power, and enabled her to swallow up all the ftates and kingdoms in our hemifphere. This lofs is fo much the greater, that Polybius bestowed the utmost care and attention to procure the best information with refpect to facts; and, that he might not be miftaken about the fituation of places, he himself travelled to the fpots where the principal engagements defcribed by him happened. Besides all this, Polybius abounds with the justest reflections; and every where delivers the most folid maxims of policy; two particulars that conftitute the chief excellence of every hiftorian, and from which a reader derives the most valuable inftruction. It is true, that his digreffions are generally tedious; but the facts they contain are fo curious, that it were rigorous to find fault with them. Polybius, having returned into the Peloponnefe after the deftruction of Corinth, had an opportunity of defending the memory of his master Philopomen from an accufation of his having been an enemy of the Roman people; and he acquitted himfelf with fuch eloquence and force of argument, that a decree was paffed, forbidding the ftatues fet up in honour of that hero to be demolished or hurt. Polybius was likewife chofen by the Roman commiflioners to vifit the conquered towns, and to fettle any difputes that had arisen among them. This commission he executed with fuch admirable prudence and equity, that ftatues were, in different places, erected to his honour. After this, he went back to Scipio at Rome, with whom he lived till the death of that illuftrious Roman, when he once more returned to his native country, and there ended his days at the age of eighty-two years.-There is a folio edition of Polybius, with Cafaubon's notes, printed at Paris, 1609. This fragment was tranflated into French by Thulliers, and in 1727 was published at Paris with a very elaborate commentary by Chevalier Folard, 7 vol. 4to. with fine plates. Caius Crifpus Salluftius was born in fome part of Italy, and educated at Rome. He was honoured for fome tine with a feat in the Roman fenate, but was expelled on account of his diffolute life; he was reftored by Julius Cæfar, and entrusted with the province of Numidia, which province he fo fleeced as to return to Rome loaded with riches; but his wealth was of fhort duration, for he fquandered it as profufely as it was unjustly acquired. Some remains of his Roman Hiftory, as alfo his Hiftoria Belli Catilinarii & Jugurthini, are fill in being; of which there is a good edition, with notes, printed at Amsterdam, 1472, 2 vol. 4to. The best English translation of Salluft is that published near forty years ago by W. Rose, A. M. in a pocket volume. Julius Cæfar, the first Roman emperor, with whofe life and heroism the world is generally acquainted, has fhewn us, that there are hours of tranquillity and repofe to be found even amidst the hurry of the most important government. A prince cannot poffibly employ his leifure time better than in literary amusements; but he should be particularly cautious as to the object of his ftudy, left he fhould inadvertently expofe himself to the cavillings of certain writers, who may not choose to confider him as a prince, but merely as an author. Even Cæfar's Commentaries, however generally admired, have not efcaped criticism: Afinius Pollio, who lived in the reign of Auguftus, charges them with the want both of elegance and veracity, and Bayle feems to be of the fame opinion; a like sentiment appears alfo in Voffius.-Cæfar's Commentaries were first printed at Rome in the year 1460 in folio; fince which an incredible number of editions have been publifhed in various parts of the world; they are univerfally read in fchools.-Louis XIV. when a boy, tranflated part of Cæfar's Commentaries'; and the work was published under this title: La Guerre des Suiffes, traduite du premier Livre des Commentaires de Jule Cafar, par Louis XIV. Roy de France. Paris, 1751. de l'Imprimeire royale, in folio, avec figures. This is a very grand tranflation, it must be confeffed; yet there is another, with a lefs pompous title-page, done by Baron Spanheim, which deferves the preference. Diodorus Diodorus Siculus lived in the time of Julius Cæfar and Auguftus. His work, intitled, The Hiftorical Library, comprehended forty books, of which only fifteen now remain. The five first immediately follow one another, contain the history of the fabulous times, and treat of what happened previous to the fiege of Troy. The next seven books comprehend the hiftory of the Perfians and Greeks, from the expedition of Xerxes into Greece, till the death of Alexander. And the three laft give us the hiftory of Alexander's fucceffors. Diodorus is a very valuable hiftorian; and, though he appears to have given rather too much credit to the traditions of the priests, yet we have great reafon to regret the lofs of the rest of his history. His ftyle unites fimplicity with perfpicuity, and his works abound with judicious reflections. Dionyfius Halicarnaffenfis refided at Rome no less than two and twenty years in the reign of Auguftus. His Antiquitates Romana confifted originally of twenty books, but of these no more than the first eleven have been preferved. He was, as his name imports, a native of Halicarnaffus, a city of Caria in`Asia Minor. He came into Italy about the time of the battle of Actium gained by Augustus against Antony. During the refidence of Dionyfius at Rome, he • formed an acquaintance with the most learned men then in that city, and ftudied very carefully the works of the most efteemed hiftorians. The learned discover in Dionyfius a profound erudition, a moft acute fpirit of criticifm, a mind void of prejudice, a love of truth, and a profeffed hatred of impiety. We are particularly obliged to him for the knowledge he has given us of the religion and manners of the Romans. His ftyle is fimple and elegant, and he appears more folicitous about fhewing his learning, than about the ornaments of eloquence-The best edition, with a French tranflation, was printed at Orfurth in 1794, with Hudfon's notes. An excellent English tranflation was published in the year 1758 by Edward Spellman, Efq. VOL. I. No. 13. Titus Livius, who was born at Padua, is generally allowed to deferve the first place among hiftorians; partly from his own merit, and partly on account of the particular favours conferred on him by the emperor Auguftus, who is faid to have affifted him with the materials neceffary in compiling his Roman Hiftory. After the death of Auguftus he returned to Padua, and died, on the fame day with Ovid, in the fourth year of the reign of Tiberius. His Hiftory, the first part of which is founded only on tradition, began with the foundation of Rome, and ended with the death of Drufus; but of a hundred and forty books unfortunately no more than thirty-five are now in being. He was no less esteemed during his life than he has been ever since his death.-His Roman History was first printed at Venice in 1470, fol. and there is a very good edition published at Amfterdam in 1710, with Freinfheim's and Le Clerc's notes, in 10 vol. 8vo. M. Velleius Paterculus was first, in the reign of Auguftus, tribune of the people; and was afterwards honoured with the command of the cavalry, in Germany, under Tiberius. His Epitome of the Roman History is allowed to be chronologically accurate; and he has, in general, done justice to the memory of great men. As to his panegyric on Tiberius, it has had no other effect upon the minds of pofterity than that of exposing its author. His ftyle and language do honour to the times in which he wrote; infomuch that we have great reafon to lament that his works were not handed down to us entire.-The best edition of this author was printed at Leyden, under the inspection of Burmannus, with notes, &c. 1744, 8vo. Cornelius Tacitus lived in the times of Vefpafian, Domitian, and Nerva ; under the government of the last he arrived at the confular dignity. Where he was born is uncertain. His hiftory and annals carry with them the marks of a masterly pen. Never was hiftorian more univerfally and defervedly esteemed; nor can any one boaft of a more numerous lift of com. mentators: on the other hand, he 3 E has has alfo had many enemies. But, - fince whoever has the feweft defects is the most perfect, Tacitus undoubtedly deferves the praife he has acquired. His ideas are fo pertinent, and fo happily expreffed, that in all probability he will continue a model, and alfo a ftumbling-block, to all future hiftorians.-The first edition of Tacitus was published at Venice about the year 1467. There is a very good edition, laft published at Utrecht in 1721, 2 vol. 4to. with notes by Gronovius. C. Suetonius Tranquillus (whose works were first published at Rome in 1470, fol.) had not been long at Hadrian's court before he fell into difgrace, and was obliged to fly. Writing was his chief employment, and he is faid to have left behind him works of various kinds; but of thefe there are none remaining except his Lives of the Twelve Cæfars. There is a peculiar boldness in this hiftorian, which may ferve to teach all great people how neceffary it is that they thould be on their guard in every action of their lives; for there will certainly be found fome future Suetonius, in every nation and in every age, who will dare to lift up the veil, and fhew them to the world as they really are. A good edition of this author was published at Amfterdam in 1736, 2 vol. quarto, with notes by Cafaubon, Burmannus, and other learned commentators. Appianus Alexandrinus, a famous Greek writer, who connected the Roman history with that of other nations as far as they were naturally interwoven, dividing it into different periods as they were concerned with different people. Some part of his work only has escaped thofe evils which have robbed us of so many valuable books. He lived in the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius. The first impreffion of his works appeared at Venice in 1472, fol. and the last at Amfterdam in 1670, in 2 vol. octavo. Dion Caffius was of Greek extraction. He was fome time governor of Smyrna; but in the year 229, in the reign of Alexander Severus, was made conful. Yet he was at last o bliged to retire to Nicea, the place of his birth, where, in perfect tranquillity, he wrote his Roman Hiftory, in the Greek language, of which a part is ftill extant. He is juftly reproached with having been prejudiced against Pompey, Cicero, Seneca, and other great men.-His Roman Hiftory, in forty-fix books, in Greek and Latin, with notes, was printed at Hanover in 1606, folio. Lucius Annæus Florus, of the fame family with Seneca and Lucan, lived about two hundred years after the birth of Chrift. His epitome of the Roman history wants that uniformity of manner and fimplicity of tile fo pleafing in an elegant hiftorian.-This author was first published by Pontanus, and afterwards by Salmafius and Mad. Dacier, with notes. In the year 1704 were printed at Cologne his Libri duo priores ex Criticorum Obfervationibus correcti, cum textus ratione, notifque variorum, &c. ex editione Laur, Bergeri, folio, cum figuris. Herodian wrote his Roman History in Greek, his native language. It begins from the death of Marcus Aurelius, and concludes with that of Papienus, at which time Herodian was himself at the court of Rome. The work is divided into eight books; and contains, in particular, an account of the fuperftitious ceremonies ufed at the deification of the emperors. An edition of this work, with a verfion, was printed at Leyden in 1745, in 8vo. with Stephens's notes. Eutropius ferved under the empe ror Julian, and in the fourth century, marched with him againft the Perfians. His abbreviation of the Roman hiftory, confifting of ten books, begins with the foundation of the republic, and continues down to the times of Valentinian, to whom he dedicates his work, Eutropii Breviarum Hifloria Romana, cum Metaphrafi Graeca Paeani: & notis integris variorum, ex recenfione Sig. Havencampii, Leyden, 1729, 8vo. Sextus Aurelius Victor likewife lived in the reign of Julian, in the fourth century. In the year 369 be was conful at the fame time with Valentinian. This author likewife has left us an epitome of the Roman hif tory; 1 tory; of which the last edition was 1733, 4to. Ammianus Marcellinus died about the year of Chrift 390, after he had finished, in a ftile not the moft pleafing, an history, which, from the matter it contains, muft neceffarily be of fome importance. It originally confifted of thirty-one books; but of thefe, eighteen only, which take in that period between Conftantine and Gratianus, have escaped deftruction. -The first edition of this author appeared at Rome in 1474, under this title: Ammiani Marcellinii rerum geftarum libri a XIV. ad XXVI. ex editione A. Sabini Pata. But the best edition of these remaining eighteen books was printed at Leyden in 1693, cum annotationibus Lingenbrogii & Valefciorum, ex editione & cum notis Jac. Gronovii, cum fig. Ælius Spartianus lived in Dioclefian's reign. He wrote the lives of Hadrian, Caracalla, and four other emperors. Julius Capitolinus, alfo a Roman hiftorian, lived in the third century. Gallicanus, who lived about the fame time, were published together at Paris in 1620, folio; and at Leyden, in 1632, in 4 vol. 12mo. Plutarch, a famous Greek writer, may not improperly be added to this catalogue. He lived in the reign of Trajan, by whom he was much ho-. noured and efteemed. Besides his moral writings and fome other pieces, fortunately are preferved his Lives of eminent Greeks and Romans. This work is indeed biographical; yet, at the fame time that it affords many excellent examples both for kings and fubjects, it also throws a confiderable light upon the times. in which thofe great men lived., Plutarch, was a native of Cheronea in Boeotia, and lived in the reign of the emperor Nero. He performed feveral journeys into Italy, to collect materials for his Lives of Illuftrious Men; and he numbered among his friends the greateft men of Rome, who took delight in hearing him reafon in Greek on matters of philofo- . phy. At laft, he fixed his conftant refidence in his native country, where. he was honoured with the first employments, and difcharged those, as well as all the duties of private life, with admirable care and prudence, fhewing himself to be a good father, a good husband, a good mafter, and a good citizen; and his virtue was rewarded with the fweeteft harmony and peace in his family. His Difcourfes on Morals contain very useful maxims for the conduct of life, fublime notions about the divinity and immortality of the foul, and are interfperfed throughout with curious anecdotes. But the Lives of Illuftrious Men is the work that has immortalized the name of Plutarch. It is looked upon as the most proper book in the world, to form men either for Flavius Vopifcus was born at Syra- private life or public employments; cufe, and lived, in the beginning of and abounds with particulars highly the fixth century, in the reigns of worthy of observation. Things are Dioclefian and Chlorus. He fettled there estimated at their real value. at Rome, and there wrote the lives of He does not confine himself to the Aurelian and Tacitus. His works great and fhining actions alone, of are of no great estimation; neverthe- the illuftrious men whofe lives he lefs they happen to have been pre- writes; "He does not fatisfy himferved. Thefe four laft-mentioned felf," fays M. Rollin, "to paint the historians, together with Vulcatius commander, the conqueror, the po Ælius Lampridus, in the fourth century, wrote the lives of Commodus, Diaduminian, Eliogabalus, and Alexander Severus; which he dedicated to Conftantine. Trebellius Pollio compofed, to- when once a man has been detected in 3 E a litician, litician, the magiftrate, the orator; but introduces his reader into the closet, as it were, or rather, indeed, into the hearts of thofe of whom he fpeaks; and there makes him acquainted with the father, the hufband, the mafter, the friend. We feem to live and to converse with them, and to be present at their parties of pleasure, their walks, their feafts, their converfations. Cicero fomewhere observes, that in walking through Athens, and the places adjacent, one could hardly advance a ftep without meeting with fome ancient monument mentioned in history, which recalled to the imagination the remembrance of fome great man of antiquity, and rendered him in a manner prefent. The reading of Plutarch's Lives," continues M. Rollin, "produces a fimilar effect, prefenting, as it were, before our eyes, the great men of whom he speaks, and giving us an idea of their behaviour and manners, as lively and ftrong as if we were living with them." For this reafon, the lofs of fome of thofe lives is the more to be regrettéd. Plutarch fhews himself, on all occafions, to be a great painter; and his ftyle, though plain and fimple, is nevertheless lively, and expreffive; but not every where equally fup ported. Plutarch is cenfured for his fondnefs of ftory-telling; and, indeed, provided a story be curious, he never fails to introduce it, and to give a very minute detail of it, however remote its connection may be with the subject in hand. But his reflections are always fenfible and pertinent. We are likewife indebted to him for having preserved to us fpecimens of the writings of fome of his great men. A good edition of Plutarchi Vita illuftrium Virorum, with a Latin tranflation, was published at Paris in 1624, in 2 vol. folio.-A fupplement to Plutarch's Lives was published by Mr. Thomas Rowe, hufband to the cele brated poetefs; and is much esteemed by the learned. We shall conclude for the prefent with two other biographical writers, Diogenes Laertius and Cornelius Nepos.-Nepos was a cotemporary and intimate friend of Cicero: he wrote the Lives of eminent Commanders. Laertius, in the reign of Alexander Severus, wrote the Lives of the ancient Philofophers. A future number may perhaps make the reader acquainted with the moft eminent hiftorians of France and England. THE UNFORTUNATE LOTTERY TICKET. YOU OU will not be furprised, Mr. Editor, when I tell you that I have had very bad luck in the lottery; but you will ftare when I further tell you, it is because unluckily I have got a confiderable prize in it. I received the glad tidings of misfortune laft Saturday night, when, on looking over the lift of prizes, as I was got behind my pipe at the club, I found that my ticket was come up a 2000l. In the pride as well as the joy of my heart, I could not help proclaiming to the company-my good luck, as I then foolishly thought it, and as the company thought it too, by infifting that I should treat them that evening. Friends are never fo merry, nor ftay longer, than when they have nothing to pay: they never care how extravagant they are on fuch occafions. Bottle after bottle was therefore called for, and that too of claret, though not one of us, I believe, but had rather had port. In fhort, I reeled home as well as I could about four in the morning; when thinking to pacify my wife, who began to rate me (as ufual) for staying out fo long, I told her the occafion of it; but inftead of rejoicing, as I thought she would, fhe cried-" Pish, only, two thousand pounds!" However, he was at laft reconciled to it, taking care to remind me, that the had chofen the ticket herself, and she was all along fure it would come up a prize, because the number was an odd one. We neither of us got a wink of fleep, though I was heartily inclined to it: for my wife kept me awake-by telling me of this, that, and " |