Atkins, Sarah: Relics of antiquity, exhibited in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum: with an account of the destruction and recovery of those celebrated cities (London: St. Harris, St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1825)

Mr. hayter^ appointment. 123
publishing the manuscripts. This offer was ac-
cepted by the court of Naples ; and it was conse-
quently judged necessary to select a proper
person to superintend the undertaking. The
reputation of Mr. Hayter (a clergyman of the
Church of England), as a classical scholar, and
a gentleman of deep and extensive information,
justified his appointment to the place which the
munificence of his royal patron and his love of
literature had excited. He arrived at Naples in
the beginning of the year 1802, and was nomi-
nated one of the directors for unfolding the
papyri;—a task to which he applied himself
with indefatigable assiduity, and rapidly suc-
ceeded in bursting the fetters of the imprisoned
authors by the masterly touch of his magic wand.
Before the arrival of Mr. Hayter in Italy, not
more than eighteen rolls had been developed,
though a period of forty-six years had elapsed since
their discovery ; but the splendid encouragement
given to the work by his present Majesty revived
the drooping spirits of the Italian literati: the con-
sequence was, that the unrolling and transcribing
the manuscripts proceeded with an alacrity which
promised the most brilliant success. Under his
patronage and auspicious influence, ninety were
recovered in two years; and of the contents of
m 2