532 MEMOIR OF 
feature Mr Tyrter saw that a principle of natural arrangement 
was afforded him, which might give to his course a sufficient 
degree of unity and order ; aad which, while it preserved to 
the student the interest of historical narration, gave to the 
teacher the opportunity of exhibiting those general views of 
the progress of the human race, which form the most import- 
ant instruction we can derive from its history. 
It was on this principle that his course of Ancient History 
was conducted. After some general prospects of what is known 
of the Assyrian and Egyptian Empires, he began with the bril- 
liant and interesting subject of Greece. He treated at length, 
the events of its civil and political history, and in conduct- 
ing his marr ative, brought occasionally into view the situation 
oft the nations by vibes it was surrounded. He then exami- 
ned the nature of the various governments which distinguish- 
ed it;—the different political institutions which they had adopt- 
ed,—the character of their military establishments,—their 
principles of colonization, and of internal regulation: And 
when time had conducted him to the ssielanieioly period of the 
extinction of their independence, he took a retrospective view 
of its literary history,—of the state of its attainments in arts 
and science, and, above all, of the nature and causes of that 
unequalled excellence which it attained in all the arts of 
taste. 
The next great subject which presented itself was the his- 
tory of Roi and in the views he took of this magnificent. 
portion of his course, he followed the same arrangement, and 
employed the same method of instruction. After recounting 
its obscure origin and infant institutions,—after tracing the 
progress of its political constitution, until it terminated in that. 
ilustrious Republic, which, though so long extinct, still reigns, 
as by some magic spell, over the minds and imaginations of 
mankind, 
