The gallery of antiquities, containing statues, busts, and basso-relievoes, is immediately under the gallery of pictures. It is divided into _la salle des saisons_, _la salle des hommes illustres_, _la salle des Romains_, _la salle de Laocoon_, _la salle de l’Apollon_, et _la salle des Muses_. Were I to attempt an account of all these statues, my letter would never end. I shall therefore only mention those by which the rest, however excellent, are rendered petty, and contemptible, in comparison with them. I mean the _Apollo Belvidere_, and the _Laocoon_[5]. These masterpieces of human ingenuity are also so well known, and have been so well described, that I shall confine my remarks to their present state and present situation. The _Apollo_ seems to have received no injury from the journey, and has as just claims as ever to the preeminence which, for so many centuries, has been allowed it. Did I not fear to appear presumptuous in hinting at any defect in a statue, esteemed so perfect, I should say, that the ancles were rather too thick, in proportion to the rest of the leg, and to the general lightness of the figure. I should have concealed my criticism, if a friend, on whose judgment and knowledge I can rely, had not assured me, that the objection was not novel, and that many connoisseurs have suspected that the legs are modern. Not having had the happiness of seeing this wonderful statue in Italy, I cannot draw a comparison between the spot where it formerly stood, and that which it at present occupies. I certainly think, that it is not now seen to the greatest advantage. The room is not either high or large enough for the purpose, and too many statues are crowded together.—The Apollo Belvidere stands between the _Venus d’Arles_ and another female figure, within a railed space of no great dimensions. The catalogue gives the following history: “No. 145. APOLLON PYTHIEN, DIT APOLLON DU BELVIDERE. (After describing the statue and the subject). “Cette statue la plus sublime de celles que le tems nous ait conservées, a été trouvée, vers la fin du quinzième siècle, à _Capo d’Anzo_, à douze lieues de Rome, sur le rivage de la mer, dans les ruines de l’antique Antium, cité célébré et par son temple de la Fortune, et par les maisons de plaisance, que les empereurs y avaient élevées à l’envi, et embellies de plus rares chefs-d’œuvres de l’art. Julius II, n’étant encore que cardinal, fit l’acquisition de cette statue, et la fit placer d’abord dans le palais qu’il habitait près l’église de Santi Apostoli. Mais bientôt après étant parvenu au pontificat, il la fit transporter au _Belvidere_ du Vatican, où depuis trois siècles elle faisait l’admiration de l’univers, lorsqu’un héros, guidé par la victoire est venu l’en tirer, pour la conduire et la fixer à jamais sur les rives de la Seine....