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testimony of their gratitude for the blessings of his incorruptible administration； his wonderful affability to all without Distinction； his generous Distribution of Corn in time of Dearth； his munificence in repairing the ruinous aqueduct； in searching for； discovering and restoring the water to its former course for the Benefit of the Community。
This president well deserved such a mark of respect from a people whom he had assisted in two such essential articles； as their corn and their water。 You know the praeses of a Roman province had the jus sigendi clavi； the right to drive a nail in the Kalendar； the privilege of wearing the latus clavus； or broad studs on his garment； the gladius； infula； praetexta； purpura & annulus aureus； the Sword； Diadem； purple Robe； and gold Ring； he had his vasa； vehicula； apparitores； Scipio eburneus； & sella curulis； Kettledrums； ＇I know the kettledrum is a modern invention； but the vasa militari modo conclamata was something analogous。＇ Chariots； Pursuivants； ivory staff； and chair of state。
I shall give you one more sepulchral inscription on a marble； which is now placed over the gate of the church belonging to the convent of St。 Pont； a venerable building； which stands at the bottom of the hill； fronting the north side of the town of Nice。 This St。 Pont； or Pontius； was a Roman convert to Christianity； who suffered martyrdom at Cemenelion in the year 261； during the reigns of the emperors Valerian and Gallienus。 The legends recount some ridiculous miracles wrought in favour of this saint； both before and after his death。 Charles V。 emperor of Germany and king of Spain； caused this monastery to be built on the spot where Pontius suffered decapitation。 But to return to the inscription： it appears in these words。
M。 M。 A。 FLAVIAE。 BASILLAE。 CONIVG。 CARISSIM。 DOM。 ROMA。 MIRAE。 ERGA。 MARITUM。 AMORIS。 ADQ。 CASTITAT。 FAEMINAE。 QVAE。 VIXIT ANN。 XXXV。 M。 III。 DIEB。 XII。 AVRELIVS RHODISMANVS。 AVG。 LIB。 COMMEM。 ALP。 MART。 ET。 AVRELIA； ROMVLA。 FILII。 IMPATIENTISSIM。 DOLOR。 EIVS。 ADFLICTI ADQ。 DESOLATI。 CARISSIM。 AC MERENT。 FERET。 FEC。 ET。 DED；
Freely consecrated by Aurelius Rhodismanus； the Emperor's Freedman； to the much honoured memory of his dear Consort Flavia Aurelia of Rome； a woman equally distinguished by her unblemished Virtue and conjugal affection。 His children Martial and Aurelia Romula deeply affected and distressed by the Violence of his Grief； erected and dedicated a monument to their dear deserving Parent。 ＇I don't pretend to translate these inscriptions literally； because I am doubtful about the meaning of some abbreviations。＇
The amphitheatre of Cemenelion is but very small； compared to that of Nismes。 The arena is ploughed up； and bears corn： some of the seats remain； and part of two opposite porticos； but all the columns； and the external facade of the building； are taken away so that it is impossible to judge of the architecture； all we can perceive is； that it was built in an oval form。 About one hundred paces from the amphitheatre stood an antient temple； supposed to have been dedicated to Apollo。 The original roof is demolished； as well as the portico； the vestiges of which may still be traced。 The part called the Basilica； and about one half of the Cella Sanctior； remain； and are converted into the dwelling…house and stable of the peasant who takes care of the count de Gubernatis's garden； in which this monument stands。 In the Cella Sanctior； I found a lean cow； a he…goat； and a jack…ass； the very same conjunction of animals which I had seen drawing a plough in Burgundy。 Several mutilated statues have been dug up from the ruins of this temple； and a great number of medals have been found in the different vineyards which now occupy the space upon which stood the antient city of Cemenelion。 These were of gold； silver； and brass。 Many of them were presented to Charles Emanuel I。 duke of Savoy。 The prince of Monaco has a good number of them in his collection； and the rest are in private hands。 The peasants； in digging； have likewise found many urns； lachrymatories； and sepulchral stones； with epitaphs； which are now dispersed among different convents and private houses。 All this ground is a rich mine of antiquities； which； if properly worked； would produce a great number of valuable curiosities。 Just by the temple of Apollo were the ruins of a bath； composed of great blocks of marble； which have been taken away for the purposes of modern building。 In all probability； many other noble monuments of this city have been dilapidated by the same barbarous oeconomy。 There are some subterranean vaults； through which the water was conducted to this bath； still extant in the garden of the count de Gubernatis。 Of the aqueduct that conveyed water to the town； I can say very little； but that it was scooped through a mountain： that this subterranean passage was discovered some years ago； by removing the rubbish which choaked it up： that the people penetrating a considerable way； by the help of lighted torches； found a very plentiful stream of water flowing in an aqueduct； as high as an ordinary man； arched over head； and lined with a sort of cement。 They could not； however； trace this stream to its source； and it is again stopped up with earth and rubbish。 There is not a soul in this country； who has either spirit or understanding to conduct an inquiry of this kind。 Hard by the amphitheatre is a convent of Recollets； built in a very romantic situation； on the brink of a precipice。 On one side of their garden； they ascend to a kind of esplanade； which they say was part of the citadel of Cemenelion。 They have planted it with cypress…trees； and flowering…shrubs。 One of the monks told me； that it is vaulted below； as they can plainly perceive by the sound of their instruments used in houghing the ground。 A very small expence would bring the secrets of this cavern to light。 They have nothing to do； but to make a breach in the wall； which appears uncovered towards the garden。
The city of Cemenelion was first sacked by the Longobards； who made an irruption into Provence； under their king Alboinus； about the middle of the sixth century。 It was afterwards totally destroyed by the Saracens； who； at different times； ravaged this whole coast。 The remains of the people are supposed to have changed their habitation； and formed a coalition with the inhabitants of Nice。
What further I have to say of Nice； you shall know in good time； at present； I have nothing to add； but what you very well know； that I am always your affectionate humble servant。
LETTER； XIV
NICE； January 20； 1764。
DEAR SIR；Last Sunday I crossed Montalban on horseback； with some Swiss officers； on a visit to our consul； Mr。 Bd； who lives at Ville Franche； about half a league from Nice。 It is a small town； built upon the side of a rock； at the bottom of the harbour； which is a fine basin； surrounded with hills on every side； except to the south； where it lies open to the sea。 If there was a small island in the mouth of it； to break off the force of the waves； when the wind is southerly； it would be one of the finest h