ROME. 



pride of the vanquiflied, by giving them an apparent (hare Carthage Ihould be razed to its very foundation. Dc 

 in their own domeftic government; while, in arranging the fpair infpired this miferable people with courage': they 

 conllitution of the cities themfelves, they filled their magi- determined to make one effort at lealt, and then, if necef- 

 ftracies with illuftrious Romans, whofe abilities and in- fary, to die in the defence of their altars and gods. The 

 fluence were fitted to command allegiance, refpect, and at- effort was in vain, and Carthage, in 146, was taken by 

 tachment to the Roman government. ftorm, its inhabitants cruelly mairacred, and the city burnt 



The command of the continent did not fatisfy the Roman to the ground. In the fame year, the ruin of Corinth, and 

 ambition. The Carthaginian ftate excited their jealoufy, of the Grecian dates, was effected. Greece became a* Ro- 

 and the aid which it had granted to the Tarentines was man province under the name of Achaia. Many other 

 the pretext for commencing hoftilities. Sicily had long kingdoms (hared the fame fate, among which were Numantia 

 been confidered as the granary of Italy, and in that idand and Lulitania. Thus, in the fpaceof about a century, the 

 the Carthaginians poffeffed confiderable fettlements, and they Romans extended their conquefts iii Europe, Afia, 'and 

 were ambitions of acquiring its entire dominion. An ob- Africa. 



vious policy led the Romans to difpute with them this im- " This," fays Mr. Tytler, " was the era of the dawn of 

 portant acquisition, which gave rife to the Punic wars, luxury and talte at Rome, the natural fruit of foreign wealth, 

 Sicily was at firfl the theatre of war between thefe two 11a- and an acquaintance with foreign manners. In the unequal 

 tions, which was afterwards removed into Africa, and thence diftribution of this imported wealth, the vices to which it 

 into Spain and Italy. We have however, under the words gave rife, the corruption and venality of which it became 

 Carthage and Carthaginians, entered fo much at large the iuftrumeiit, we fee the remoter caufes of thofe fatal dil- 

 into this fubject, as to preclude the neceflity of doing here orders to which the republic owed its diffolution." 

 more than adding a few lines to render the Roman hiftory All diffantions between the fenate and the people had been 

 connected. For fome time the event was doubtful, but in the fufpended during their victories and triumphs, but when 

 year 242 B.C. the Carthaginians were conftrained to fue they had no foreign enemy to contend with, they turned their 

 for peace, which they obtained on hard and ignominious weapons againlt themfelves. Sentiments of honour and 

 terms. Rankling under the difgracc, they foon repaired virtue among the great mafs of the people were well nigh 

 their loffes, collected a numerous army, and entruHed the extinguilhed ; and pride, luxury, and felf-intereft, fucceeded 

 fupreme command to Hanniuai. ; fee his article. In 21S to temperance, feverity of life, and public fpirit. Tiberius 

 the war was renewed and profecuted with vigour. The and Cains Gracchus, (fee their articles,) beheld, with con- 

 Romans were defeated in feveral battles, and Rome itfelf cern, the univerfal corruption of the ltate, and attempted 

 threatened with inttant deilruction. The prudent and cau- to introduce thofe reforms that might bring back the people 

 tious Fabius, then appointed dictator, averted the impend- to the former habits of moral difcipline. They, however, 

 ing blow. In the courfe of this fecond Punic war Mafli- buth fell victims to their zeal for the public good. The tu- 

 niffa declared in favour of the Romans; and Sypiiax, mults which attended, or were fubfequent to the exertions of 

 king of Numidia, took up arms againlt them. Scipio, thefe noble youths, were but the prelude to thofe civil dif- 

 the celebrated Roman general, who carried the war into orders which followed in quick fucceflion. The Numidian 

 Africa, defeated the combined forces of Afdrubal and war, which commenced in the year 1 1 1 B.C., and which 

 Syphax in feveral battles, and Carthage in its turn trembled lafted five years, afforded many inflanccs of the injuftice, 

 for its fafety. Hannibal was recalled from Italy, and de- infolence, and venality of the Roman people. In this, Ju- 

 feated with prodigious lofs in the year B.C. 202, and gcrth.Y, (fee his article,) who fought to ufurp the crown 

 peace was concluded between the Romans and Carthaginians of Numidia by the moll cruel means, obtained the friend- 

 in the following year. (hip and aid of the Roman fenate, who having been bribed 

 Elated with fuccefs the moll complete, the Roman am- for the purpofe, declared him innocent of every crime 

 bition now exceeded all limits, and afpired at the domina- of which lie was charged, and decreed to him the fovereignty 

 tion of the whole world. War was proclaimed againft of half the kingdom. 



Philip of Macedon, who was defeated by Flaminius in About this time, 105 B.C. an immenfe body of fierce 

 Thellaly in the year 197 B.C. and obtained peace by barbarians milled, like a mighty torrent, from the northern 

 agreeing to pay a tribute. The fubjection of Macedon regions of Europe, and threatened all before them with utter 

 portended the ruin of all the Grecian Hates. ruin and defolation. Marius alone was able to avert the im- 



Antioclius, king of Syria, furnamed the Great, by the pending deilruction. lie defeated the barbarians with great 

 pcrfuafion of Hannibal, declared war againlt the Romans, (laughter: but he fought and triumphed merely with a view 

 but after three years he was under the neceflity of implor- of furthering hi.' own ambition, which was foon proved to be 

 ing peace, and to accept of terms the molt rigorous. The unbounded. Sylla, an artful and afpiring patrician, jealous 

 Afiatic war, however, in the event proved fatal to the of the glory and popularity which Marius had acquired, 

 Romans, whofe habit; and manners were corrupted by the boldly Hood forward to oppofe him. Factions were firmed, 

 vices which accompanied the luxury of the Eait. Pre- and preparations made for the doubtful contelt. The ef- 

 vioufly to this, Perfeus, the Macedonian monarch, refilling feels, however, of domeftic animolities were fufpended by 

 to fubmit to the conditions that had been impofed on his the Social war, which was occafioncd by the anxiety of the 

 father, was attacked and defeated by Paulus iEmilius, and allied Hates of Italy to attain the rights of citizenmip j but 

 his kingdom, which had fublill <1 [even centuries, was re- the immediate caule of the war was the murder of Drilling 

 d'.iced to the form of a Roman province. the tribune. This war, which ended in the concellion of 



The molt frivolous pretexts were affigued as the caufes thofe rights to fuch of the confederates as Humid return 

 of the third Punic war, in the year 149 B.C., which peac ably to their allegiance, was followed by the more 

 ended in the destruction of Carthage, long renowned dreadful contell between the oppofing factions of Sylla and 

 for arts, opulence, and extent of dominion. Conlcious Mariur.. Sylla, commanding in a wax againlt Mithndate9, 

 of their utter inability to refill this formidable power, the moil powerful monarch of the Eaft, was fuperleded, and 

 the Carthaginians, after a fhort conteft, offered every recalled from Afia. He refufed to fubmit to the order, and 

 fubmiflion to fave their city, but the Romans infilled that having founded his army, found it well difpofed to fupport 



9 him 



