tracts and treatises filling up the chasms in history, were collected and carefully arranged. The collection in typography and geography, particularly of this country, was very valuable. The collection of military plans was most valuable, containing plans of military operations from the earliest times; and incorporated with them was the extensive collection of William, duke of Cumberland. A well-arranged cabinet of rare and valuable medals was also added. Some idea may be formed of the collection at that time by the following letter from Rome, dated October 16, 1762, in the Annual Register.-"Nothing gives me more satisfaction than to find so many fine things purchased for His Majesty the king of Great Britain, of late, in Italy. He is now master of the best collection of drawings in the world, having purchased two or three capital collections in Rome, the best belonging to Cardinal Albani, for 14,000 crowns, consisting of 300 large volumes, one third of which are original drawings of the first masters; the others, collections of the most capital engravings. All the museum of Mr. Smith, from Venice, consisting of his library, prints, drawings, coins, and gems, was also purchased for his Majesty." This valuable collection was deposited in the royal library at Buckingham House, until the accession of his late Majesty George IV. to the throne, when, by the following letter addressed to the late Lord Liverpool, it was munificently presented to the British nation. Pavilion, Brighton, January 15, 1823. 66 "DEAR LORD LIVERPOOL, "The king, my late revered and excellent father, having formed, during a long series of years, a most valuable and extensive library, I have resolved to present this collection to the British nation. Whilst I have the satisfaction by this manner of advancing the literature of my country, I also feel that I am paying a great tribute to the memory of a parent whose life was adorned with every public and private virtue. "I desire to add that I have great pleasure, my Lord, in making this communication through you. "Believe me, with great regard, "Your sincere Friend, "G. R. "The Earl of Liverpool, K.G. &c. &c. &c " Shortly after this magnificent present, an ample sum of money was granted by Parliament for the erection of a suitable building for the reception of the royal present. A committee was appointed, and upon its report it was resolved to erect a new building immediately connected with the British Museum, at its eastern wing; and the designs being approved of, it was commenced under the superintendence of Sir Robert Smyrke, in the year 1823; and in 1827 the present beautiful pile was so far finished as to be considered in a fit state to receive the books. We have lately visited it, and believe that it is scarcely equalled in any country, for extent, beauty, elegance, and magnificence. It forms one grand and noble room, 300 feet in length, and 35 in breadth; it is 30 feet in height, and is supported by solid marble pilasters; around the whole room extend galleries; in the centre part the room is wider, and forms a sort of dome supported by four solid Scotch granite columns with Derby spar capitals; these columns rival the Egyptian ones in beauty and massiveness; solid English granite pilasters also support this part of There are two entrances, one from the manuscript room of the museum library, over the door of which, on stone, supported by marble pilasters, is the following: the room. THIS LIBRARY, COLLECTED BY KING GEORGE THE THIRD, BY HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN, A.D. MDCCCXXIII. The other entrance is not yet complete, but communicates by a noble stone staircase with the other parts of the museum. The ceiling of the library is beautifully ornamented, and the floor of oak, in some parts elegantly inlaid with mahogany, forms a pleasing contrast. The volumes are systematically arranged in 304 presses, according to subjects and sizes, in appropriate shelves. As you enter on the right side of the room, through the library of manuscripts, are arranged the works comprised under the class "History," beginning with geography and universal history, voyages, and travels; then ancient and ecclesiastical history: the histories of countries succeed as follow-Great Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Germany. The series of histories is here broken by a valuable collection of Greek and Roman classics, printed by the Alduses, the Stephenses and the Elzevirs, &c.; and by curious collections of early printed books, Caxton's among the rest. Passing by nine presses, the historical series is again resumed, with the histories of Holland, the Netherlands, the northern nations, and of the countries of Asia, Africa, and America. Works on antiquities, manners, customs, monuments, numismaheraldic, biographical, and literary history; and the transtics, and inscriptions, follow next, After which, curious actions of the various learned societies, fill the remaining presses on that side of the room. the left, a collection of theological works, beginning with Entering the room as before, the visitor will find, first, on the Holy Scriptures, the rare editions; then commentators, liturgical works, proceedings of councils, best editions of and Protestant. The works on jurisprudence follow next, the fathers, and the works of the various divines, Catholic including feudal and civil law, and an extensive collection of British law. After these are books on intellectual, moral, political, natural, and mathematical philosophy. The presses between and behind the granite columns are occupied by costly classic writers; and works on the fine arts, trades, sports and pastimes, fill nearly all the remaining presses here. Succeeding, are some of the best works on philology and criticism, and a large collection of grammars and lexicons, in all languages; then works on eloquence and poetry. After these, miscellaneous literature, and best editions. In the last three presses, on this side, are the manuscript volumes which belonged to George III. In the presses at the left end of the room, are cases containing the productions of the earliest Italian, French, and English writers. Valuable tracts follow these, highly important in connecting historical events. The books in the gallery follow on in the same order. The tables on the floor contain some of the best and most splendid collections in geography. In the 124 cases, entitled the General Atlas, are arranged maps of every part of the globe, and numerous plans of towns, buildings, gardens, &c. The honour of forming this collection, which unites the advantages of a private to those of a public library, is entirely due to George III; the present building, of which every Englishman may feel proud, may justly be ascribed to the magnificent taste of his son, George IV. And the royal library remains as a monument, deserving of a king of England, and a present, worthy of the British nation. THE BARBARIANS. FEW subjects are more perplexing to the young and inexperienced student of history, than the origin, progress, and final fate of the vast hordes of barbarous people who overran the mighty empire of the degenerated ROMANS. For the purpose of rendering this subject more intelligible to our readers, and thereby facilitating their study of history, we subjoin a brief account of each of the principal hordes. THE HUNS. THE ALANS. The ALANS were natives of the borders of the Caspian Sea. Dislodged thence by the Huns, they first settled in Pannonia. Subsequently, they overran Gaul, and crossed the Pyrenees into Spain, in the eastern part of which they established themselves; but were at length overcome by the VISIGOTHS, in which horde they finally lost their individuality as a people. (See the Map.) THE BURGUNDIANS, SUEVI, AND VANDALS. All these people were natives of the borders of the Baltic. The HUNS, natives of the frontiers of China, burst suddenly, about the year 370, upon the GоTHS, who inhabited the country to the north of the Danube; and subsequently succeeded, under their irresistible leader ATTILA, in founding an immense empire. Under him they invaded Gaul, and The BURGUNDIANS penetrated into the eastern part of subsequently Italy, marching to the very walls of Rome GAUL, and founded a kingdom there, which they retained itself, and only retiring without destroying the city, on being bribed to do so by presents more valuable than the booty would have been which the sacking of ROME would have yielded them. Subsequently to the death of ATTILA, the Huns lost their individuality of character; for, having no longer a chief powerful enough to rule them, they gradually became lost and confounded among the inhabitants of the various places they had conquered. THE GOTHS. : The Huns were not more injurious to the empire of Rome by their own immediate ravages, than by the impulse which they gave to the vast and numerous hordes which, descended from a common source, pass under the common name of the Goths. These are thought to have been natives of the south of Sweden; in which country we still find them commemorated in the name of the province of Gothland. About the middle of the third century the GоTHS had established themselves on the borders of the Niester, and had already proved themselves troublesome and daring foes to the ROMANS. By degrees, they established their rule over a vast extent of country; but their empire was suddenly and completely subverted by the furious inroad of the Huns; and, in subsequent years, under the command, first of FRITIGERN, and afterwards the celebrated ALARIC, they desolated the Roman provinces of Dacia and Illyria, ravaged Rome itself, and established themselves in southern Gaul. Afterwards, they crossed the Pyrenees, fixed themselves in Spain, which they made the seat of their empire, and reigned there upwards of two centuries and a half, when they were massacred, or put to flight by the invading Saracens of Africa. (See Map.) THE LOMBARDS. These people, natives of the borders of the Baltic, were settled in Pannonia, by the emperor JUSTINIAN, who desired to oppose them to the GEPIDES, by whom he had been much disturbed and offended. So far his project was successful, for the Lombards speedily extirpated the Gepides. But they had scarcely done this important service to the Romans, when they turned their strength against Rome itself, overran Illyria and Italy, and, finally, possessed themselves of the whole of the north of Italy; proclaimed their chief, Alboin, king, and maintained their empire nearly two centuries, until they were overrun and destroyed by the emperor CHARLEMANGE, who defeated their last king, DIDIES, for about a century, when they were overcome by the FRANKS, a barbarous horde, which was settled in the same vicinity. The SUEVI accompanied the Alans and the Vandals of a century and a half, when they were in their turn into Spain, where they settled and remained for upwards invaded and overcome by the VISIGOTHS. (See Map.) invaded and overcome by the VISIGOTHS. (See Map.) THE VANDALS.-This barbarous people overran Gaul, and made their way into Spain, in the northern part of which they for a time made a settlement. But, subsequently, they crossed over into Africa, and founded a state upon the ruins of ancient CARTHAGE. Thence they passed over in great force into Italy, took Rome by storm, ravaged it, and, after a lapse of many centuries, avenged upon that once proud and victorious city the injuries it had inflicted upon Carthage. In the reign of the Emperor Justinian, however, the Roman troops, under Belisarius, avenged the insult that had been offered to their country, and almost literally extirpated the Vandals. There were other barbarous people who are occasionally named in history, but so rarely and briefly, as not to require particular mention here. Of all the above-mentioned Barbarians, the Goths, Vandals, and Huns, were the most fatal foes to the empire of Rome; and of all the barbarous leaders, ATTILA and ALARIC were the most daring and the most terrible. several attempts to overrun Gaul and Italy, and to esta- | in Arcadia, where he was in imminent danger of perishblish themselves in those countries, but were always ing; but taking advantage of the security of his adverunsuccessful. At length, after being often severely chas- sary, he broke the barrier, and penetrated into Epirus.t tised, more especially by the emperor JULIAN, near Stras- Shortly after he was proclaimed at Constantinople master bourg, and by CLOVES of France, at the battle of Tolbiac, general of the eastern Illyricum, and was received as a they settled down upon their native, soil, and became faithful ally and servant of the crown. He had a lawful amalgamated with numerous other people of the Rhine, command given him over those cities and countries which to whom their name became gradually applied, and at he had so lately pillaged as a merciless foe. About this length permanently attached. period he was, by his own nation, unanimously elevated to the rank of King of the VISIGOTHS. In the year 400, Alaric turned his arms against Italy, and carried away a vast quantity of plunder and several captives. Two years afterwards he again entered that country, but was opposed by Stilicho, and, after a hard battle, lost his wife and children, who were taken prisoners. He then entered into a negociation with Stilicho, by which he recovered his family, and made a peaceable retreat across the Po. He resolved, however, to take possession of the city of Verona, but his counsels being betrayed, he met with a severe defeat in the vicinity of that city, himself narrowly escaping: he withdrew the remains of his army amidst the mountains, where he was blocked up by the Romans, and lost the greater part of his followers by distress and desertion; at length, through secret passes, he made his final retreat into Thrace, and thus Italy was for the present liberated. We next find him employed in the service of HONORIUS, and in friendship with Stilicho; but he soon entered the Roman territory again, demanding a large sum as arrears which were due to him; this being refused, he advanced to Rome, to which he laid siege, and the Romans being driven to the greatest necessity, were obliged to make peace with him on his own terms. He then withdrew to Tuscany,§ where he awaited the arrival of a reinforcement of Goths and Huns, under the command of his wife's brother, Ataulphus. The emperor, to prevent this junction, collected his forces, and sent them to attack Ataulphus, which Alaric regarding as a commencement of hostilities, marched against Rome, and the emperor was obliged to make peace with him; this, however, was soon broken, and Alaric returned to Rome, which he plundered in 410. After this he ravaged Italy, and embarked for Sicily, but a tempest obliged him to reland his troops, on which he took the city of Cosenza, where he died. He was buried in the bed of the river Bucento, whose waters were diverted for the purpose, and the place was concealed by the massacre of the slaves employed in the funeral. The character of a barbarian conqueror requires little further to illustrate it. Alaric, however, seems to have possessed more humanity, moderation, and fidelity to engagements, than many of the same class. His exploits have rendered his name memorable in the most civilized parts of the world, an honour not attained by every great conqueror. ALARIC was king of the Visigoths. He was descended from the family of the Balthi, the most illustrious amongst the Goths, next to that of the Amali. With the rest of his countrymen who were expelled by the Huns, he crossed the Danube in 376, and served with great reputation in the wars between the Goths and Romans, which continued from that time till the year 382, when they all submitted to THEODOSIUS THE GREAT, and were allowed to settle in Thrace,* on condition of serving the empire when required. Alaric long fought for Theodosius, but being refused a higher command, he remained dissatisfied, and, after the death of Theodosius, he led a revolt of his nation against the weak successor to the empire, Arcadius. He first ravaged the countries of Pannonia and Dacia; and then, in 396, made an irruption into Greece. Passing across Macedonia and Thessaly, unresisted by the proconsul, Antiochus, he made his way through the Pass of Thermopylae, and laid waste, with fire and sword, all the fairest portions of this beautiful country. He preserved the city of Athens,§ at the expense of the greatest part of its wealth; penetrated into Peloponnesus, and destroyed the venerable relics of art and superstition spread over those renowned countries. While engaged in this peninsula, the celebrated general Stilicho, having collected a fleet and army, came up with him, and obliged him to retire to the mountain, Pholoë, THRACE is a considerable country, situated between Mount Hamus and the Egean sea to the north-west and south; the Pro. pontis and Euxing to the east. + The Visigoths. THERMOPYLE, a narrow but celebrated pass, leading from Thessaly to Locris and Boeotia, near which are some impassable woods and mountains, which divide Greece in the middle, in the saine manner as the Apennines divide Italy. § ATHENS, the capital of Livadia, in Greece. Its ancient name was Athena, the then capital of Attica, (XENOPHON). By way of eminence, it also received the name of Asty, the city; in a similar manner Rome was called Urbs; and as urbanity denoted politeness of manners, expressed either in behaviour or language, among the Romans, so Asteism did the same among the Greeks. The name is from Athena, or Minerva, Mythology; it is said to have been 22 miles in circumference; Aristides makes it a day's journey. The Acropolis, or citadel, was originally the whole city, called Polis (THUCYDIDES, HOMER); Cecropia, from Cecrops, (PLINY); Cecropide, the people (VIRGIL); situated on a craggy hill, standing in the midst of a large plain. On the increase of the inhabitants, the plain was filled with buildings, and called the Lower City, in contradistinction to the Acropolis, called the Upper, Athenienses, (the people, ROMANS), Athenei, Greeks, a people greatly renowned for arts and sciences, and great sticklers for liberty; from a jealousy for which they banished their great men for a term of ten years. This banishment was called Ostracism, from inscribing the suffrages on potsherds or tiles. They were the original polishers of the Romans; as the Romans, in their turn, were of the rest of the world. The Athenians were also called Theside (VIRGIL), from Theseus, who united into one place their scattered villages. They boasted greatly of their antiquity. him the title of the " * so forinidable an ARCADIA, an inland district of the Morea in Greece. The Arcadians were noted for their skill in music. +EPIRUS, a district of Greece. Po. the principal river of Italy, wheih has its source in Mount Viso, in Piedmont, and falls into the Gulf of Venice, by several mouths. § TUSCANY, a considerable country of Italy, about 120 miles in length, and 80 in breadth.' |