downs, and not annoyed by the duft, the circumstance was amufing. The beauty of the incident lay in the contraft between such sheep as were feen perfectly, and fuch as were involved in obfcurity. At the fame time the dust became a kind of harmonizing medium, which united the flock into one whole. It had the fame effect on a group of animals, which a heavy mist, when partial, has on landscape. But though circumftances of this kind are pleafing in nature, we do not wish to see them imitated on canvas. They have been tried by Loutherberg, who with a laudable endeavour hath attempted many different effects; but I think in this he has failed. He has reprefented the dufty atmosphere of rapid wheels. But it is an incident that cannot be imitated: for, as motion enters neceffarily into the idea, and as you cannot describe motion, it is impoffible to give more than half the idea. It is otherwise with vapour, which, from the light mift to the fleeping fog, is of a more permanent nature, and therefore more adapted to the pencil.

The only circumstance which can make a cloud of duft an object of imitation, is diftance; as this gives it fomewhat of a stationary appearance.

pearance. One of the grandest ideas of this kind, which I remember to have met with, may be found in Zenophon's Anabafis.

As Cyrus was approaching Artaxerxes over one of those vast plains which are often found in the east, a horfeman, who had been making obfervations, returned at full speed, crying out to the troops, as he rode through them, that the enemy was at hand. Cyrus, not suspecting the king to be fo near, was riding carelessly in his chariot; and the troops unarmed, were marching negligently over the plain. The prince, leaping from his chariot, presently armed himself, mounted his horse, called his generals around him, and drew up his troops. This was fcarce done, when the hiftorian tells a white cloud was feen in the distant ho"rizon spreading far and wide, from the dust "raised by so vast a host. As the cloud ap

us,

proached, the bottom of it appeared dark and "folid. As it ftill advanced, it was observed, "from various parts, to gleam and glitter in "the fun; and foon after, the ranks of horse "and foot, and armed chariots, were distinctly "feen *"

*As the tranflation is not exa@ly faithful, the critical reader may be better pleased perhaps with the greater fimplicity of the original. Epavn Koviopt, &c. p. 109, vol. i. Edit. Glasg.

The

The extended plains of Dorsetshire, however defolate they now appear, have once been bufy scenes. The antiquarian finds rich employment among them for his curiofity. To follow him in queft of every heaving hilloc, and to hear a difcuffion of conjectures about the traces of a Danish or a Roman mattoc, where the eye of common obfervation perceives no traces at all, might be tedious; but he fhews us feveral fragments of antiquity on these plains, which are truly curious; and convinces us, that few places in England have been more confiderable in Roman times than Dorchefter. Poundbury and Maiden-castle, as they are called, are both extraordinary remains of Roman ftations; the latter efpecially, which encompaffes a large fpace of ground. Numberlefs tumuli alfo are thrown up all over the downs. These were antiquities in the times even of the Romans themselves.

But the most valuable fragment on these plains, is a Roman amphitheatre, about half a mile from Dorchefter. It is conftructed only of earth; but it is of fo firm a texture, that it retains its complete form to this day. Its mounds are of immenfe thickness, and feem to be at least twenty feet high. The area con

tains about an acre of land, and is now a corn field. There are two openings in the mound opposed to each other, which have formerly been gates. The circumference without, appears circular to the eye, though, in fact, I believe it is rather oval; the infide is apparently fo. The difference of the figure seems to have been occafioned by the swelling of the mound within, where the feats have been disposed. This piece of antiquity is known by the name of Maumbery. How much it resembles in form and fize the old amphitheatres now fubfifting in Italy, may be feen from the following description of one near Nice. "I made a fe "cond excurfion to these ancient ruins, and "measured the area of the amphitheatre with "thread. It is an oval figure, the longest dia

meter extending about a hundred and thir<< teen yards, and the shortest about eighty. "In the centre of it was a fquare ftone, with an iron ring, to which I fuppose the wild "beafts were tied, to prevent their springing 66 upon the spectators. Some of the feats remain, with two oppofite entrances, consisting each of one large gate, and two smaller late"ral doors, arched: there is alfo a confider"able portion of the external wall; but no "columns

On comparing the amphitheatre of Dorchefter with this at Nice, we find the form of both exactly fimilar; and no great difference in the fize. The area of Maumbery is two hundred and eighteen feet, by a hundred and fixtythree. Dr. Stukely calculates, that it might have contained about thirteen thousand people. At Mrs. Canning's execution, who was burnt in the middle of this amphitheatre for the murder of her husband, it is fuppofed to have contained in the area, and on the mounds, at leaft ten thousand fpectators. It is furprising that Camden takes not the leaft notice of this fingular piece of antiquity.

Dorchester, as we may judge from these noble remains, was a place of great confideration in Roman times. The works of Maiden-castle, fuppofed to be capable of receiving fifteen thousand men, shew plainly the consequence of this station in a military light; and I know not, that the erection of an amphitheatre was thought neceffary in any other part of Britain; at least we have not, that I recollect, the re

*See Smollett's Letters.