moving instances, which these solemnities afforded, of the caprice of fortune; and could see the highest potentates of the earth dragged from their thrones to fill up the proud parade of these ungenerous triumphs. But the prevailing maxim which ran through the whole system of Roman politics, was to encourage a spirit of conquest; and these honours were evidently calculated to awaken that unjust principle of mistaken patriotism. Accordingly, by the fundamental laws of Rome, no general was entitled to a triumph, unless he had added some new acquisition to her possessions. To suppress a civil insurrection, however dangerous; to recover any former member of her dominions, however important; gave no claim to this supreme mark of ambitious distinction. For it was their notion, it seems, (and Valerius Maximus is my authority for saying so) that there is as much difference between adding to the territories of a commonwealth, and restoring those it has lost, as between the actual conferring of a benefit, and the mere repelling of an injury. It was but of a piece, indeed, that a ceremony conducted in defiance of humanity, should be founded in contempt of justice; and it was natural enough that they should gain by oppression what they were to enjoy by insult.

If we consider Paulus Æmilius, after his conquest of Macedonia, making his public entry into Rome, attended by the unfortunate Perseus and his infant family; and at the same time reflect upon our Black Prince, when he passed through London with his royal captive, after the glorious battle of Poictiers; we cannot fail of having the proper sentiments of a Roman triumph. What generous mind,

who saw the Roman consul in all the giddy exultation of unfeeling pride, but would rather (as to that single circumstance) have been the degraded Perseus, than the triumphant Æmilius? There is something, indeed, in distress that reflects a sort of merit upon every object which is so situated, and turns off our attention from those blemishes that stain even the most vicious characters. Accordingly, in the instance of which I am speaking, the perfidious monarch was overlooked in the suffering Perseus; and a spectacle so affecting checked the joy of conquest even in a Roman breast. For Plutarch assures us, when that worthless, but unhappy prince, was observed, together with his two sons and a daughter, marching amidst the train of prisoners, nature was too hard for custom, and many of the spectators melted into a flood of tears. But with what a generous tenderness did the British hero conduct himself upon an occasion of the same kind? He employed all the artful address of the most refined humanity, to conceal from this unhappy prisoner every thing that could remind him of his disgrace; and the whole pomp that was displayed upon this occasion, appeared singly as intended to lighten the weight of his misfortunes, and to do honour to the vanquished monarch.

You will remember, Palamedes, I am only considering the Romans in a political view, and speaking of them merely in their national character. As to individuals, you know, I pay the highest. venera. tion to many that rose up amongst them. It would not, indeed, be just to involve particulars in general reflections of any kind: and I cannot but ac

knowledge, ere I close my letter, that though, in the article I have been mentioning, the Romans certainly acted a most unworthy part towards their public enemies, yet they seem to have maintained the most exalted notions of conduct with respect to their private ones. That noble (and, may I not add, that Christian) sentiment of Juvenal,

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Semper et infirmi est animi exiguique voluptas,
Ultio-

was not merely the refined precept of their more improved philosophers, but` a general and popular maxim among them: and that generous sentiment so much and so deservedly admired in the Roman orator; Non pœnitet me mortales inimicitias, sempi. ternas amicitias habere, was, as appears from Livy, so universally received as to become even a proverbial expression. Thus Sallust likewise, I remember, speaking of the virtues of the ancient Romans, mentions it as their principal characteristic, that, upon all occasions, they showed a disposition rather to forgive than revenge an injury. But the false notions they had embraced concerning the glory of their country, taught them to subdue every affection of humanity, and extinguish every dictate of justice which opposed that destructive principle. It was this spirit, however, in return, and by a very just consequence, that proved at length the meaus of their total destruction. Farewell. I am, &c.

IV. TO PHILOTES.

July 4, 1743.

WHILST you are probably enjoying blue skies and cooling grots, I am shivering here in the midst of summer. The molles sub arbore somni, the spelunca vivique lacus, are pleasures which we in England can seldom taste but in description. For in a climate, where the warmest season is frequently little better than a milder sort of winter, the sun is much too welcome a guest to be avoided. If ever we have occasion to complain of him, it must be for his absence: at least, I have seldom found his visits troublesome. You see I am still the same cold mortal as when you left me: but whatever warmth I may want in my constitution, I want none in my affections; and you have not a friend who is more ardently yours, than I pretend to be. You have, indeed, such a right to my heart from mere gratitude, that I almost wish I owed you less upon that account, that I might give it you upon a more disinterested principle. However, if there is any part of it which you cannot demand in justice, be assured, you have it by affection; so that, on one or other of these titles, you may always depend upon me as wholly yours. Can it be necessary, after this, to add, that I received your letter with singular satisfaction, as it brought me an account of your welfare, and of the agreeable manner in which you pass your time? If there be any room to wish you an increase of pleasure, it is, perhaps, that the three virgins you mention, were a few degrees handsomer and younger. But I would not desire their charms should be height

ened, were I not sure they will never lessen your repose; for knowing your stoicism, as I do, I dare trust your ease with any thing less than a goddess; and those females, I perceive, are so far removed from the order of divinities, that they seem to require a considerable advance before I could even allow them to be so much as women,

It was mentioned to me, the other day, that there is some probability we may see you in England by the winter. When I considered only my private satisfaction, I heard this with a very sensible pleasure : but as I have long learned to submit my own interests to yours, I could not but regret, there was a likelihood of your being so soon called off from one of the most advantageous opportunities of improvement that can attend a sensible mind. An inge nious Italian author, of your acquaintance, compares a judicious traveller to a river, which increases its stream the farther it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of mineral, improve their qualities as they pass along. It were pity then you should be checked in so useful a progress, and diverted from a course, from whence you may derive so many noble advantages. You have hitherto, L imagine, been able to do little more than lay in materials for your main design: but six months now, would give you a truer notion of what is worthy of observation in the countries through which you pass, than twice that time when you were less acquainted with the languages. The truth is, till a man is capable of conversing with ease among the natives of any country, he can never be able to form a just and adequate idea of their policy and man