Retrospect. of French Literature—History. 
purple, and used the curule chair, al- 
though they neither carried the scep- 
tre, nor used the diadem,” 
Here again the author launches out 
into an invective against the ingratitude 
ot free states, and prefers above all others 
a monarchy; and doubtless such a@ mo- 
narchy as at present subsists in France! 
The third period comprehends the 
Roman republic, until the conclusion of 
the Deceinvirii; the fourth, until the in- 
vasion of the Gauls; the fifth, until the 
descent of Pyrrhus into Italy; the sixth, 
uuti! the second Punic war. 
The second volume consists of five 
distinct periods. ‘The first of these, 
which forms the seventh regular series, 
includes the important events of the se- 
cond Punic war, and the exploits of the 
celebrated Hannibal, who had already 
swori while a child, at the foot of the 
altar, and in presence of his father, an 
' eternal enmity against the Romans. 
The eighth period extends from the 
secund Punic war, to the destruction of 
Carthage; the ninth,,to the end of the 
Juyurthine war; the tenth, to the abdica- 
tion of Sylia; and the eleventh, to the 
first Lriumvirate. 
Pompey is here spoken of, but without 
much respect ; and the riches of Crassus 
(7000 talents)are estimated at 37,800,000 
franks, which is not near two millions of 
pounds sterling. 
“Tt was at this epoch (we are told) 
that Rome resounded with the crimes 
of Verres, and although that was an af- 
fair in which an individual was chiefly 
concerned, yet it ought to have a place 
in history, because it is better calculated 
than public events, to convey a just idea 
of the manners of the Romans, the mis- 
fortunes of their allies, and the vices of 
their governinent. 
‘The Pretorate was the last step that . 
led to the consulate: but although it was 
only the second magistracy, it might in 
some points of view be considered as the 
most important, because the Pretor su- 
perintended the distribution of justice, 
Every thing was then venal, and Verres, 
a dishonoured citizen, but noble and 
favoured by the body of the nobility, pur- 
chased this office, with the design to re- 
imburse himself with usury, during the 
exercise of his annual employment, and 
still more, by means of the government 
which he would attain after having filled 
“As by an abuse, unexampled any 
where else but in Rome, the Pretor at 
ane and the same time was chief justice 
607 
and legislator during the year of his ma- 
gistracy, he was enabled in his annual 
edict to prepare, by means of his laws, 
those injustices which he himself pro= 
posed to ceminit. It was thus that Ver- 
res was enabled to deprive children of 
the inheritance of their forefathers, and 
that he subverted at his will the order of 
succession; but it was not at Rome, that 
he committed the most enormous of his 
crimes. 
’ After the expiration of his pretorate, 
he obtained the department of the beau- 
tiful and rich island of Sicily, and set of 
with the design of plundering it. He 
knew it was an opinion very current both 
at Rome and elsewhere, that a rich crie 
minal could not be condemned; he made 
preparations, therefore, to extend his 
spoliations, in order that he himself might 
remain opulent, after having enriched 
both his defenders, and his judges. 
“ The Sicilians, before they were sub- 
ject to the domination of Rome, had paid 
a tenth to their kings, and they continued 
to render the same revenue to the Ro- 
mans. But Verres forced the farmers, 
either by the terror of death, or the vio- 
lence of his tortures, instead of the tenth 
only, to deliver in the whole produce of 
their harvest. Such Roman senators as 
possessed lands in Sicily, were not spared. 
Some of the cultivators betook them- 
selves to flight; others put themselves to 
death ;antias the Romans drew their sup- 
plies of corn from this ill-starred island, 
the city itself was threatened with a 
famine, in consequence of the extortions 
of Verres. 
“* The Sicilians had always been at- 
tached to literature and the arts; they 
even carried this passion to enthusiasm, 
and their luxury consisted chiefly in pos= 
sessing the finest specimens of carved 
work, and statuary. They were religi~ 
ous, and their temples were decorated 
with the werks of the most celebrated 
sculptors of Greece. They revered these 
statues as the representations of their di- 
vinities, and the masterpieces of their 
great artists. The education of Verres 
had been neglected. He knew not any 
thing of the arts, but he affected a pas- 
siowfor them, merely because the works 
of art were estimated at a high price. 
“ The moment he appeared in Sicily, 
he began to plunder: he had in his service 
a Greek painter, who discovered every 
thing precious, either in the possession 
of the citizens, or in the temples; and 
every article of this description, became 
the prey of Verres. He neither respected 
the 
