= 
alfo, in part, for that of the Macedonians 
and tht Egyptians; for the hiitory of Mi- 
thrid:tes, and that of the Parthians. By 
means of the fragments of the antient hil- 
torians, interfperfed in large portions in 
Athenezus, the autivor has fucceeded in 
finding the gen«ral fource irom which the 
whole is derived. ‘This fource is the con- 
tinuation of Polybius by Potidonius of 
Rhodes, a friend of Pompey the Great, | 
and equally celebrated as a phil.fopher 
and an hiftorian, ‘This great work, di- 
vided into fifty-two books, contained the 
mott remarkable paflages of univerfal nil- 
tory, from the deftruction of Carthage 
and of the Achaian league to the deteat 
ef Mithridstes by Pc mpey ; alfo the d:. wn- 
fal of his kingdom and of that of Syria, 
fixiy-four vears before the vulvar zra.— 
He that wilt revolve the great revolutions 
of that time, may jucge of the extent and 
intereft of that woik; and he who defires 
to fee in what ipirit it is written, may find 
a {pecimen of it in a fragment preferved by 
Atheneus. This fragment feems to be 
exactly made for our times. Pofidonius, 
in relating the hiftory of the Athenian phi- 
lofopher fent by Mithridates to Athens to 
fecure it in his mntereit, and who, from an 
outrapeous demagogue, came to be the ty- 
rant of that city, has given us an example 
of what fometimes happens when philo- 
fophers are placed at the head of affairs. 
And, lafily, as to what concerns the two 
loft books, the foriy-third and forty- 
fourth, the former of which contains the 
firittimes of Rome and of Marfeilles, the 
author proves thai they are taken from 
Diocles of Peparetnhus, a writer about 
the time of the fecond Punic war: but we 
cann:texaétly point out the fcurces of the 
Jatt bork om Spain: the author is of opi- 
nion that Trogus has: here again followed 
Pofidonius. Thefe details fhew what in- 
tercfting writers, all Greeks, (for he has 
not confulted Roman authors,) Trogus 
has copied trom, and what treafure we 
Should poffefs it we ftill had his work,— 
We mufit:ke the extraéts of Juitin for 
what he gives them, for a felection of 
amufing and inftru€tive paflages, which 
he hasstaken from Trogus, but not at all 
for an hiftorical abridgment. Hence it is 
that we find fo many detailed narrations, 
which feem copied almoft word for word 
from Trogus, and afterwards meet with 
concife extraéts, which were only intended 
to conneét the parts. With this intention 
before our eyes, we may be eafily qualified 
to appreciate the labour of Juftin. 
MonTHLY Maa. No. 105, 
On the Pay of the Britifh Army. 
121 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
MIDST the variety contaned in 
your entertaining and inftructive 
publication, { find, in the Number for 
Jane, fome obiirvations on the Britih 
army ; which, whether the writer be a 
native or foreigner, are, in the main, ap- 
polite and juft ; but when he afferis that 
‘© the pay of Britith troops is higher than 
that of any other fervice, even in propor- 
tion to the dearnefs of provifions,’’ he 
errs moft egregioufly. From the fen- 
tence that follows, he undoubtedly was 
mifled by appearances ; ther drefs is, in- 
deed, coflly and magnificent, and a cur- 
fory opferver would infer from their gene- 
ral manner of living, an opinion of anfo- 
lute pecuniary independence. Such is 
now and then the cafe witha few of the 
officers ; but, as de(cribed by the gentie- 
man who wrote a pamphiert on the fub- 
ject in 1775, the fituation of by tar the 
greater number is ftill 6: ruly deplorable.” 
Deprived of ail the comtorts, they mutt 
mzke a fhow of the luxuries of life! In 
Germany and in France (at leaft under the 
Old Government, and, in ail probability, 
Pexempiion is improved on under the pres 
fent deteftable military tyranny) the offi- 
cers of the army enjoy extraordinary pri- 
vileges, which I would be forry ‘o fee af- 
fumed by any body of men in Britain.—. 
They can, in fome inftances, make the 
poor bourg:ois, inn-keepers in particular, 
fell their property at an under-price, and 
on a march can enforce a requifition of 
carriages, &c. @ coups de baton! Though 
their pay may appear a pittance to an 
Englifhman, yet, exclufive of the defe- 
rence paid to them as a zoblefe militaire, 
their circumftances are eafy, and even en- 
viable. How different the fituation of ail 
regimental officers of marching-corps in 
the Britifh fervice ! They are obliged to 
bear the mof exorbitant exi&tions trom 
tradéfmen and fhopkeepers in general, in 
couniry-towns where they are quartered. 
What refource, then, have fubalrern- 
oficers, and even captains, in thefe extra- 
vagant times’? If they have no indepen- 
dent incosne, as is generally the cafe, they 
muft continue ina humiliating (tate of pre- 
carious obligation to their friends; and, 
inftead of being rewarded by the nation 
for their fervices, their dangers and pris 
_ vations in unhealthy climates and in the 
moit trying fituations, a father, a brother, 
er fome other triend, more willing per- 
haps than able, muit be had recourie to, 
as 
as 7 
\ 
