duce a nation which would not feel ample reafon to confole themselves on their refemblance to the Romans in their faults, provided that the fimilitude held equally between them with respect to those actions which bore the marks of greatness, of wif dom and of magnanimity*. But, unfortu

nately,

"plus quinquaginta jugera habere liceret? Ut finguli propè " trecentorum civium poffiderent agros, plebeio homini vix "ad tectum neceffarium, aut locum fepulturæ fuus pateret "ager !" The English and the American reader will, doubtlefs, feel a painful motion of furprife, fhould they discover that Montefquieu (of whom the late Earl of Chesterfield has finely remarked, that "his works will illuftrate his name, and "furvive him, as long as right reafon, moral obligation and "the true Spirit of Laws fhall be understood, refpected and maintained) experienced the shameful "difficulty of determin"ing" (to ufe his own words) "whether the infolence with "which the plebeians made their demands, or the eafy conde"fcenfion with which the fenate granted them was the great"eft!" K.

* A cool and ample investigation concerning this subject (of which, however, the narrow limits of a note will not admit) might, perhaps, prove that the generality of the almost unqualified encomiums fo bountifully lavished upon the Romans (pring rather from the strong impulse of literary fashion than the mature decifions of impartial criticifm. The country which, after ferious reflexion, could confole itself on a refemblance to the Romans in their criminal characteristics, pro

nately, our modern manners will not per mit us any longer to indulge fuch hopes; and

vided that the fimilitude held equally between them with respect to thofe actions which bore the marks of greatness, of wisdom and of magnanimity, must be deteftably ambitious, and (with an equal share of turpitude and ignorance) content to facrifice the best emotions of the human heart for the falla

cious fplendor of a name. Were the Romans happy? Was it fortunate to live at Rome? These are important questions. And fome (though not the multitude amongst the more dif cerning) writers have answered in the negative. Amidft their infant ftate, were not the Romans, almoft perpetually, ambitious in their projects, fierce in their modes of government and ferocious in their manners? What examples to the contrary arofe, from the æra of the affaffination of Camillus to the proscriptions of Sylla? Were not the fucceeding epochs marked by famines, contagions and miferies of every kind? Did not war become defirable? Or, rather (to borrow the fine expreffion of a modern author) could the tears of the people have been dried up, until the ftreams of human blood began to flow? Saint Auguftin, granting that, perhaps, these continual wars were neceffary to the aggrandifement of the Romans, pertinently afks: what individual would wish to acquire a gigantic ftature at the expence of his health? Look at the revolutions during the time of the Gracchi, of Marius, and of Sylla. Then, did the Romans enjoy a measure of felicity fufficient to make their condition envied and their forms of government admired? What shall we think concerning the facrifice in war of more than two millions of men, throughout a term of years not far exceeding the ufual length of life? Is it poffible to reflect

De civitate Dei. lib. 3. cap. 10.

without

and these manners have paffed over to America. The love of the country, of liberty and of glory never forfook the Romans, even in the moments when their exceffes were carried to extremes; and all their paffions were accustomed to affociate themselves with justice and with moderation. Long has the political fyftem of Europe, founded upon a thirst for gold and the unlimited exten

without horror on the execution of nineteen thousand criminals at the Lacus Fucinus †? Can we avoid fhuddering at the idea that out of forty-two emperors who filled up the interval between Julius Cæfar and Charlemagne, thirty, at leaft, have died a violent death; and that, amongst thefe, four committed fuicide, and fix perifhed through the intrigues of their favorites, their brothers, their wives and their children? This picture is not overcharged: and groups, disgusting groups remain to fill it up. But, we refer the reader to the defcription of the manners of the Romans, by Ammianus Marcellinus, in the fixth chapter of his fourteenth book. He will then see how far " even in the moments when their excesses were carried to ex"tremes, their passions were accustomed to associate themselves "with juftice and with moderation!" K.

+Suetonius obferves that when these miserable victims passed by Claudius, they cried out: "Ave! Imperator! morituri te falutant!" and that the emperor answering, from absence of mind, "Avete vos!" they underflood this expreffion to mean a pardon, and would not engage, until compelled by threats and intreaties... It cannot be denied that a generally established cuftom required that all fugitive flaves should be exposed to wild beasts.

fion of commerce, driven from amongst us all the ancient virtues; nor could I venture to affirm that a war of seven years has proved the inftrument of effecting their revival in America. Be this as it may, I dread left the rich should become inclined to form themselves into an order apart, and to take poffeffion of all power whatsoever, whilft the others, pluming themselves upon the expected attainment of that equality with the prospect of which they had been flattered, would not confent to fuch innovations; and hence muft neceffarily result the diffolution of that government which the opulent shall have endeavoured to eftablish. Were fuch a revolution to take place without any confiderable diforder, any material notice, or marked attention to the accompanying circumftances, it would afford a proof that the firm energy of the mind was totally extinct; and notwithstanding that, in this cafe, no tumult, no violence of oppofition would shake the peace of the republic,

republic, it might be asked: to what noble exertions, to what generous efforts could the citizens thenceforward prove capable of proceeding? And without the aid of these qualities, is it poffible that true liberty can exist?

On the contrary, were this change to meet with fome refiftance, what cabals, what intrigues, what dark designs should we have cause to apprehend! Hence, do I perceive refulting, hatred, jealousy, paffions which overleap all limits, and drag after them in their train, a thousand other vices, the precurfors of a tyranny, at this moment audacious, and, at the next moment, pufillanimous.

Even whilft I have brought on another queftion for difcuffion, muft I conclude a a letter which (I have caufe to fear) may prove too long. In that which I shall have the honor of writing to you to-morrow,