clamation, and made to read such books as they could understand in Greek and Latin; they were also taught military and athletic exercises. Besides the instruction of the schools, the rich frequently kept in their houses some accomplished scholar and rhetorician, who was respected by the master of the family, and honoured by his friends, and who directed the studies of the children.

12. This individual not only commanded esteem from his scholars, but all people honoured his occupation, One of the Latin poets, commending the people of a former age, mentions, as an excellent trait of their character, that they respected the governors of their youth.

In peace ye shades of our great grandsires rest, No heavy earth your sacred bones molest, Eternal spring and rising flowers adorn The reliques of each venerable urn: Who pious reverence to their tutors paid, As parents honoured, and as gods obeyed.

Translation of Juvenal.

ROMAN LADIES.

Both sexes were taught music; their instruments were the lute and the cithara. The females of Rome were never neglected. To them the children were at first entrusted; it was, therefore, necessary that they should be well informed; and after learning was cultivated in the country, thev

were taught as much of the Greek and Latin lite rature as should enable them to take an interest in the knowledge of their husbands, children and friends. Parents at Rome had an absolute control over their children; might sell them for slaves, or take their lives, if they were so cruel; but in the time of the Emperors, this liberty was so much abused, that laws were enacted to punish a parent for the worst excesses of tyranny.

2. The Roman ladies were remarkable for their devoted affection to their husbands; and the respect reciprocally paid to them, made them worthy of their honours. Great changes in the Roman state several times took place on their account, The indignity offered by one of the Tarquins to the Roman matron Lucretia, served as a cause to alter the government from the regal to the republican form.

3. Before the Romans had conquered Italy, Coriolanus, one of their military chiefs, took offence at his countrymen, and went to the Volsci, a neighbouring people. In his vengeance against Rome he offered to lead the Volsci against that city. They accepted his offers. He accordingly led them out to the attack, and encamped about five miles from Rome. The Romans were not sufficiently prepared for the Volsci, and dreaded their approach. The matrons, at this juncture, entreated Volumnia, the mother, and Virgilia, the wife of Coriolanus, to go out to the camp, and supplicate him to retreat from their city. At first he refused to listen to them, but their tears at length prevailed; and Coriolanus, though he broke his word to her enemies, spared Rome for the sake of these patri otic women.

4. Appius, one of the Decemviri, wished to seize Virginia, a beautiful girl, when her father Virginius was absent with the army. Appius agreed with a man as unworthy as himself, to demand Virginia as his slave, and he was afterwards to give her up to the base Appius. Virginia, on this pretence, was summoned before the tribunal of Appius, who, as he had pre-determined to do, pronounced her to be the slave of his vile accomplice.

5. Virginius was informed of this proceeding, and arrived from the camp just as Appius had pronounced sentence on the young Virginia. The father, commanding his passion, demanded to see his daughter, and when his request was granted, he plunged a knife into her breast, exclaiming, "This my dear daughter, is all thy father can do, to preserve thee from the violence of a tyrant."

6. No sooner was the blow struck, than Virginius returned to the camp. The soldiers, when they were informed of his desperate act, instantly resolved to punish Appius, and abolish the power of the Decemviri. Their resolution was soon executed, and the consular government, which had been suspended for three years was restored. Thus, in behalf of an injured and innocent young woman, justice instantly armed itself, and no tyrrany was permitted to exist, which outraged the liberty and dignity of a Roman lady.

7. Portia, the daughter of Cato, and wife of Brutus, was entrusted with her husband's secrets, because her integrity and strength of mind entitled her to the highest confidence. Cornelia, the wife of Pompey, followed him in all his misfortunes with equal fortitude and tenderness; and Tullia, the beloved daughter of Cicero, was among the most

approved and dearest objects of that great man's affection.

S. These are a few, of many instances of the eminence of the Roman ladies, and of the respect which they inspired. This respect is worthy of all people in all countries; to deserve it is the highest honour and happiness which any female can aspire to.

Illustrations of Roman customs and history.

Mr. Gibbon, the English historian of Rome, presumes that the population of the Roman empire, at its greatest extent might be 120,000,000. The population of the capital was immense : great numbers of people resorted thither from the provinces, and besides the native inhabitants, continually augmented the population. The city and suburbs are said to have contained 4,000,000 peo· ple. We do not know how far the suburbs extended, so an accurate notion of the number of residents at Rome, cannot be formed. At the present time, Rome contains not much more than

100,000 persons. An unwholesome atmosphere

called the Malaria (the bad air) surrounds this au cient metropolis, and the people are forced by 1, every year, into the occupation of a smaller space.

The ancient inhabitants were composed of four classes, Patricians, Knights, Plebeians, and Slaves. Patricians, the highest class.

Knights, a middle order of citizens, called also Equites, the Equestrian order, because each knight received a horse from the public.

Plebeians, the lowest class, divided into Plebs rustica, (of the country,) and Plebs urbana, of the city. Among this class were respectable people. but there was also a very disorderly portion, who followed no regular business, and created a great deal of disturbance.

Slaves. Roman slaves, like the Greek, were prisoners of war, and descendants of other slaves.

The Senate, the great council of the state: at first it consisted of one hundred members, all patricians; afterwards the number was extended to a thousand, taken from among the patricians, knights, and plebeians. The Senators, collectively, were addressed by the title, Conscript Fathers. The kings, and afterwards the consuls, chose the senators, in the first ages of Rome, but about 443 B. C. the censors chose them. Besides those elected, other persons, in civil employments, and in the army, were entitled to a place in the senate.

Consuls,-chief magistrates after the expulsion of the kings: there were two consuls chosen every year. They called and dismissed the senate, presided in civil affairs, and were commanders in chief of the army. When they appeared in public, the lictors marched before them. After the time of the emperors, consuls were still chosen ; they still performed ceremonial offices, but possessed no real power. At first they were chosen from the patrician, but afterwards from the plebeian order also.

Lictors, guards armed with fasces-a bundle of sticks enclosing an axe. They were executioners. Prætors, magistrates next in rank to the consuls-judges of the courts, elected by the people. Censors, persons appointed to number the peo