analogy; Üie maiifoleum being merely the remains of a large cubiform pedcftal, the mouldings
of which are ncverthelels highly finifhed.
It is twelve feet in height, and fiipports eight finall columns of the Compofite order, but
out of all proportion with the pcdeftal: it is crowned by a kind of dome, under which
ftands a pedcftrian figure, without either talle or execution.
The whole bxiilding feems to liave been erected at different periods, and, probably,
towards the decline of the empire.
The triumphal airh, on the contrary, by its elegant and be.aiitifiil remains, ajjpears
to have poflefled all the genuine raagnificenec of Roman ai-chile¿tiirc in the time of
Augufius.
It is of the Corinthian order, although its columns, which arc chamfreted, ai-e without
either capitals or entablature. The annexed view, whicli has been accurately taken,
will ferve to gi\'e fome idea of it.
The pedeilals are well prcfci-ved, and the mouldings and ornaments of exquifite taflc.
Their height feven modules, or feveii femi-diametei-s, taken from the bottom of the columns.
The elevation of the arch is about feventeen feet one eighth, and the width eight
feet and nine fixteenths.
The ornaments of the arehivault, or inner contour of the arch, as alfo thofe of the
lateral fides, are beautifully executed. Of the baflb-relievos, between the columns, enough
remains, although in many parts they are greatly mutilated, to ihew that they were not
inferior to the reft of the edifice.
The fubjcfi, iraperfeéUy difcerniblcj reprefents a group of wamors, but of various
nations, if we may judge by the different ihape of their ihields.
Some autliors have fuppofed tliis arch to have been erefled in honour of M. Cicfius
Scseva, who accompanied Caius Julius Csfar in his expedition agaLnit Britain, for having
fubdued the Rutheni, a people of Aquitania, who at that time made frequent incurfions
into Gallia Narbonenfis. This account is not given as abfolutely authentic: there may be
reafons, perhaps, for rejefting it. No antiquary, however, can view this ihiidhu«, and
hefitate to afcribe it to very ancient times.
The to\vn of St. Remi gamed great repute in the fixteenth century, from having given
birth to the famous Michael Noflradamus, a man poiTeffing more cunning than real genius,
and who, for a time, acquired reputation by his pretended prophecies; a proof of the crcdiility
of thofe days.