A mob collected and instigated by a band of ruffians, went to the Roman Catholic Chapel, near St. James's Parade, and, contrary to the doctrines of benevolent christianity, or the dictates of enlightened reason, consumed it, with all its ornaments, the Priest's house, and four other tenements, that adjoined them. Although strenuously opposed by the mayor and volunteers of the city, they continued to exult in their cruel barbarity, and pursue their nefarious career. until the arrival of the standing army from the towns around, who put a stop to their diabolical intentions, and restored order and subordination.

From the various revolutions the city of Bath has experienced, we find, from its founding, it has been considered a place of the first consequence. The high rank it held in the kingdom, attracted the attention of the successive invaders of the country, and exposed it to the ravages of destructive war: often has it risen, like a phænix from the ashes of its parents with additional lustre, and an increase of resplendent ornaments. The number of monarchs, who honored it with their presence, and aggrandized it by their munificence, stamped it with au importance that gave rise to the pre-eminent grandeur it now displays.

With these great personages, we have to rank their Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, and Duke and Dutchess of York, who, of late years, by frequent visits, have done sinnlar honours to this far-famed city.

The higher orders of people and their dependents constitute the principal part of its population; the lower classes being but comparatively small, there are few whose persons, characters, and pursuits in life, are not well known. This notoriety restrains them from open dissimulation, and forms an addition to the many other advantages, those who visit here can experience.

CHAP. III.

Of the Situation of BATH; its various Names; and of the Roman and Saxon antiquities lately discovered in digging Foundations in several Parts of the old city.

N

ATURE and Art have been equally liberal in conferring attributes on the city of Bath, greater perhaps than any other city in Europe can boast of. Its situation is singularly elegant; lies in lat. 51 degrees, 22 minutes, 32 seconds, north; in long. 2 degrees, 21 minutes, 30 seconds; and in time 9 minutes 26 seconds, west, from London; at the north-east extremity of Somersetshire. It is 107 miles distant from London; 19 north-east from Wells; 12 from Bristol; 39 north-west from Salisbury; 41 nearly south-west from Gloucester, and 67 south-west from Oxford.

The hand of the all-beneficent Deity, placed its Waters in à fruitful vale, surrounded by a number of fertile hills. Their salutary effects, and their delightful abode, induced man to environ them with majestic buildings. Of late years, superb structures have extended up the side of one of the principal hills, which over-top each other in theatric order, commanding a view of the opposite declivities, chequered with groves, neadows and gardens,, and of the river Avon, which winds slowly and majestically through the city, and being navigable from hence to Bristol, facilitates the intercourse with that busy port.

The summits of the circumjacent hills, command the most enchanting prospects. Here an observer's eye may wander without interception, over landscapes, diversified with scenes that can charm the senses, until vision is lost in the azure clouds; and leaves him impressed with transports of delight, that the most poetic fancy cannot pretend to describe.-Some of these Views shall be particularly noticed, when we come to speak of the Amusements of Bath.

These hills afford another great advantage to the inhabitants of Bath. They abound with springs of excellent water, which is conveyed by leaden pipes, to almost every house in the city.

Various are the names by which this city has been known at different times. The Britons called it Caer Paliadur, Caer-Badon, Caer Bladin, Caer-Cran, Caer yn ennaint

of

trymy. The Romans imposed on it the names rdara Jegua, Badila, Aquae Solis, Fontes Calidi. Its Saxon conquerors called it Hat Batbun, &c. and in monkish Latinity it occurs under the following appellations: Aque Solis, Fontes Calidi, Achamannum, Therma Batbonia, Badonia, Badonesse, Balnea, &c.

The great number of ancient coins, statues, altars, inscriptions, and other monuments of Roman antiquity, which have been discovered from time to time, in and about Bath, evidently shew, that it has been often razed to the foundation by barbarous hands, and rebuilt by those of others; whose knowledge of the arts, and of civilization, gave them a pre-eminent situation in the scale of beings.

June 29, 1753, in digging some cellars in Stall-Street, a pedestal was found, of which the following is a representation, with the inscription. It is still preserved, and may be seen in the Repository of Antiquities near the Cross Bath.

In English. This religious place, insolently thrown down, Caius Severius Emeritus purified and restored to the name and virtue of Augustus, in testimony of his gratitude.

Under the stone were found several coins of the Emperor Carausius.

The late Abbey-house, which stood where the Duke of Kingston's baths now are, being taken down in 1755, the workmen, in digging out the foundation of that antient fabric, found about eight feet below the surface of the earth, several rough-hewn stone coffins, with the seeming entire, but mouldering remains of human bodies, of different ages and sexes; and several pieces of coin of the successive Saxon kings.

Three or four feet below the burying-place of the Saxons, were discovered some cavities which led to the remains of several very noble Roman baths and sudatories, constructed according to their elegant plans as we have before described.

The springs which supplied these baths being cleared from the rubbish, and the ancient sewers for carrying off the water from the baths repaired, his Grace the Duke of Kingston, built on the same spot, several baths and sudatories upon a new plan, approved by some of the most eminent physicians, as well for the elegance and neatness of the design, as the utility of the different apartments.

A great number of Roman copper and brass coins of the Emperors Nero, Adrian, Trajan, Antonine, &c. were found; in digging the foundations for the new Hot Bath, private Baths and sudatories, near the Cross-Bath; and in removing the rubbish to get at the spring of the Hot-Bath; some of them in fine preservation. Also an antique pillar, similar to that given before, which is also to be seen at the Repository, with the following inscription on it:

DE. A. E

SV LIM

NAR.VAE

SVLN v S

MATV

RIFI L

V.S. L. M

The following conjectures are given towards an explanation:

DEE SUBLIMI* MINERVE SÚLINUS MATVRI FILIUS VOTUM SOLVIT LIBENS MERITO. Sulinus, son of Maturus, gladly Pays bis grateful vows to the bigh Goddess Minerva.

DEE SUSCEPTO VOTO LOCUM INSTITURE MINERVE, SULINUS MATURI FILIUS VOTUM SOLVENT LIBENS MERITO. Sulinus, son of Maturus, baving made a vow to dedicate a place to Minerva, bas willingly and gratefully performed bis vow.

This may have been a votive altar to Minerva, who in some places of heathen mythology, represented the moon, and was considered one of the patrons of the springs; perhaps erected to perform a vow, made by some person who visited these fountains, provided he would be restored to health by their healing virtues. It is well known, that in ancient times, it was customary with people afflicted with any malady, to make vows of erecting temples, or of offering sacrifices to the deity who presided over the place from whence they expected relief.

Sep. 10, 1790, in digging the foundation for building a new Pump-Room, various remains of Roman antiquities were discovered below the houses that were pulled down on the east side of Stall-street, consisting of a votive altar, a great part of a magnificent fluted column, two feet eight inches in diameter, and a handsome Corinthian capital belonging to the same. There was also found several massy fragments adorned with sculpture, in basso-relievo. One of these particularly attracts notice, and exhibits a large circle formed by a broad wreath of oaken boughs richly wrought; within this, appears the greater part of another circle, having but a small segment cut off, similarly formed and proportionably reduced in size, enclosing a head representing Apollo Medicus, who was considered the inventor of medicine; and in heathen mythology the god of the sun.

It evidently appears that these remains are part of a magnificent and elegant structure. The votive altars, and various remains of victims discovered, indicate the site of a temple in this spot; and it is highly probable, that the column might have formed part of its stately portico. And from what was

*As u is used often for o, SVLI may perhaps stand for SOLI, or be an abbreviation of SUBLIMI.