occupied by soldiers, should be visited interiorly, if only for seeing a majestic arch of sixty feet span opening into its apsidal, Tribunal end. The edifice long called "the Roman Baths," there is reason to suppose, was part of the Imperial palace, and never really Thermæ or public baths—no excavations having yet demonstrated any water-courses, or (except under a small corner chamber) any hypocausts or other constructions like those usually found in Roman buildings formed undoubtedly for bathing purposes. But this opinion was vigorously combated on the spot itself, as well as an opinion that the Thermæ were near the river.
Some of the original basilical walls of the Cathedral have been recently laid bare, under the direction of the learned architect Christian Schmidt, who kindly demonstrated, with reference to his engraved plans of this edifice, the difference between its portions of the 4th century and those of the 11th and 12th. M. Schmidt also pointed out when in the church of Notre-Dame its remarkable ground-plan, and, considering its date (1227—1243) and its vicinity to the Rhenish provinces, the advanced style of its beautiful architecture.
The collection of Roman inscribed stones at the Porta Nigra has been much increased, and several newly-found sculptured marbles and coins have been added to the collection belonging to the "Trèves Society for useful research" now at the Gymnasium.
Of the places not always accessible may be mentioned the Sacristy of Notre-Dame, and among its treasures the portable altar of St. Willebrod, which is a small oaken chest covered with a copper case adorned with figures in silver and ivory of Byzantine work, and inscribed with a record of its dedication, and a list of the reliques originally deposited in it. Also the Palace of the Bishop, who politely exhibited to the Society some very beautiful MSS. there, and a censer of the 12th century lately found by him in a country church: and lastly, a chamber at one end of the Public Library, containing an assemblage of minor objects of antiquity illustrative of the arts and domestic manners of mediæval times.
At the farewell meeting, (which was public,) after a brief account by M. de Caumont of the rise and progress of the Society, the Secretary gave an oral report of the observations and opinions of its members on the several monuments which they had visited; and then complimenting, in the name of the Society, the municipal government of Trèves for what it had already done in their preservation and development—but with a suggestion that the course of the aqueduct should be further explored—placed on the table a donation of 300 francs towards that purpose and the restoration of a bronze inscription of the 12th century on one of the city gates. M. de Caumont afterwards presented the Society's silver medals to four gentlemen of Trèves, recommended by the Council as the most active and intelligent archæologists there, and thanking the inhabitants in general for their cordial reception, with an expression of his conviction that this visit of the Society would produce every good effect that could be hoped for, took leave of the assembly by announcing that its fourteenth annual meeting would take place next June at Nevers. W. BROMET.
