ANNUAL R 
cation, the hideous offspring of ig- 
norancé. and terror, detesting men 
as criminals, and trembling af God 
asatyrant. But Rome, according 
to the only historian* who bas 
eircumstantially and authentically 
described its early transactions, was 
an expansion of Alba Longa, itself 
a Grecian colony, which, according 
tothe immemorial and sacred cus- 
tom of its mother-country, diffused 
jnto new settlements the exuberance 
of a flourishing population, pro- 
duced by the wisest and most liberal 
institutions. According to the same 
admirable historian, the manly dis- 
cernment of Romulus offered an 
asylum not merely for robbers and 
murderers, but for those who were 
threatened with murder or robbery, 
who spurned subjection, or fled from 
oppression ; for, amidst the lawless 
turbulence of ancient Italy, the 
weak needed protectors against the 
strong, the few against the many ; 
and Rome, at her earliest age, al- 
ready systematically assisted the 
weakest party; thus adopting, in 
her infancy, that politic heroism 
that was destined, by firm and ma- 
jestic steps to conduct her manhood 
‘and maturity to the fair sovereignty 
of consenting nations. 
Both in their origin and in’ their 
progress, Rome and S:. Marino 
form the natural objects, not, indeed, 
of a comparison, but, of a striking 
contrast ; and compressed as is the 
latter republic between the domi- 
nions of the pope and those of the 
grand duke, to. whose subjects Sr. 
Marino is bound to, allow a free 
passage through its territory, its 
citizens*would deserve ridicule or 
pity did they affect the character, 
or imitate the maxims, of,those mag- 
*26] 
’ 
EGISTER, 1795. 
-nanimous senators, who, for .the 
space of more than two centuries, 
swayed the politics and. coutrolled 
the revolutions of the world. . Cone 
vinced that their independence re- 
sults from their insignificancy, the 
senators of St. Marino smiled, when 
we read in Mr. Addison, ‘‘ These 
republicans would sell their-liberties 
dear to any that attacked them.” 
We had not the indelicaey to de- 
sire them to iaterpret this smile ; or 
to make, ourselves, any comment 
upon it, being persuaded, that, pre- 
carious and shadowy as their liberty 
is, their rational knowledge and their 
virtues have enabled them to ex- 
tract from it both substantial and per- 
mMament enjoyment, and make them 
live happier here, amidst rocks aud 
snows, than are their Tuscan and 
Roman neighbours in rich plains and 
warm vallies. 
To the inhabitants of this little 
state, the arengo, the council, the 
different offices of magistracy, in- 
Nocent rural labours, avd military 
exercises, equally useful and. inno- 
cent, supply a continual succession 
of manly engagements. Hopes and 
fears respecting the safety of their 
country awaken curiosity and ex~ 
cite inquiry. They read the ga- 
zettes of Europe with interest ; they 
study history with improvement ; in 
conversation,their questions are pet- 
tinent and their answers satisfactory. 
Contrary to what has been observed 
by travellers of other Itahans, the 
citizens of St. Marino delight in 
literary conversation ; and Mr. Ad. 
dison remarks, that he hardly met 
with an unlettered man in their je- 
public. In speaking of Beccaria’s 
book on style, then recently pub- 
lished, one of the senaturs said,that 
* Dionysius of IHalicarnassus. 
Oa 
