THE PYRAMID OF CESTIUS.

It must seem singular that so little should be known of the two persons whose tombs were to survive those of so many illustrious names. Cestius is as little famous as Metella, and his pyramid is no less conspicuous than her tower. Oblivion, however, has been kind perhaps to one who has left no other present to posterity than this ambitious sepulchre; if, as there is some reason to suspect, this Cestius, Tribune of the people, Prætor, and a Septemvir, is the same Cestius, a Prætor, and flatterer of the Augustan court, who was publicly scourged by the order of Marcus Cicero, the son, for presuming to defame his father in his presence.

A learned person who wrote a dissertation on this pyramid, and disproved the mistake of Panvinius in supposing Cestius to be the consul of that name mentioned in the annals of Tacitus, asserts that there is a total silence with respect to him in all ancient authors, but that he must have died, at least, as early as the middle of the reign of Augustus. The Cestius above mentioned did not suggest himself to the antiquary, and perhaps may be the man we want.

THE EGEBIAN GROTTO.

The respectable authority of Flaminius Vacca induced me formerly to believe in the claims of the Egerian grotto. He assures us that he saw an inscription in the pavement, stating that the fountain was that of Egeria dedicated to the nymphs.