It is doubted whether Lorenzetto executed this statue from Raphael's design, or whether it received the finishing strokes from Raphael himself. As no other works of Lorenzetto display the same powers, it is fair to suppose the latter; and indeed there is a masterly touch in the expression, that seems in itself sufficient to decide the question.

12th. Passed the morning in the Study of Canova and Thorwaldson.-Confirmed in my former opinions of their respective merits.-A statue of Washington, for the United States, just moulded by Canova ;-in which there is the same want of repose and simplicity, that is so often observable in his works. Thorwaldson had just finished the model of a Mercury, putting Argus to sleep with his pipe; a figure of exquisite grace, archness, and spirit-the veritable son of Maia.

Some traces of antiquity are continually meeting you in your walks through Rome; for instance, the white robes of the modern Italian Butchers which, considering their occupation, are strikingly neat-seem to be the cast off dresses of the priests who performed the act of sacrifice.

13th. An execution in the Piazza del Popolo. The culprit was a "Fellow with a horrid face," who had murdered his father. The murder was

detected in a singular manner, affording an extraordinary instance of the sagacity and faithful attachment of the dog to his master. The disappearance of the deceased had given rise to inquiry, and the officers of police went to his cottage, where, on examining his son, they learned that his father had gone out to work as usual, a few days before, and had not been seen since. As the officers were continuing their search in the neighbourhood, their attention was excited by observing a dog lying in a lone place; who seemed to endeavour to attract their notice, by scratching on some newly-turned earth. Their curiosity was excited, by something peculiar in his action and manner, to examine the spot: where they found the body. It would seem that the dog must have been an unobserved witness of his master's murder, and had not forsaken his grave. On returning to the cottage with the body, the son was so struck with the discovery made by the officers by means which he could not divine, that, concluding it must have been by supernatural intimation, he made a full confession of his guilt; -that he had beaten out his father's brains with a mallet, at the instigation of his mother; that he had dragged him to this by-place, and there buried him. The mother was condemned to imprisonment

for life;-the son to the guillotine. He kept us waiting from ten o'clock till almost three; for the execution is delayed till the culprit is brought to a due state of penitence.

At last the bell rang, the Host was brought from a neighbouring church that he might receive the last sacrament; and soon afterwards the criminal was led out. Inglese was a passport on this as on other occasions. The guards that formed in a square round the guillotine, made way for me to pass; and I was introduced, almost against my will, close to the scaffold.

A crucifix, and a black banner, with death's heads upon it, were borne before the culprit, who advanced between two priests. He mounted the scaffold with a firm step, and did not once flinch till he stooped to put his head into the groove prepared to receive it.

This is the trying minute; the rest is the affair of less than a moment. It appears to be the best of all modes of inflicting the punishment of death; combining the greatest impression on the spectator, with the least possible suffering to the victim. It is so rapid, that I should doubt whether there were any suffering; but from the expression of the countenance when the executioner held up the head, I

am inclined to believe that sense and consciousness

may remain for a few seconds after the head is off. The eyes seemed to retain speculation for a moment or two, and there was a look in the ghastly stare with which they glared upon the crowd, which implied that the head was aware of its ignominious situation. And indeed there is nothing improbable in this supposition; for in all injuries of the spine whereby a communication with the sensorium is cut off, it is the parts below the injury which are deprived of sensation, while those above retain their sensibility. And so, in the case of decapitation, the nerves of the face and eyes may for a short time continue to convey impressions to the brain, in spite of the separation from the trunk.

14th. Egina Marbles ;-these belong to an earlier age of sculpture than that of Phidias, and are curious specimens of the infancy of the art amongst the Greeks.

The symmetry is very defective; and there is a sort of sardonic smile in the expression of all the faces that is unintelligible, without knowing the history of the group.

Amongst the amusements of the people there is nothing more striking than the energy and interest which they exhibit in the common game of Morra.

This game is played by two persons; they both hold out their right hands, with the fingers extended; then, each contracts or shuts one, or as many of his fingers as he pleases; calling out at the same time the number which he

guesses will be the whole amount of his own and his adversary's contracted fingers; this they both do, at the same moment, and very rapidly. Whichever guesses rightly, scores one, which is done by holding out one finger of the left hand;-the game may be five or ten, or more, at pleasure.

The vivacity with which they pursue this game is extraordinary. As may be supposed, from the nature of the game, it often creates disputes and quarrels, and in the days when every man carried his stiletto, these quarrels but too often ended in blood.

15th to 20th. There is now scarcely a stranger in Rome. The ceremonies of Easter being over, all the world is gone to Naples; and the best lodgings are now to be had for half the price that would have been asked two months ago.

Accidentally encountered some old friends and school-fellows. What a delightful thing it is to laugh and talk over the almost forgotten days of boyhood; when all was fun and frolic. For a