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； theatres； thermae； circi； public and private walks and gardens； where very few； if any； of this great number lodged； that by far the greater part of those inhabitants were slaves and poor people； who did not enjoy the conveniencies of life； and that the use of linen was scarce known； we must naturally conclude they were strangely crouded together； and that in general they were a very frowzy generation。 That they were crouded together appears from the height of their houses； which the poet Rutilius compared to towers made for scaling heaven。 In order to remedy this inconvenience； Augustus Caesar published a decree； that for the future no houses should be built above seventy feet high； which； at a moderate computation； might make six stories。 But what seems to prove； beyond all dispute； that the antient Romans were dirty creatures； are these two particulars。 Vespasian laid a tax upon urine and ordure； on pretence of being at a great expence in clearing the streets from such nuisances； an imposition which amounted to about fourteen pence a year for every individual； and when Heliogabalus ordered all the cobwebs of the city and suburbs to be collected； they were found to weigh ten thousand pounds。 This was intended as a demonstration of the great number of inhabitants； but it was a proof of their dirt； rather than of their populosity。 I might likewise add； the delicate custom of taking vomits at each other's houses； when they were invited to dinner； or supper； that they might prepare their stomachs for gormandizing； a beastly proof of their nastiness as well as gluttony。 Horace； in his description of the banquet of Nasiedenus； says； when the canopy； under which they sat； fell down； it brought along with it as much dirt as is raised by a hard gale of wind in dry weather。
trahentia pulveris atri； Quantum non aquilo Campanis excitat agris。
Such clouds of dust revolving in its train As Boreas whirls along the level plain。
I might observe； that the streets were often encumbered with the putrefying carcasses of criminals； who had been dragged through them by the heels； and precipitated from the Scalae Gemoniae； or Tarpeian rock； before they were thrown into the Tyber； which was the general receptacle of the cloaca maxima and all the filth of Rome： besides； the bodies of all those who made away with themselves； without sufficient cause； of such as were condemned for sacrilege； or killed by thunder； were left unburned and unburied； to rot above ground。
I believe the moderns retain more of the customs of antient Romans； than is generally imagined。 When I first saw the infants at the enfans trouves in Paris； so swathed with bandages； that the very sight of them made my eyes water； I little dreamed； that the prescription of the antients could be pleaded for this custom； equally shocking and absurd： but in the Capitol at Rome； I met with the antique statue of a child swaddled exactly in the same manner； rolled up like an Aegyptian mummy from the feet。 The circulation of the blood； in such a case； must be obstructed on the whole surface of the body； and nothing be at liberty but the head； which is the only part of the child that ought to be confined。 Is it not surprising that common sense should not point out； even to the most ignorant； that those accursed bandages must heat the tender infant into a fever； must hinder the action of the muscles； and the play of the joints； so necessary to health and nutrition； and that while the refluent blood is obstructed in the veins； which run on the surface of the body； the arteries； which lie deep； without the reach of compression； are continually pouring their contents into the head； where the blood meets with no resistance？ The vessels of the brain are naturally lax； and the very sutures of the skull are yet unclosed。 What are the consequences of this cruel swaddling？ the limbs are wasted； the joints grow rickety； the brain is compressed； and a hydrocephalus； with a great head and sore eyes； ensues。 I take this abominable practice to be one great cause of the bandy legs； diminutive bodies； and large heads； so frequent in the south of France； and in Italy。
I was no less surprised to find the modern fashion of curling the hair； borrowed in a great measure from the coxcombs and coquettes of antiquity。 I saw a bust of Nero in the gallery at Florence； the hair represented in rows of buckles； like that of a French petit…maitre； conformable to the picture drawn of him by Suetonius。 Circa cultum adeo pudendum； ut coman semper in gradus formatam peregrinatione achaica； etiam pene verticem sumpserit； So very finical in his dress； that he wore his hair in the Greek fashion； curled in rows almost to the crown of his head。 I was very sorry however to find that this foppery came from Greece。 As for Otho； he wore a galericulum； or tour； on account of thin hair； propter raritatem capillorum。 He had no right to imitate the example of Julius Caesar； who concealed his bald head with a wreath of laurel。 But there is a bust in the Capitol of Julia Pia； the second wife of Septimius Severus； with a moveable peruke； dressed exactly in the fashionable mode； with this difference； that there is no part of it frizzled； nor is there any appearance of pomatum and powder。 These improvements the beau…monde have borrowed from the natives of the Cape of Good Hope。
Modern Rome does not cover more than one…third of the space within the walls； and those parts that were most frequented of old are now intirely abandoned。 From the Capitol to the Coliseo； including the Forum Romanum and Boarium； there is nothing intire but one or two churches； built with the fragments of ancient edifices。 You descend from the Capitol between the remaining pillars of two temples； the pedestals and part of the shafts sunk in the rubbish： then passing through the triumphal arch of Septimius Severus； you proceed along the foot of Mons Palatinus； which stands on your right hand； quite covered with the ruins of the antient palace belonging to the Roman emperors； and at the foot of it； there are some beautiful detached pillars still standing。 On the left you see the remains of the Templum Pacis； which seems to have been the largest and most magnificent of all the temples in Rome。 It was built and dedicated by the emperor Vespasian； who brought into it all the treasure and precious vessels which he found in the temple of Jerusalem。 The columns of the portico he removed from Nero's golden house； which he levelled with the ground。 This temple was likewise famous for its library； mentioned by Aulus Gellius； Further on； is the arch of Constantine on the right； a most noble piece of architecture； almost entire； with the remains of the Meta Sudans before it； and fronting you； the noble ruins of that vast amphitheatre； called the Colossaeum； now Coliseo； which has been dismantled and dilapidated by the Gothic popes and princes of modern Rome； to build and adorn their paultry palaces。 Behind the amphitheatre were the thermae of the same emperor Titus Vespasian。 In the same quarter was the Circus Maximus； and the whole space from hence on