were now conducted back to the side of the field we had just before left, to examine another pavement which was judiciously reserved for the last, because it is the most perfect and beautiful. The first thing that attracted my attention in this apartment was the representation of Gladiators in the various stages of combat, pleasingly formed in various coloured stone. The fine curve of the eyebrow, and general expression of the countenance, render it an object of the highest admiration. On each side of this figure is a pheasant beautifully formed. The tessella that compose these pavements are of various sizes, but for the most part extremely small. The exterior border of each pavement is formed of a small red brick, in size from half to three-quarters of an inch square. These relics of antiquity, so well worthy the attention of every one who journeys that way, are preserved from the inclemency of the weather, by thatched buildings of flint bowlers, after the Sussex style. Having examined all that was to be seen---we mounted the hills, and Gliding down the western sky beheld Sols parting ray; pure serenity reigned all around us, and over the downs to the tinkling sheep bell, we homeward pursued our course. DETACHED THOUGHTS. "WHERE the Roman conquers, he inhabits, says, Seneca. Where the Briton inhabits, he conquers; and that is a purer praise. He seizes on the wilds of nature, and adds them to his empire, by planting there the industry that will fertilize the soil, and the laws that will civilize the people. His invasions are made with the pruning hook, and the plough; his levies and contributions are an interchange that is to enrich; his encampments are fairs and warehouses; the corn springs along his path, the city climbs beside his resting place." "Personified abstractions belong to the philosophic, not to the poetic style; the Greeks wisely avoided them in poetry." The wisest revenge for injustice, is the affectation of an opposite generosity. The fear of shame accomplishes what retaliation cannot effect." A. A. R. DECEMBER. THIS month was under the protection of Vesta. The flatterers of the detestable Commodus gave it the name of Amazonius, in compliment to a mistress of the emperor, whom he had caused to be painted in the dress of an Amazon. But this name was abolished after his death. This month was almost entirely devoted to sports and pleasure, and, during its continuance, games of chance, which were forbidden at other times, were allowed to be played. Romulus gave thirty days to this month, which Numa reduced to twenty-nine; but the number was increased to thirty-one, by Julius Cæsar. The Festum Fortunæ Muliebris or festival of female fortune, was celebrated on the first of the month, in memory of a war having ceased on that day. Sacrifices were offered, on the fourth, to Minerva and Neptune. The Faunalia took place on the following day. This feast was devoted to Faunus, to whom a he goat was sacrificed, and libations of wine were made. This day was a day of feasting, merriment and dancing for the peasants. Offerings were made on the ninth, to Juno, as presiding over marriage. Under this character, she had an altar in one of the streets of Rome. The festival of the Agonalia was held for the third time in the year, on the eleventh. On the thirteenth there were equestrian exercises. The Saturnalia began on the fifteenth, and lasted for seven days. This was a time of unlimited freedom and gaiety. All business was postponed, and nothing was thought of but pleasure. The senate suspended its debates, the law proceedings paused, the schools were closed, and even the slaves had the liberty of acting and speaking in whatever manner they pleased. During this festival, sacrifices were offered to Saturn, with the head uncovered, contrary to the usual practice. The statue of the god was also freed from the woollen bands with which it was enveloped all the rest of the year, probably, in memory of the captivity to which he had been reduced by the Titans and Jupiter. G G The original establishment of this festival is a matter of dispute. Livy places it under the consulship of Ancus Sempronicus and M. Minutius Augurinus. Some attribute it to Tarquin the Proud, while others carry it as far back as to the period of Janus, king of the Aborigines, who received Saturn in Italy. After the reign of Tarquin, the celebration of it was discontinued, but was resumed, by the authority of the Senate, during the second Punic war. Connected with this festival, and forming indeed a part of it, were four others, the Opalia, the Sigillaria the Larentalia, and the Juvenalia. The Opalia was in honor of the goddess Ops or Cybele, and was held on the eighteenth. The Sigillaria occurred on the nineteenth, and was so called from the presents which persons made to each other, and which consisted of little figures of copper, silver, gold, or even of clay. Statues of this kind were offered to Pluto, on this occasion, and tapers to Saturn. The Larentalia, was on the twenty-third, and was in memory of Acca Laurentia, the wife of Faustulus, by whom Romulus and Remus were brought up. Juvenalia was added by Caligula, and was held on the twenty-fourth. The In the interval between the commencement and conclusion of the Saturnalia there were also two other festivals. The first of these was the Angeronalia, which fell on the twentieth, and was dedicated to Angerona, the goddess of silence and calmness of mind; and the second was the Lararia, or Compitalia, devoted to the Gods Lares, which happened on the twenty-second. On this latter day, offerings of honied wine were also made to Hercules and Venus. Sacrifices were offered to Phœbus, on the twenty-seventh and two subsequent days. In this month, likewise, the husbandmen held a festival called Vacunalia, in which the goddess Vacuna was invoked. The Sun during this month is in the signs Sagittarius, and Capricorn. ACCOUNT OF THE SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA FRIGATE. DRIVEN almost to madness hy the gnawings of hunger, many of the crew rushed upon the dead bodies, and satisfied their voracious appetites with this disgusting food. Some, who could not yet submit to avail themselves of this terrible resource, endeavoured to allay the cravings of their stomach with leather, linen, pieces of hat, or whatever else they could find. All were, however, at length, compelled to yield to irresistible necessity. The day was spent in alternations of momentary hope, and silent despair. Prayers were, at times, addressed to the Supreme Being. Half the men were exceedingly weak, and bore in all their features the signs of approaching dissolution. The night was dark, but, fortunately, calm. Slumber sometimes visited the sufferers, but their sleep was tormented by frightful dreams; and though so many had perished, they were still up to their knees in the water, and could repose only standing, and pressed against each other into a solid mass. The dawn of day discovered to them ten or twelve of their companions stretched lifeless at their feet. The bodies were committed to the sea, with the exception of one. The day was fine, and a circumstance occurred which afforded a transient succour. A shoal of flyingfish passed under the raft, and about two hundred of them became entangled in the interstices of the timbers. With a little gunpowder, they contrived to procure a fire, and to make a scanty repast upon the fish which they had caught. It seemed, however, as if sustenance gave them strength for no other purpose than to display their ferocity. A plot was formed by one A despart of them, to throw the other into the sea. perate conflict was once more the result, and the raft was soon stained with torrents of blood, and strewed with the dying and the dead. After a long struggle, the mutineers were subdued. When the fifth morning broke upon them, not more than thirty remained, and these were in the most deplorable state. The sea-water had almost entirely excoriated their lower extremities, and they were covered with contusions or wounds, the smart of which, occasioned by the saline element which beat upon them, was almost insupportable. Thus they lingered on, till the seventh day, when their number was further dimi nished. Two soldiers were punished with death, for stealing a part of the small remaining portion of wine. An interesting child, named Leon, only twelve years old, also expired on this day. Young as he was, he had already made a campaign in the East Indies, and been remarked for his courage. The manner in which he was treated, is the sole trait of humanity which appears in the conduct of those who were contained on the raft. Every thing was done for him which could prolong his existence; as much nutriment as possible being given to him, without a single murmur. Nay, savage as the sufferers were to each other, they bore without resentment even his trampling upon their wounded limbs. "As long as the strength of this young marine allowed him," says M. Correard," he ran continually from one side to the other, calling, with loud cries, for his unhappy mother, water, and food. He walked, without discrimination, over the feet and legs of his companions in misfortune, who, in their turn, uttered cries of anguish, which were every moment repeated. But their complaints were very seldom accompanied by menaces; they pardoned every thing in the poor youth who had caused them, and who was, in fact, in a state of mental derangement." Of the twenty-seven who were left, not more than fifteen had strength enough to have a chance of surviving even for a few days. The other twelve were covered with large wounds, and were almost wholly hereft of their reason. The stock of wine was rapidly decreasing. In this emergency, a council was held; and, "after a debate, at which the most dreadful despair presided, it was resolved to throw the sick into the sea, as to put them on short allowance would be only killing them by inches, and would certainly consume sufficient to prevent the remainder from holding but till succour could arrive. "Three sailors and a |