THE TIBER.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 889, 18 November 1871, Page 2

THE TIBER.

One of the first results of the new life arising in Rome is the proposed exploration of the bed of the Tiber. The Italians, who now for the first time since Constantine feel as if the great city were indeed their own, have an almost boundless, yet, not exaggerated idea of the artistic, archaeological, and other treasures buried in the yellow sands which the river has accumulated on the spot for these last 3000 years. Every revolution, they say, had to pay its tribute to the rirer. It was the Tiber which received the statues of an unpopular Emperor, his armour, and even his diadem and other insignia, even when the body itself was not flung in its waters. In more calamitous times, when Alaric, Genseric, Atila or, in latter ages, the Norman, the Swabian. the Austrian thundered at the gates, the inhabitants, hopeless for their lives, had other mean of baffling the invader's cupidity than by committing to the Tiber the spoils which must otherwise inevitably fall into the plunderers' hands. "The Tiber will have its own share" is a common saying among the Romans at the present day, and the universal receptacle of all that is lost has been enriched by fire 3, inundation, wrecking of galleys laden with the wealth of the ancient and mediaeval world, and the material of ruined temples and palaces, of which the river afforded the most expeditious way of clearing the ground. may imagine what wonders would gladden our eyes if we could bid the ocean restore whatever it hides in its depths. But the Tiber flows over, if not as vast and rich, at least as interesting a variety of Old World relics, all lying undisturbed under fathoms of J alluvial soil which has buried them for ages,and]only awaiting the enterprising generation which will lay these longforgotten treasures into the light ofi day. The scheme of a thorough excava*| tion of the bed of the Tiber, with a view to call the river to account and! put it " in liquidation," compelling it I to disgorge its illgotten gains, has now! been taken up by an Italian associa-l tion, at the head of which is the well-I known Signor Allessandro CastellaniJ but which relies on tho co-operation of many artists, antiquaries, and other; learned men of Europe and America,! all of whom have been strongly urging the speedy commencement of an un-j dertaking which has already been too long delayed. It is not as a com-i mercial or financial speculation thafc the work is to be executed. Those who set about it expect no other return for their trouble and expense than the immense gain sure to accrue from it to art and history—to arcbaeO' logical knowledge in all its branches The society reckons of course, on the aid of the other company, which hai lately been formed with a view to protect the cityjfroin those periodical inun dations of the Tiber against which the Government has hitherto been unabld to find a remedy j and many of the contrivances by which our own en gineers have laid the foundations o the Thames Embankment will fur

t-ucir application in extensive operations which are now to be carried on along the banks and in the bed of the Soman river. Encouragement to the Italian Society in this truly great national undertaking comes in from every quarter, and a Parisian banking house of almost boundless wcath and munificence has volunteered funds to defray the first expenses, so as to give the start to an enterprise which will certainly experience no lack of support in tho sequel.