exceed that of Terni, in quantity of water, but are vastly inferior in every other point. Accident has led me to see as many of

these beautiful objects of nature, as any man, perhaps, in the world. Few, at least, I am persuaded, can boast of having seen the most remarkable waterfalls of both hemispheres.

Extravagantly attached to the beauties of nature, I have always classed the cataracts and cascades among the most interesting. It may not be unentertaining to you, then, to have a comparative statement, as nearly as I can make it, of the respective heighths, volumes of water, and local beauties of the most cele, brated cataracts of every country I have visited.

To make the comparison more clear, we will examine each of these points by itself. The cascade at Terni, so far as I know, is the highest in the world. Its perpendicular descent is 800 feet, and the difference of level between the Velino above, and the Nera, into which it throws itself below, to compute from the fair level of both rivers, is 1364 feet. Some people may think, that it diminishes from the respectability of this waterfall, to learn that it is in fact artificial. To my mind it adds interest to its his tory. It was, in fact, produced by a canal cut from the lake Velino, by Marcus Annius Curius Dentatus, towards the year of Rome 480, for the purpose of draining some lands, which were overflown by the lake. The canal is cut an incredible distance through a solid mountain of rock, and encountering this fortunate passage, the stream precipitates itself down this awful precipice, and falls into the river Nera, which comes from another of the Appennines. The next highest waterfall, which I have ever seen, is that of the Montmorency, about eight miles below Quebec, in Canada. This

charming caseade consists of a single sheet of water, which falls per fectly perpendicular 240 feet.

The cascade (for it deserves no other name) of Pistill Rhyadar, in. North Wales, is about 200 feet in heighth; that of the grand cataract of Niagara, 187; the Clyde falls in its largest descent, 80 feet; the Rhine, at Schaffhausen, or rather Lauffen, some writers think, precipitates itself 50, others 100 feet; the Pisse Vache, in the Pays de Vallais, I should think, about 150 feet, and the Mohawk about 40 or 50; the Staubbach I have not seen, but they talk of 900 feet, though it is admitted the stream is very contemptible in point of size.

Thus you see, the falls of the Velino, carry the prize from all the others, in one of the most essential points, constituting a grand cataract or cascade. In point of volume of water, force, sublimity, and grandeur, our Niagara is not only superiour to all the others, but is equal to all of them combined. Several oceans, or internal seas, for our lakes deserve that name, pour their united streams down that precipice. The fall of the Rhine claims the next rank in point of grandeur. Its volume is equal to all the others combined, except the Niagara. Our Mohawk and the Clyde may fairly dispute the pre-eminence, as to the next place. The Velino certainly makes good its claims to the suc ceeding position; while the Pistill Rhayadar and the Pisse Vache must be contented with the humble title of beautiful cascades: the others may fairly be classed with cataracts. The scenery of Terni is certainly far superiour to that of any or all the others: It unites grandeur and sublimity with beauty. The towering and snow clad Appennines

lift their bold heads in noble majesty around it, and every thing responds to the sublimity of the cataract.

The cascades of Wales and Switzerland have the same species of beauties: the mountain scenery is of the same class, but less picturesque than that of Italy. Those of the Clyde and Montmorency have milder and less striking beauties. They do not produce awe or astonishment; while the scenery around our Niagara and Mohawk is wonderfully tame, infinitely beneath the grandeur of the principal objects.

The country about Niagara in particular, is flat and uninteresting, and you recognize none of those bold objects, which you would expect to find, where nature was about to exhibit one of her noblest operations.

Such are the hasty thoughts which have occurred to me, in relation to these several beautiful and interesting scenes, which I have travelled so many miles, and passed so many hours in admiring.

I cannot quit the Cascade of Terai without observing, that Mr. Addison and many other men of taste have fancied, that Virgil alluded to this famous place when he describes the spot where the fury, Alecto, descended into hell. This will not diminish its interest with you or any person of taste, who knows how beautiful the description is, and how capable Addison was of judging of its applicability. The passage is in the 7th book of the Æneid, line 563, et seq.

Est locus Italiæ in medio sub monti bus altis."

If you have Pitt's translation, you can see its beauties, if not, you must make one of your friends turn it into verse for you.

The general prose idea is, "that there exists a place in the midst of

Italy, surrounded with lofty mountains, much known to fame, embos omed in impenetrable groves, from whence a torrent, bursting forth amidst the rocks, rushes with mighty noise and many a whirlpool. Here is a horrid cave, and here the vast Acheron opens its pestiferous jaws." The position of this cataract in the midst of Italy, its situation amidst the Appenines, its cool groves, its deafening noise, its impetuous torrent, certainly respond to the description of the poet, and give colour to the suggestions of the classick Addison. But I confess, that I cannot find a word in this passage of Virgil which gives an idea of a high or perpendicular waterfall.

I believe you are however tired of this topick, as I am sure I have been for two pages past.

Although the hope of transferring to my friends a tolerable correct idea of the curiosities, which modern Rome offers to the man of taste, is futile and vain, yet a strong desire, which I feel, to make them, in some degree, partakers in scenes, which have been very interesting to me, induces me to continue my labours. The Romans understood better than any people, who have succeeded them, not only what are called the arts of life, "l'art de bien vivre," as the French call it, but, also the nature of the human heart, No people ever acted more wisely, or to speak correctly, more gaciously, in the pursuit of their ambition. Power and pleasure were the principal springs of action with that celebrated nation. To make their arms felt and respected, from the pillars of Hercules to the banks of the Euphrates, and from the burning sands of Numidia to the British shores, was the first object of their ambition: to enjoy the fruits of these conquests, to unite the luxu

sa

ries of every climate, the sports and refinements, the arts and improvements of every nation, was the second, but hardly a less ardent wish. The relicks, which we yet view with astonishment and delight, are strongly marked with both these traits; with the thirst of conquest, and the love of pleasure. Every palace, theatre, circus, publick bath, and many temples, contained trophies, or statues, indicating the extent of their conquests; but the most noble and splendid monuments of their victories, the most just, laudable, and wise, were the arches of triumph, which they raised to the honour of their successful generals, consuls, or dictators. There are several still standing in various parts of the empire, in honour of Caius Marius, who afterwards perished ignominiously. I recollect a splendid one at Orleans, in France, and another at St. Remy, near the river Rhone, erected to that great, but unfortunate man. In Rome, there are still remaining several, erected at various times, in honour of their emperours, of which I will give you some little account. The most perfect, on the whole, considering the style in which it was executed is that of the emperour Septimus Severus; it was erected on the occasion of his return from his victories, and is placed at the foot of the Mons Capitolinus, at the entry of the Forum Romana; it is still standing in a state almost perfect, and as such facilitates exceedingly, an accurate knowledge of the topographical situation of the ancient Forum, to which historians assure you, it was the entrance. I do not think it necessary to describe the architecture accurately, to say that its columns are Corinthian, &c. &c. but I can observe, without offending you with pedantry, that its propor

tions are simple, grand and elegant, that its heighth is noble, that it is of most beautiful marble, and that it is clothed with bas reliefs, or sculptured pictures, accurately and nobly describing the victories of this emperour. After passing this arch, you traverse the Forum Romanum, at the farther end of which you meet with the arch of Titus Vespasian, who is distinguished by having been the prince, who fulfilled the scripture prophecies against the Jews, by the capture and total destruction of Jerusalem. This arch was originally more beautiful than the other, but it has suffered more from the ruffian hand of barbarians. Still, however, you recognize a noble stile of architecture, and two of the bas reliefs, one representing Titus in his triumphal car, and the other the spoils of the temple at Jerusalem, when brought to Rome, are among the most perfect monuments of ancient sculpture in basso relievo.

There is a little piece of history, connected with this arch, which, as it has amused me, may be some entertainment to you. There are about 10,000 Jews at Rome, who, as in all other parts of Europe, live, as the prophecies foretold, in an unsettled, wandering state, utterly despised and hated by their fellow citizens. These Jews never could bear the idea of passing under this arch of Titus, erected in commemoration of the utter defeat of their nation, and the destruction of their city, and whose bas reliefs related in eloquent, though dumb language, the story of their humiliation They, therefore, petitioned the Pope, as this was a necessary thoroughfare, to grant them a small passage by the side, and it is said, that no Jew ever passes under this hated arch. This story is related with every ap