JULIUS CJSSAK. 147 



own. Nor can we omit mentioning the Stemmata Gentium 

 Romanorum (the genealogy of Eoman families) of Euperti, 

 as one of the most valuable aids to Roman history yet pub- 

 lished. Finally, we must name the great work of Niebuhr ; 

 coldly or harshly critical it may be ; often theoretical ; and 

 in parts doubtful or mistaken ; yet correcting much of com- 

 mon error, and affording a juster estimate of the relative 

 value of those documents, whether Greek or Latin, from 

 which the Eoman history is derived.* 



Mr. Merivale now aspires to fill the historical void in our 

 own literature. We opened his book with interest, but not 

 without jealousy; because, even if it had not worthily ful- 

 filled the objects designed, it might yet have so far succeeded 

 as to deter others of higher pretension and literary power 

 from attempting the same labour. This is a space in the 

 world's history far too vast and important to be allotted to 

 anyone who is unable to found thereon a fair and lasting 

 edifice. Mr. Merivale, however, was already known as a 

 very accomplished scholar ; his reading and power of Latin 

 versification had been placed advantageously before the 

 public ; while his ' Age of Augustus,' published a few years 

 ago, was a natural antecedent, and to his readers a full 

 justification of the present undertaking. Whether he re- 

 garded it as tentative of this larger work, or was led to the 

 latter by getting thus far into the subject, he does not inform 

 us. But we can well understand that a writer who found 

 himself immersed in the epoch of final change from republic 

 to monarchy, might naturally proceed to spread his scheme 

 over the first great period of the Empire. 



Mr. Merivale could not have dispensed with a preliminary 



* Since this article was written, the volumes of Sir George Lewis, on the 

 ' Credibility of Early Eoman History,' have shown what may be done by an 

 accomplished scholar, of equal industry and learning, even amidst the labours 

 of high official life. 



