I visited Naples in the year 1818. On the 8th of December of that year, mycompanion and I crossed the Bay, to visit the antiquities which are scatteredon the shores of Baiæ. The translucent and shining waters of the calm seacovered fragments of old Roman villas, which were interlaced by sea-weed, andreceived diamond tints from the chequering of the sun-beams; the blue andpellucid element was such as Galatea might have skimmed in her car of mother ofpearl; or Cleopatra, more fitly than the Nile, have chosen as the path of hermagic ship. Though it was winter, the atmosphere seemed more appropriate toearly spring; and its genial warmth contributed to inspire those sensations ofplacid delight, which are the portion of every traveller, as he lingers, loathto quit the tranquil bays and radiant promontories of Baiæ.
We visited the so called E