meet and afterwards married them. This remarkable event is called, the Rape of the Sabines. Enraged at this affront and injustice, the Sabines declared war against the Romans; which was put an end to, and peace concluded, by the mediation of the Sabine women living at Rome. A strict union was made between the Romans and Sabines, who became one and the same people; and Tatius, King of the Sabines, reigned jointly with Romulus; but dying soon after, Romulus reigned again alone.

Pray observe, that the Rape of the Sabines was more an advantageous than a just measure; yet the utility of it should not warrant its injustice; for we ought to endure every misfortune, even death, rather than be guilty of an injustice; and indeed this is the only one that can be imputed to the Romans for many succeeding ages: an Age, or Century, means one hundred years.

Rome's growing power soon raised jealousy in her neighbours, so that Romulus was obliged to engage in several wars, from which he always came off victorious; but as he began to behave himself tyrannically at home, and attacked the privileges of the Senate, with a view of reigning with more despotism, he suddenly disappeared. The truth is, the Senators killed him; but, as they apprehended the indignation of the people, Proculus Julius, a Senator of great repute, protested before the people, that Romulus had appeared to him as a God; assuring him that he had been taken up to Heaven, and placed among the Deities: and desired that the Romans should worship him, under the name of Quirinus; which they accordingly did.

Take notice, that the Roman government, under Romulus, was a mixed and free government; and the King so far from being absolute, that the power was divided between him, the Senate, and the people, much the same as it is between our King,

the House of Lords, and House of Commons; so that Romulus, attempting so horrible a piece of injustice, as to violate the privileges of the Senate, and the liberties of the People, was deservedly punished, as all tyrants ought to be. Every man has a natural right to his liberty; and whoever endeavours to ravish it from him deserves death more than the robber who attacks us for our money on the highway.

Romulus directed the greatest part of his laws and regulations to war; and formed them with the view of rendering his subjects a warlike people, as indeed they were, above all others. Yet it likewise proved fortunate for Rome, that his successor, Numa Pompilius, was a Prince of a pacific disposition, who applied himself to the establishing good order in the city, and enacting laws for the encouragement of virtue and religion.

After the death of Romulus, there was a year's Interregnum. An Interregnum is the interval between the death of one King and the election of another, which can happen only in elective kingdoms; for, in hereditary monarchies, the moment a King dies, his son, or his nearest relation, immediately ascends the throne.

During the above Interregnum, the Senators alternately executed the functions of a Sovereign; but the people soon became tired of that sort of government, and demanded a King. The choice was difficult; as the Sabines on one side, and the Romans on the other, were desirous of a King's being chosen from among themselves. However, there happened, at that time, to live in the little town of Cures, not far from Rome, a man in great reputation for his probity and justice, called Numa Pompilius, who led a retired life, enjoying the sweets of repose, in a country solitude. It was unanimously agreed to choose him King: and Ambas

sadors were dispatched to notify to him his election; but he, far from being dazzled by so sudden and unexpected an elevation, refused the offer, and could scarce be prevailed on to accept it, by the repeated entreaties of the Romans, and of his nearest relations; proving himself the more worthy of that high dignity, as he the less sought it. Remark from that example of Numa Pompilius; how virtue forces her way, and shines through the obscurity of a retired life; and that sooner or later it is always rewarded.

Numa, being now seated on the throne, applied himself to soften the manners of the Romans, and to inspire them with a love of peace, by exercising them in religious duties. He built a temple in honour of the God Janus, which was to be a public mark of war and peace, by keeping it open in time of war, and shut in time of peace. It remained closed during his whole long reign; but from that time, down to the reign of Augustus Cæsar, it was shut but twice; once at the end of the first Punic War, and the second time, in the reign of Augustus, after the fight of Actium, where he vanquished Marc Antony. The God Janus is always represented with two faces, one looking on the time past, and the other on the future; for which reason you will often find him, in the Latin Poets, called Janus bifrons, two-fronted Janus. But, to return to Numa; he pretended to have secret conferences with the Nymph Egeria, the better to prepare the people (who are ever fond of what is marvellous) to receive his laws and ordinances as divine inspirations. In short, he inspired his subjects with the love of industry, frugality, and even of poverty. He died, universally regretted by his people, after a reign of forty-three years.

We may venture to say, that Rome was indebted for all her grandeur to these two Kings, Romulus

VOL. I.

F

and Numa, who laid the foundations of it. Ro mulus took pains to form the Romans to war; Numa, to peace and justice. Had it not been for Numa, they would have continued fierce and uncivilized; had it not been for Romulus, they would, perhaps, have fallen into indolence and obscurity: but it was the happy union of religious, civil, and military virtues, that rendered them masters of the world.

Tullus Hostilius was elected King, immediately after the death of Numa Pompilius. This Prince had as great talents for war, as his predecessor had for peace, and he soon found an opportunity to exercise them; for the city of Alba, already jealous of the power of Rome, sought a pretext of coming to a rupture with her. War, in fact, was declared on both sides, and the two armies were ready to engage, when an Alban proposed, in order to spare so great an effusion of blood, that a certain number of warriors should be chosen out of each army, on whose victory the fortune of both nations should depend.

Tullus Hostilius accepted the proposal; and there happening to be, in the Alban army, three brothers, named Curiatii; and in the Roman army, three brothers, called Horatii; who were all much of the same age and strength, they were pitched upon for the champions, and joyfully accepted a choice which reflected so much honour on them. Then, advancing in presence of both armies, the signal for combat was given. Two of the Horatii were soon killed by the Curiatii, who were themselves all three wounded. The third of the Horatii remained yet unhurt: but, not capable of encountering the three Curiatii all together, what he wanted in strength, he supplied by stratagem. He pretended to run away, and, having gained some ground, looked back, and saw the three Curiatii pursuing him, at some dis

tance from each other, hastening with as much speed as their wounds permitted them; he then returning, killed all three, one after another.

The Romans received him joyfully in their camp; but his sister, who was promised in marriage to one of the Curiatii, meeting him, poured forth a deluge of tears, reproaching him with the death of her lover; whereupon the young conqueror, transported with rage, plunged his sword into her bosom. Justice condemned him to death; but having appealed to the People, he received his pardon, in consideration of the service he had rendered to his country.

Tullus Hostilius reigned thirty-two years, and conducted other wars against the Sabines and Latins. He was a Prince possessed of great qualities, but too much addicted to war.

DEAR BOY,

LETTER XVI.

Monday.

I SEND you, here enclosed, your historical exercise for this week; and thank you for correcting some faults I had been guilty of in former papers. I shall be very glad to be taught by you; and, I assure you, I would rather have you able to instruct me, than any other body in the world. I was very well pleased with your objection to my calling the brothers, that fought for the Romans and the Albans, the Horatii and the Curiatii; for which I can give you no better reason than usage and custom, which determine all languages. As to ancient proper names, there is no settled rule, and we must be guided by custom: for example, we say Ovid and Virgil, and not Ovidius and Virgilius, as they are in Latin; but then, we say Augustus Cæsar, as in the Latin, and