DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0321
298 TUSCANIA.
cated; there are fewer infallible judges to have re-
course to in distinguishing what is true from what is
false, and the government is more strict about
granting permission. Indeed I have known the
exportation of a collection of antiquities of very
trifling value, most inconveniently delayed in conse-
quence of the absence from Naples of the minister
of the interior, who himself must give the lascia
passare.
I honour the Neapolitan government for its
jealousy in everything regarding Pompeii, which is
part of the domain of the crown, and all the anti-
quities found in the excavations there, are speedily
transferred to the Museo Borbonico. The punish-
ment of the galleys is inflicted on any of the work-
men who sell or secrete any article they may find. It
is impossible altogether to prevent the pilfering of
small things, but it may be considered a good gene-
ral rule to hold in doubt the genuineness of everything
sold as having been found in Pompeii. This know-
ledge acquired at Naples, made me for a moment
doubt the history of one of the most precious antiques
in our collection, a Roman knight's ring of mas-
sive pure gold, set with an emerald, engraved with
a figure of Venus Victrix. Campanari's eye rested
upon it at once, and he asked if it came from his
tombs, being exactly of the form and setting
found at Toscanella; but it belonged to the late
Duke of Saxe Gotha, maternal grandfather of
Prince Albert, husband of our Queen ; and we
cated; there are fewer infallible judges to have re-
course to in distinguishing what is true from what is
false, and the government is more strict about
granting permission. Indeed I have known the
exportation of a collection of antiquities of very
trifling value, most inconveniently delayed in conse-
quence of the absence from Naples of the minister
of the interior, who himself must give the lascia
passare.
I honour the Neapolitan government for its
jealousy in everything regarding Pompeii, which is
part of the domain of the crown, and all the anti-
quities found in the excavations there, are speedily
transferred to the Museo Borbonico. The punish-
ment of the galleys is inflicted on any of the work-
men who sell or secrete any article they may find. It
is impossible altogether to prevent the pilfering of
small things, but it may be considered a good gene-
ral rule to hold in doubt the genuineness of everything
sold as having been found in Pompeii. This know-
ledge acquired at Naples, made me for a moment
doubt the history of one of the most precious antiques
in our collection, a Roman knight's ring of mas-
sive pure gold, set with an emerald, engraved with
a figure of Venus Victrix. Campanari's eye rested
upon it at once, and he asked if it came from his
tombs, being exactly of the form and setting
found at Toscanella; but it belonged to the late
Duke of Saxe Gotha, maternal grandfather of
Prince Albert, husband of our Queen ; and we