INTRODUCTION. FROM the several passages in the Extracts from Mr. GIBBON's Journal of his Studies, it appears that previously to his Tour through Italy, he had endeavoured to make himself a complete master of its geographical and classical antiquities: and, with that view, had attentively perused the Italia Antiqua et Sicilia Antiqua of Cluverius. The following pages seem to contain regular minutes, made by him in this course of his reading. He begins with observations on the ancient appellations and inhabitants of Italy; its divisions, air, and soil; and on the Apennines. Then, crossing the Po, into the Cisalpine Gaul, he proceeds to Liguria, its western division, and thence descends through Etruria, Rome, Latium, Campania, and Lucania, to Bruttium, the southernmost point of the part of Italy which borders on the Tuscan Sea. Then crossing into Calabria, the southernmost point on the opposite shore, he ascends through Apulia, Samnium, Picenum, Umbria, Emilia, and Flaminia, to Istria and Venetia, the eastern division of the Cisalpine Gaul. That completes the literary tour: and he closes it with some general observations on the number and construction of the public roads in Italy. |