gnificent Bacchanalian Vase in the Possession of the Earl of Warwick.

Pubach & for the Proprieter Jan.1.180, by W: Clarke, hend Vares

IN THE POSSESSION OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF WARWICK.

THIS magnificent relic of antiquity is of alabaster, and the largest, we believe, that has been discovered in modern times. It holds 163 gallons, and rests on a foot. The handles are interwoven; and the upper margin is adorned with a border of vine-branches and grapes. Under this is a lion's skin, with the feet between three masks, the uppermost of which is between a crooked stick, lituus & thyrsus. On the modern pedestal is the following inscription :

HOC PRISTINA ARTIS

ROMANÆQUE MAGNIFICENTIÆ MONUMENTUM,
RUDERIBUS VILLE TIBERTINÆ

HADRIANO AUG. IN DELICIIS HABITÆ, EFFOSSUM
RESTITUI CURAVIT

EQUES GULIELMUS HAMILTON,

A GEORGIO III. MAG. BRIT. REGE

AD SICIL. REGEM FERDINANDUM IV. LEGATUS;

ET IN PATRIAM TRANSMISSUM

PATRIO BONARUM ARTIUM GENIO DICAVIT

AN. AC. N. CIO DCCLXXIV.

From which we learn, that having been found in the ruins of Hadrian's villa at Tivoli, it was brought over to England by sir William Hamilton, his Britannic majesty's

ANTIQUE BACCHANALIAN VASE.

ambassador at the court of Naples, and by him presented to the earl of Warwick.

It was at first placed on a grass-plat before the castle; but was afterwards transferred to a beautiful green-house, built on purpose for its reception.

We are told, that being discovered in pieces, an artist at Rome formed a mass of clay of its shape and dimensions; and fixing the pieces together by adhesion to the clay, united them afterwards more formally, and supplied the deficient masks.

Other accounts state, however, that a new mask, on the opposite side to that given in the annexed View, is the only reparation that this noble morceau of ancient art has undergone and this would seem best to agree with the notice originally transmitted to England, and inserted in the newspapers, at the time of its discovery; which stated, that it was found almost entire," about the middle of June 1777.

In Piranesi's Vasi & Candelabri may be seen three views of this Vase.