leaves, which
he keeps for his own teapot. Another curiosity is the _Celtis australis_
or _favaragio_, a tree that bears fruit of the size of a pea, with a
stone kernel; a trumpet-flower of spotless white, belonging to the
_Datura arborea_, measured a whole foot and a half from lip to stalk!
But it were vain to dwell on the novelties of a garden which is _all_
novelty to an English eye, and full of variety to the Italian himself; a
garden equally unique in its position and productions. The _Ear_ is
probably the most wonderful acoustic contrivance in existence; and that
it was the work of studious design, is proved by a _second_ one
_commenced_ in a neighbouring quarry--commenced, but not further
prosecuted, evidently because it would not answer, from the soft, chalky
material of the wall on one side. Its _external_ shape of the conch is
that of the ass's ear. The aperture, through which the light now enters
from its further end, and from a height of one hundred and twenty feet,
was till lately not known to exist; it not being supposed that the _Ear_
had any _meatus internus_ corresponding with the _external one_. The
accidental removal of a quantity of loose stones from above, revealed a
narrow passage of from twenty to thirty feet in length, and opening
directly into the cave. This internal opening is situated almost
immediately over the amphitheatre, one hundred and twenty feet above the
_floor_ of the cavern, and (measuring in a plane) is one hundred and
eighty feet from the external opening.

Having rent paper, which made an incredible noise, and let off a
Waterloo cracker, which reverberated along the walls like thunder, and
done other deeds of the same kind below, we ascended, and walking over
the _back_ of the cavern, presently came upon the passage which leads to
its _inner_ opening; and there, leaning over a parapet wall, (in doing
which we almost exclude the feeble light that penetrates into the cavern
from behind,) we are startled by a very audible but faint whisper, which
comes from our friend below, asking us to declare our present
sensations. We reply in the same faint whisper; and are immediately
apprised of its safe arrival by _another_. One hundred and eighty feet
separate the parties. In the stillness of that half-lit cavern, not only
were our faintest whisperings conveyed, but we could hear each other
breathe! This was a place to come and see!

SANTA LUCIA AND THE CAPUCIN CONVENT, &c.

Some Franc