PROTESTANT BURYING-GROUND AT ROME. (SEE ENGRAVING.)

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THE print for this month we cannot say very beautiful; nor is it very impressive. Its one prominent feature we may rather call huge than grand. Yet this colossal pyramid doubtless might inspire a feeling of grandeur, were it more felicitously placed. Its location may have been calculated for convenience. It seems to have been excavated, without delving into the sidehill, which, to a considerable extent, at once forms its base, and disfigures it. If this immense piece of masonry were presented to us standing in the midst of a plain, the effect would be much enhanced, or, rather, there would be an impression created, which, in its present aspect, does not exist at all.

Whether this is the tomb of the Protestants, or a mausoleum belonging to some other of the various sects who inhabit this city, the plate does not inform us. It is time-worn and moss-grown, and its form, the most simple possible, would indicate an early antiquity for its construction. It is massive and strong, and its roughness contrasts strikingly with the ruins of the fabrics about it.

The history of Rome, the school-boy's lore, though deeply interesting, is far too trite for dissertation at this time of day.

It must be a fine thing to visit the seats and scenes of antiquity-the "Eternal City" being most of all desirable in this respect. The works of ingenuity and the inspirations of taste, can doubtless elicit corresponding sentiments wherever the germ has been afforded. But why persons affect to feel the presence of antiquity from witnessing these objects, over and above those which are everywhere afforded them in nature-so incomparably stupendous and grand— is what one does not readily understand. And as for the calculations of antiquity, as found at particular points, any, possible to our sphere, may surely be exceeded by the sphere itself. Its daily sun, its nightly firmament, with the oceans which we traverse in arriving at these points, and the eternal mountains, are in themselves as legitimate objects of veneration, surely, as those which are more minute; and of as great antiquity, too; for "in the beginning" VOL. VI.-33

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was the Word which spake it into being. But it is natural to believe that the sentiment of antiquity dwells in the soul, and that no mere contact of the eye can heighten its contemplation. For the rest, as objects of beauty, these wonders retain their specific merit and hold upon us.

When I first saw the ocean, I was disappointed that I was not more impressed by its vastness; but I soon resolved this into its true explanation: I had already seen something as vast. I had been accustomed to scan the firmament by night, when its spaciousness is best discerned, both by reduction of light and by the relative positions of stars, marking its infinitude.

But let us not forget the proper object of the present notice. Some few stones in the view indicate graves. We may suppose that not many Protestants seek to lay their bones within this seat of Romanism-not that the ashes is the palladium of faith, or that creeds can exert a posthumous influence over it: still, Protestants are least likely to be found in numbers in this place. The pyramid contains, perhaps, catacombs of this people: if so, instead of calling it a burying-ground, the word "tomb," or "mausoleum," had been more correct.

Here, no doubt, too, sleep the pilgrims of health"vain hopes of life, that perish!" But now all is merged in certainty-perhaps of amaranthine health and blessedness. Peace to their ashes!

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The group of figures by the pyre is either English or American, as we judge by the dress and 'deportment." The two others by the ruins are too listless for either artists or amateurs, and not groveling enough for loafers. They are, perhaps, goat-herds. Joy to them!

This does not look like evening; yet the moon is now in her first quarter-her "crescent." In her decrease, when we may discern her by early twilight, we know, she "blunts her horns." However, here she is quiet, and high, and sereneever beautiful!

Let no one ever totally condemn a picture, until it has been examined a quarter of an hour continuously. Then the objects will be seen in better connection, as well as in better point.

B.