greatly differ in the style of their furniture from those of Italy; the latter country having derived a great part of her mythology, and many of her religious rites, from the people of the Nile.

Nos in templa tuam Romana recepimus Isin.
In Roman temples Isis dwells enshrined.

It may be added, that figures are generally wrought in embroidery on the hangings of the Italian churches.

I shall conclude this chapter with the mention of one circumstance more relating to the temples of the Romans, which has been imitated by their descendants with the greatest propriety. It is that of their being kept open during many hours every day; a custom admirably calculated to preserve alive an attention to religious duties, and a spirit of devotion in mankind; and which cannot but be acceptable to that Being who unfolds not the gates of the heavenly temple for limited pe

riods, but "all the day long stretches out his hand to a disobedient and gainsaying people." From earliest dawn till noon an Italian or

Sicilian church stands with portals wide.' It is then closed for about three hours, after which it continues open till Ave Maria or sunset, and sometimes considerably later.

Such too was the practice in ancient Italy. For as all the properties and habits of men were assigned by the heathens to their gods, that of reposing at mid-day was amongst the number. Hence was it unlawful to enter the temples at that hour, lest their slumbers should be disturbed. (Callimach. Lavacr. Pallad. 72. Edit. Spanhemii). Hence the goatherd in Theocritus ventures not to play upon his pipe at noon, from fear of awaking Pan. (Idyll. i. 15.) Hence too the peculiar force of the derision with which Elijah addressed the priests of Baal: "And it came to pass, that at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud, for he is a god: either he is

talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awakened." Accordingly we read that those prophets did not despair of rousing their god, and inducing him to declare himself till the time of evening sacrifice.' At that hour the period allowed for repose had terminated; and when he still continued deaf to their cries, then, and not till then, their cause became altogether hopeless.

AMONGST the vast variety of objects which attract the attention of a Protestant stranger upon entering a church during the celebration of mass, that of boys in attendance upon the officiating priest does not fail to be in the number. A custom so manifestly derived from heathen times has not escaped the notice of Dr. Middleton. In this instance, therefore, as in many others, I found the observations which I had to make anticipated by that learned writer. At the same time, I cannot refrain from the mention of a picture found at Herculaneum, which proves more satisfactorily than an incidental passage from a poet, the existence and circum

stances of such a practice. In this painting, (Chamber 7. MLXXVIII.) a boy wearing a white tunic, which descends to his knees, bears in one hand a dish with the offering, and in the other a wreath of flowers, which the priest is about to receive and present to the god.

The boy who now ministers at the altar in the churches of Italy has the same dress and the same office, with this exception only, that he must be prepared to supply books and censers instead of oblations and chaplets. Indeed, the costume of the present clergy exhibits a striking resemblance to that of some of the sacerdotal orders of old Rome. In the Stanza dei Sacrifizii of the museum at Naples, there is a small bronze image representing a Sacerdotum minister.' He has an upper garment descending to his middle, which answers exactly to that now worn by the priests, under the name of the 'mozzetta ;' whilst beneath and below it is a petticoat, as