and _villae_; at present we make no distinction, and the name _villa_ is applied to a house in a garden, even within the walls of a city; but in ancient times a villa was always at a considerable distance from the city. _Horti_, on the other hand, still called _orti_, originally signified mere orchards in the vicinity of the city. Such _horti_ were bought by the wealthy at the time when the city became too confined, and having purchased many of them together they built palaces with suitable pleasure grounds in those districts between the great high roads. Thus Scipio, in the work “De Re Publica,” is said to have made up his mind to be _in hortis_. I have discovered the _horti Aemilii_, which were situated on the border of the Campus Martius. Such studies and inquiries make a residence at Rome extremely attractive. In the first year I could not see my way clearly, but afterwards, when I had once discovered the thread, I became quite at home there. Had it not been for my family and the education of my children, whom I was anxious to have brought up in the German way, I could never have resolved to quit Rome, because ancient Rome became daily more clear and vivid before my mind, while modern Rome disappeared more and more from my view; the climate also agreed very well with me. The large palaces, to return to my subject, were situated outside the ancient walls. It is a most erroneous opinion that the palace of Maecenas was situated on the spot afterwards occupied by the Thermae of Titus; for it was outside the wall in the Campus Esquilinus.