really powerful effects in
invigorating the frame and promoting the porous secretions, (without
which life itself cannot be long continued,) require only to be once
known to be persevered in.

Among the ancients, bathing was far more generally practised than at
the present day. In the city of Alexandria, there were 4,000 public
baths; and the height of refinement in this luxury among the Romans is
almost incredible. In addition to the private baths, with which almost
every house was supplied, public baths were built, sometimes at the
public cost, and often at the expense of private individuals, who
nobly conceived their wealth to be laudably expended in giving each of
their fellow-citizens the means of procuring, free of expense, bodily
cleanliness and comfort. These baths were generally very extensive, and
fitted up with every possible convenience;--the passages and apartments
were paved with marbles of every hue, and the tesselated floors were
adorned with representations of gladiatorial engagements, hunting,
racing, and a variety of subjects from the mythology. In the
_Thermae_ at Rome, ingenuity and magnificence seem exhausted; and
the elegance of the architecture, and the vast range of rooms and
porticos, create in the beholder surprise and admiration, mingled with
feelings of regret for their neglected state. A quadrans (about a
farthing) admitted any one; for the funds bequeathed by the emperors and
others were amply sufficient to provide for the expensive establishments
requisite, without taxing the people beyond their means. Agrippa gave
his baths and gardens to the public, and even assigned estates for their
maintenance. Some of the _Thermae_ were also provided with a variety
of perfumed ointments and oils gratuitously. The chief _Thermae_[8]
were those of Agrippa, Nero, Titus, Domitian, Caracalla, and Diocletian.
Their main building consisted of rooms for swimming and bathing, in
either hot or cold water; others for conversation; and some devoted
to various exercises and athletic amusements. In some assembled large
bodies to hear the lectures of philosophers, or perhaps a composition
of some favourite poet; while the walls were surrounded with statues,
paintings, and literary productions, to suit the diversified taste of
the company.

Eustace describes these _Thermae_ at some length:--"Repassing the
Aventine Hill, we came to the baths of Antoninus Caracalla, that occupy
part of its declivity, and a consider