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hink there is neither rhime nor reason in protracting this tedious epistle； I shall conclude it with the old burden of my song； that I am alwaysYour affectionate humble servant。
LETTER XXVIII
NICE； February 5； 1765。
DEAR SIR；Your entertaining letter of the fifth of last month； was a very charitable and a very agreeable donation： but your suspicion is groundless。 I assure you； upon my honour； I have no share whatever in any of the disputes which agitate the public： nor do I know any thing of your political transactions； except what I casually see in one of your newspapers； with the perusal of which I am sometimes favoured by our consul at Villefranche。 You insist upon my being more particular in my remarks on what I saw at Florence； and I shall obey the injunction。 The famous gallery which contains the antiquities； is the third story of a noble stone…edifice； built in the form of the Greek Pi； the upper part fronting the river Arno； and one of the legs adjoining to the ducal…palace； where the courts of justice are held。 As the house of Medici had for some centuries resided in the palace of Pitti； situated on the other side of the river； a full mile from these tribunals； the architect Vasari； who planned the new edifice； at the same time contrived a corridore； or covered passage； extending from the palace of Pitti along one of the bridges； to the gallery of curiosities； through which the grand… duke passed unseen； when he was disposed either to amuse himself with his antiquities； or to assist at his courts of judicature： but there is nothing very extraordinary either in the contrivance or execution of this corridore。
If I resided in Florence I would give something extraordinary for permission to walk every day in the gallery； which I should much prefer to the Lycaeum； the groves of Academus； or any porch or philosophical alley in Athens or in Rome。 Here by viewing the statues and busts ranged on each side； I should become acquainted with the faces of all the remarkable personages； male and female； of antiquity； and even be able to trace their different characters from the expression of their features。 This collection is a most excellent commentary upon the Roman historians； particularly Suetonius and Dion Cassius。 There was one circumstance that struck me in viewing the busts of Caracalla； both here and in the Capitol at Rome； there was a certain ferocity in the eyes； which seemed to contradict the sweetness of the other features； and remarkably justified the epithet Caracuyl； by which he was distinguished by the antient inhabitants of North…Britain。 In the language of the Highlanders caracuyl signifies cruel eye； as we are given to understand by the ingenious editor of Fingal； who seems to think that Caracalla is no other than the Celtic word； adapted to the pronunciation of the Romans： but the truth is； Caracalla was the name of a Gaulish vestment； which this prince affected to wear； and hence he derived that surname。 The Caracuyl of the Britons； is the same as the upodra idon of the Greeks； which Homer has so often applied to his Scolding Heroes。 I like the Bacchanalian； chiefly for the fine drapery。 The wind； occasioned by her motion； seems to have swelled and raised it from the parts of the body which it covers。 There is another gay Bacchanalian； in the attitude of dancing； crowned with ivy； holding in her right hand a bunch of grapes； and in her left the thyrsus。 The head of the celebrated Flora is very beautiful： the groupe of Cupid and Psyche； however； did not give me all the pleasure I expected from it。
Of all the marbles that appear in the open gallery； the following are those I most admire。 Leda with the Swan； as for Jupiter； in this transformation； he has much the appearance of a goose。 I have not seen any thing tamer； but the sculptor has admirably shewn his art in representing Leda's hand partly hid among the feathers； which are so lightly touched off； that the very shape of the fingers are seen underneath。 The statue of a youth； supposed to be Ganymede； is compared by the connoisseurs to the celebrated Venus； and as far as I can judge； not without reason： it is however； rather agreeable than striking； and will please a connoisseur much more than a common spectator。 I know not whether it is my regard to the faculty that inhances the value of the noted Esculapius； who appears with a venerable beard of delicate workmanship。 He is larger than the life； cloathed in a magnificent pallium； his left arm resting on a knotted staff； round which the snake is twined according to Ovid。
Hunc modo serpentem baculum qui nexibus ambit Perspice
Behold the snake his mystic Rod intwine。
He has in his hand the fascia herbarum； and the crepidae on his feet。 There is a wild…boar represented lying on one side； which I admire as a master…piece。 The savageness of his appearance is finely contrasted with the case and indolence of the attitude。 Were I to meet with a living boar lying with the same expression； I should be tempted to stroke his bristles。 Here is an elegant bust of Antinous； the favourite of Adrian； and a beautiful head of Alexander the Great； turned on one side； with an expression of languishment and anxiety in his countenance。 The virtuosi are not agreed about the circumstance in which he is represented； whether fainting with the loss of blood which he suffered in his adventure at Oxydrace； or languishing with the fever contracted by bathing in the Cydnus； or finally complaining to his father Jove； that there were no other worlds for him to conquer。 The kneeling Narcissus is a striking figure； and the expression admirable。 The two Bacchi are perfectly well executed； but （to my shame be it spoken） I prefer to the antique that which is the work of Michael Angelo Buonaroti； concerning which the story is told which you well know。 The artist having been blamed by some pretended connoisseurs； for not imitating the manner of the ancients； is said to have privately finished this Bacchus； and buried it； after having broke off an arm； which he kept as a voucher。 The statue； being dug up by accident； was allowed by the best judges； to be a perfect antique； upon which Buonaroti produced the arm； and claimed his own work。 Bianchi looks upon this as a fable； but owns that Vasari tells such another of a child cut in marble by the same artist； which being carried to Rome； and kept for some time under ground； was dug up as an antique； and sold for a great deal of money。 I was likewise attracted by the Morpheus in touchstone； which is described by Addison； who； by the bye； notwithstanding all his taste； has been convicted by Bianchi of several gross blunders in his account of this gallery。
With respect to the famous Venus Pontia； commonly called de Medicis； which was found at Tivoli； and is kept in a separate apartment called the Tribuna； I believe I ought to be intirely silent； or at least conceal my real sentiments； which will otherwise appear equally absurd and presumptuous。 It must be want of taste that prevents my feeling that enthusiastic admiration with which others are inspired at sight of this statue： a st