The _Pantheon_, commonly called the Church _de la Rotonda_, because of its round Figure, is a Monument of the Magnificence of ancient ROME, which has been well preserved. _Agrippa_ caused this Temple to be built, with an Intention to dedicate it to _Augustus_ his Father-in-Law; but he afterwards devoted it to _Jupiter Ultor_, or _the Avenger_. Pope _Boniface_ I. or, as others say, _Boniface_ IV. consecrated this Temple to the True God, by dedicating it to the Holy Virgin and the Martyrs, with the Title of _Sta. Maria ad Martyres_. Nothing is more Majestic than the Portico of this Church, which is supported by sixteen Columns of oriental Granate, of a wonderful Height and Circumference, all of a Piece, and of the _Corinthian_ Order. The Church, which is round, receives Light only by an Opening in the Middle of the Roof, which is built in Form of a Dome. The Walls are lined with Marble, even up to the Cornish which supports the Roof, and several little Chapels are cut out in the Wall. The Roof was heretofore covered with Brass, but _Urban_ VIII. stripped the Church of that magnificent Covering, and employ’d the Brass partly on the High Altar of St. _Peter_’s Church, and of the rest of it he caused those Guns to be cast that are still to be seen in the Castle of St. _Angelo_. The Pope who did this, being of the _Barberini_ Family, gave Occasion to the _Romans_, who take a Pleasure in criticising the Conduct of the Popes, to say, that the _Barberini_ had done even more than the _Barbarians_; and really, it is worthy of Remark, that in the several Sackings of ROME the _Rotonda_ was always spared.