[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Stn,—On September 9th my wife and I drove to see the Etruscan tombs on the hill over against Orvieto (not the Necropolis Mancini). We were accompanied by a guide. After a time the Bolsena road is abandoned, and a rough footpath followed up and down a wood on the mountain-side. We were joined on the way by two gentlemen, who, on learning our destination, most kindly offered to accompany us. As our Italian was only travel-Italian, the senior pro- posed that the junior (who had just returned from Zurich to Orvieto) should translate his explanations into German, a language with which we were more familiar. (Our humble guide willingly became a listener instead of an exponent.) Nothing could be more delightful than the lucid and enthusi- astic, description of the wall-paintings of the remarkable grave-chambers given by our unknown friend. When at last we all emerged once more into the warm air, introductions took place, and I learned without surprise that the gentleman to whom we were so much indebted was a scholar of Pisa, whose papers on " Orvieto Etrusca " and the like subjects mark him as an authority of the first rank. I in turn gave him my card, and explained that I had the more appreciated his exposition as I happen to be a quasi-archaeologist, in virtue of being one of the honorary secretaries of the Gilman..
Archaeological Society. A brief conversation between the two Italian gentlemen followed, and then the German- speaking Orvietan explained that Signor P. P. would now like to converse with me without an interpreter, and sug- gested that, failing Italian, we should speak Latin together! Alas ! although as regards the pronunciation of Latin there is no difficulty of comprehension between Italians and Scotsmen, the Scots Universities do not give us as yet the " living Latin " which would enable us to discuss with a Pisan the ornamentation of Etruscan tombs !—I am, Sir, &c.,
WILLIAM GEORGE BLACK.
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