The Study Of Classical Archæology.

the cabinets of the curious ; that upon this pottery of such monotonous aspect , the heroic and religious myths of Greece unfold themselves to an inconceivable extent . ' Frequently these lines so pure , this case , full of grace , this ravishing caprice , all this flower of youth and beauty , screen from uninitiated eyes the free creations of pantheism , and the ideas of the ancients upon the forces of natureand on death .

, In these simple sketches , ivhieh a mercantile pen has let fall , the symbolic school , and the learned and gentle Creuzer , its illustrious chief , have more than once sought the light trace of pagaii spiritualism . The enigmatic figures which group themselves around the large vases of La Pouille , those grand and confused representations of the gods of Erebus and of the Furies , may ivell have seemed to them the mysterious formula ;

hy which the ancients revealed their thoughts upon man ' s destiny after death . Wo admit that some tendencies , impressed with certain mysticism , have glided into the exegesis of those monuments of serene antiquity . But , on the other hand , they have been pointed to with vivacity by a rival ¦ school , of which Voss and M . Lobeck are illustrious representatives . But have not the critics too far ? Ifas some

gone , philologers think , the treasures of Greek art , that art so charming and so pure , merely express petirite ideas ; if those drvme marbles only portray gross appetites , the complete Avant of sympathy between the form and the idea , this eternal contradiction is most intensely to be deplored ; it Averc indeed a veritable dishonour to tho human mind .

Towards 1835 , antique topography took the first place in the " Annates et le Bulletin . " The Pontificial Government had been ted eight years previously to clear out the mass of solas which separates the Capitol from the Coliseum . These excavations brought valuable results . Thus the discovery of the pavement of the Via Sacra ted to the recognition of the ancient ii-sats of the Forum . The study of this celebrated spot is full

of difficulties . To mark upon tlie sward which springs up between the ruins the spot where the kingly people crowded together to listen to its tribuues , and to call by their real name ItK the illustrious remains that ages have accumulated hi the Campo Vaccino , may be regarded as one of those labours that the most courageous sagacity aud the soundest erudition alone may dare to undertake . Many antiquaries have exercised

their powers upon this delicate subject . Wc ivill cite Nartlini , Fea , Gial , Nibby , Canina , and more recently , MM . Becker and Ilcnzen . In a previous volume of the Builder onr readers Save had particulars of their various theories . To the efforts of the antiquaries must be joined those of artists : fine restorations , admirably conceived , have been proposed by the architects . "White with so brave a hand Niebuhr

rebuilt Roman history , this great critic dreamed over a restoration of the Forum . But the earth still hid in part the monuments which could have guided him . Admirer and friend of Nlebuhr , and prompt to profit by a fortuitous circumstance , M . Biinscn has wished to conclude the sketch commenced by a bright intelligence . This remarkable attempt , the work of a mind at once large and enthusiasticis summed

, up and made clear in carefully studied plans . Not only does it embrace the Forum of the republic , but also includes all those constructed by the emperors . Doubtless it is hypothetic on several points ; but , as it is au authority on others , as it occupies an elevated rank in the " Annates , " we ought to pause iiefore it .

The Forum of the republic ( Forum veins ) , covered originally with trees and shops , developed itself in a valley closed by three hills , the Cnpitolino to the west , the Palatine in the south , and the Volia to the cast , All the space comprised between the arch of Septimus Scvcnts , placed at the foot of the Capitol and ( he temple of Faustina , situated at the base of the Vclia , now crowned by the triumphal arch of Titus , —all this ive repeat ied the

space , , was occup by Forum . Spacious enough at the west end , it narrows considerably in the east . The figure it takes on paper is that of a truncated pyramidj of which tho base lies at the foot of the Capitol , and the summit at the loot of tlie Vclia . This form was given to it by the divergence of two streets , which descended from the Vclia , in the direction of the CapitolTlicy bounded it the north

. on and south throughout its entire length . These two streets isolated the Roman square from the temples , the Basilica ? , and Hie Senate-hall , which surrounded it , and ranged themselves along their facade . The northern street was called the Via

The Study Of Classical Archæology.

Sacra—summa via Sacra ; it was by this street that tho triumphant Avarriors entered the Capitol ; the southern , summa Vclia , Avhich passed at the foot of the Palatine . Two transverse streets crossed the former , the one to the east marked the limits of the Forum , as high up as the temple of Faustina ; the other to the west , and nearer to the Capitol , divided the Forum ; this was the Glivus Saccr . In the portion comprised

between this street and the temple of Faustina , the Forum changed its name ; it was called Comitiuni . There , in fact , were held the comitia . This Comitiuni , which a great epigraplnst—M . Henzenplaces at the foot of the Capitol ( " Annates , " 1814 ) , —why , Ave will not say here—this Comitium constituted the most important part of the Republican Forum ; or , to speak more

correctly , it was a second Forum , —whereas the former , the Forum of the plebians , Avas merely a market . The Comitium belonged to the patricians . It was for ages the political and religious sanctuary of the Soman people . The Forum of the plebians had , doubtless , also its days of glory . The vine , the olive , and the fig-tree , which the Soman labourers had formerly planted—those happy symbols of Italian culturein later times threw their broad shade over many a stormy discussion . ( To be conthuiei . )

Architecture And Archæology.

ARCHITECTURE AND ARCH ? OLOGY .

^ ST . HELEN ' S , Kirmmgton , Brigg , was re-opened on the 17 th ult . The church , ivhieh is of the thirteenth century , has undergone a restoration .- The chancel window ( east ) was blocked up by the Commandments , the Commandments by an ugly organ , and the platform on which the instrument rested , and on which the singers were seated , reached seven or eight feet beyond the communion-rail . The north and

south aisles have been entirely rebuilt at the sole cost of two parishioners , Messrs . Prankish and Hudson—the north aisle with four new windows by the former . One of these windows is an ornamental window , the gift of Mr . William C . Brackenbury , her Majesty ' s Consul at Vigo , iu the province of Gallicia . The designs are , the conversion of St . Paul , aud Paul preaching at Athens—the heading being

ornamented with the figure of the dove bearing the olive branch . This window is near the pulpit . The south aisle has three new windows , given by Messrs . Prankish and Hudson . A memorial window has been placed in the south aisle by the vicar . The subjects are the following;—1 st light . The Raising of the Widow ' s Son ; 2 nd . The Resurrection of Lazarus ; 3 rd . Raising Jairus ' s Daughter . The heading is

a representation of the Ascension . Mrs . Hudson , the widow of the late Francis Hudson , of Kirmington Vale , has also put in a memorial lvindoiv to her late husband . The following are the subjects : —1 st light . The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus ; 2 nd . The Three Marys at the Tomb ; 3 rd . The Incredulity of St . Thomas . The heading is descriptive of the Resurrection . There is also a figure of St . Helen ( to ( vhom tho church is dedicated ) in the west ( lancet ) window of the tower . This was presented by the vicar , as was also the font .

The foundation stone of St . James ' s Church has just been laid , Cbcshunt ( Herts ) . The style of architecture is the Early Pointed . Tho church will consist of nave , an apsidal chancel , transepts , and south chapel , with a tower . The contract for erecting the edifice is £ 2 , 271 , and the subscriptions already received exceed that sum . But it is ju-oposed also to erect a parsonage house . The church will contain

286 free sittings , 85 appropriated , and 50 for children ; in all 421 sittings . The church of St , Mary , Sivanage , Dorsetshire , has been restored , nearly tho whole , except " the tower , having been rebuilt . The building is cruciform , with the addition of a north aisle separated from the nave by two arches ; tho prevailing characteristic of tho chancel " is earl lish

y Eng , and of the nave and transepts Perpendicular , though there arc features of the Decorated style here and there throughout the building , more particularly in the east end , which has a five-light window of this description . The roof is opentimbered . Accommodation , is given to a congregation of about 700 , by a scries of open seats of stained cloal , ivhilethc