against the practicability of obtaining that quantity which the Cardinal anticipated, on account of the small declivity of the channel of the aqueduct, and the variations in the levels of the lake itself. The Pope having directed new experiments and observations to be made, it was found that although the level of the lake was about one and a half palms above the surface of the ancient reservoir which fed the aqueduct, that this additional head was insufficient to produce the velocity to fur- nish the supply which was considered to be desirable. To obtain this velocity, a weir or dam was erected across the mouth of the lake to preserve its waters at the proper height, and the usual means of regulating the head, and disposing of the superfluous water — by sluices — was resorted to. The aqueduct now received the name of Aqua Paola, from the name of the pontiff, Paul V., in whose reign it was brought to Rome. It is a remarkable proof of the stability of the old Roman works, that when, 1000 years after the interrup- tion of this water course by the Goths, water was again let into it by direction of Cardinal Orsini, it flowed on through a length of ten miles without obstruction or leakage. The quantity of water furnished by this aqueduct is estimated at about 94,184 cubic metres in twenty-four hours. Thus, from the three modern aqueducts not less than 180,500 cubic metres of water are daily introduced into Rome ; yet the want of cleanliness is remarkable in every street and corner of the city. The water is not conveyed by pipes into the upper floors of the houses, but into a common fountain in their courts. In order to raise it to these stories, a strong iron wire is fixed with one end above the fountain, and another above the win- dow ; a bucket is made to slide along this wire, having a rope attached to it by which it is let down into the fountain, and passed over a pully above the window ; the end of the rope is held by the person in the window, and when the bucket is filled, he draws the rope, and it slides along the wire as a guide, until it arrives at the window, where it is disengaged by the attendant. But although in their houses the modem Romans profit little by their abounding supply of water, in their public fountains they excel all other cities. We shall be ex- cused for quoting the fino account of them, given by Eustace in his classical tour. FOUNTAINS. " From the obelisks, we pass to the fountains, because they are generally employed in the decoration of the same squares, and sometimes united as in the Piazza Favona and St. John a Lateran, to set each other off to more advantage. Three only of the ancient 48 PRELIMINARY ESSAY. aqueducts now remain to supply modern Rome, and yet such is the quantity they convey, and so pure the sources whence they derive it, that no city can boast of such a profusion of clear and salubrious water. Artificial fountains in general, are little better than orna- ^ mented pumps, which sometimes squirt out a scanty thread of water, and sometimes 'distil only a few drops into a muddy basin. Those on a greater scale, now and then throw up a column, or pour a torrent as occasion may require, on certain state days, or for the amusement of some distinguished personage, and then subside till a fresh supply enables them to renew the exhibition. Such are in general the fountains and cascades that adorn public walks and palace gardens ; and such the so much celebrated water- works of St. Cloud, Marli, and Versailles — inventions which can be considered only as pretty play -things, calculated, like a theatrical decoration to act an occasional part, and to furnish a momentary amusement, but too insignificant to be introduced into the resorts of the public, or into the walks of princes, where we have reason to expect solid magnifi- cence, founded on nature and reality. "How far the ancient Romans carried this species of magnificence, we may easily judge, when we consider that they had, undoubtedly, both the taste and the materials requisite for it. Their aqueducts, which supplied them with water, even to prodigality, still remain, striding across valleys, penetrating mountains, and sweeping over immense plains, till they meet in the heart of the city. The edifice where they united, and whence they separated to water their destined quarters, was called Castellum ; and if we may judge by that which remains (the Porta Maggiore) was generally a fabric of great solidity and magnificence ; and, as appears from the