Roman Mosaics

"[...]have brought together such a great variety of important things. And though I cannot hope that the inherent defect of the mosaic will be compensated by its permanence-for books of this kind do not last-yet it will surely serve some good purpose to have such a collocation of facts regarding a place whose interest is ever varying and never dying. The personal element is almost entirely confined to the first chapter, which deals on that account with more familiar incidents than the others. Twelve years have elapsed since my memorable sojourn in Rome; and many changes have occurred in the Eternal City since then. I have had no opportunity to repeat my visit and to add to or correct my first impressions, [...]".