304 GREEK AND ROMAN COINS. portico of a small temple dedicated to Bacchus. The effect is agreeable, but too much resembles a long passage: this, however, is the unavoidable effect of the judicious manner in which these precious remains of antiquity have been disposed, in which it has been thought better to deposit them in apartments, instead of distracting and too rapidly saturating the eye, by crouding them all into one vast room. In the apartments above, is the collection of Greek and Roman coins, and household gods; and here I must not omit to mention a raven in bronze, as large as life, of exquisite workmanship, necklaces, ear-rings, trinkets, Roman lamps in terra cotta, many of which exhibit figures in relievo, in the most lustful attitudes specimens of ancient painting from the Herculaneum, &c. I hear that the public will speedily be gratified with a splendid publication, containing engravings from the principal subjects of Grecian and Roman sculpture, with TOWNLEY COLLECTION. 305. learned explanatory notes. As you wished me so much to give you my opinion of the Townley collection, I have attempted the task; and I must now add, that I have only mentioned the most distinguished amongst these rare antiquities, of which there is a great number which would excite your admiration, and would fill a volume to describe. Adieu. |