Francesco Bianchini  

"As early as the year 1684, some unusual circumstances in sinking a well had excited the observation of those who, unknowingly, cultivated the soil immediately above the theatre of the ancient city of Herculaneum . In the Istoria Universale of Bianchini, 1699, we have an account of the strata pierced ; from which it appears, that after a bed, 10 feet thick, of cultivable soil , ten alternating courses of lava and earth, or tufa, were passed, before finding the water at the depth of 90 feet, or 18 below the ancient level at that spot ; although it may be remarked, that various inscriptions, and pieces of wrought iron, had been found at 22 feet below the surface. The Prince D'Elbæuf, who had been sent at the head of an Imperial army to Naples, and had married a native princess, about 1706 began a palace upon the spot, possessed himself of the well, and the marbles extracted were pounded into terras, or scagliola, for the floors of the new building. Some statues discovered were sent to France, his native country, or Vienna, to Prince Eugene, under whom he had served. We believe it was not until the year 1736 that the operations, suspended by the interference of the Government, were renewed by the King, and the ancient name of the city correctly ascertained: but the great depth of incumbent matter scarcely admitted the possibility of leaving any part open; so that even the architectural decoration was removed, and some of the columns of the scene of the theatre were employed in the church of St Januarius at Naples."--Pompeiana (1817-1819) by William Gell