I have the honour to send you a drawing of the Mausoleum of Theodoric at Ravenna, with a request that you will lay it before the Society of Antiquaries, if you shall think it deserving of their notice.

Although the building must be well known to many who have visited that City, yet, as I am not aware that any detailed representation of it has been hitherto published, I trust that a drawing taken on the spot in 1825 will not be destitute of interest in the eye of an Antiquary. I have of course represented the building exactly in its present state: originally it must have presented a very different appearance. During the lapse of thirteen centuries the earth has accumulated round its basement to such a degree as to conceal the greater part of it beneath the general level of the surrounding country; the two flights of steps therefore are of modern construction, and from an examination of the upper story it is apparent that a decagonal arcade formerly encircled it, which has since either fallen into decay, or perhaps been purposely despoiled of its component stones. The part now standing is in good preservation, and is formed of ashlared blocks of limestone of large, but irregular, sizes.