Eustace, John Cretwode: A classical tour through Italy An. MDCCCII (Vol. 3): 3. ed., rev. and enl (London: J. Mawman, 1815)

Ch.Ii. THROUGH ITALY. 49
one, sometimes of two stories; the principal
apartments are always behind, enclosing a court
with a portico round it, and a marble cistern in
the middle; two had glass windows, in the others
shutters only were used; the pavements are all
mosaic, and the walls are stained with mild
colors ; the decorations are basso relievos in
stucco, and paintings in medallions. Marble
seems to have been common. On the whole,
Pompeii, in all the circumstances which I have
mentioned, bears a strong resemblance to modern
Italian towns, with this only difference, that in
point of general appearance the latter have, I
think, the advantage. It must however be re-
membered, that Pompeii had already been da-
maged by an earthquake *, that the roofs and
upper parts of the houses have been borne down
by the weight of ashes and pumice stones upon
them ; and in short, that, as not more than a
quarter of the town has been hitherto explored,
buildings of greater magnificence may still re-
main undiscovered.
It is generally supposed, that the destruction
of this city was sudden and unexpected '■> and it

* Mota terrae celebre Campaniae oppidum, Pompeii
cornjit. Tac. Ann. xv. 22.
VOL·. III. E