1820.] On the Historic Relation.-Antient Anecdotes. 891 tribute to encourage praiseworthy, and to discourage blameable dispositions." What else, in the name of common sense, should be expected from professed systems of morals! In an enquiry after right and wrong, this star-gazing philosopher overlooks the well of truth at his feet, till falling down, he finds it at the bottom and thus verifies the proverb. In this masquerade of philosophy, MANDEVILLE mistakes vanity, and SHAFTSBURY ridicule, for historical guide: while HUME takes up with interest and pleasure--softened down by the names of the useful and the agreeable. It is evident that these men, moving in the atmosphere of a corrupt court, calculated their systems for the meridian of France. Thus HUME, in his history, calls the adulteries practised in the then court of France, "the tender passions." But the historical relation of the golden rule-besides its immutable truth, and its authority, as a positive divine injunction, is really the most natural, the most useful, and most agreeable. YORICK. (To be continued.) Ancient Anecdotes, &c. from VALERIUS MAXIMUS, by Dr. CAREY, West Square. (Continued from p. 326.) F congenial spirit with young my munication) was young Cassius, who afterward rendered himself so conspicuous, as the associate of Brutus in heading the party who killed Julius Cæsar. While yet a boy, he evinced his abhorrence of tyranny and cruelty, by an act at once expressive and dangerous. Being at the same school with Faustus Sylla, son of Sylla the dictator, and hearing that youth commend his father's bloody proscription, and declare that he himself, when arrived at a proper age, would imitate the paterual example, Cassius gave him a violent box on the ear; a deed, which seemed likely to cost him his life; though he had the good fortune to escape with impunity.-Lib. 3, 1, 3. The celebrated Alcibiades, also, at an early age, displayed a prognostic trait of his future character as a politician. When a boy, he one day found his uncle Pericles sitting alone, and deeply immersed in gloomy meditation. On inquiring the cause, and receiving for answer that his uncle was utterly at a loss to make out his account of a considerable sum of public money which he had expended in the architectural embellishment of the Athenian citadel, he asked him why he did not rather devise some expedient to avoid the necessity of producing his accounts. Pericles adopted the boy's suggestion, and soon contrived to involve his country in a war, which wholly engrossed the public attention, and completely diverted it from the consideration of his accounts.-Lib. 3, 1, ext. 1. Of the respect paid to acknowledged worth and integrity, a notable instance occurred in the person of the philosopher Xenocrates. Being summoned as a witness on a trial at Athens, and having given his evidence, he was (according to the established custom) advancing to the altar, to swear to the truth of his deposition; when the judges, all together rising from their seats, unanimously declared his bare assertion to be sufficient, without the path; although they themselves were not, in any case, allowed to pronounce judgment, without being previously sworn.-Lib. 2, 10, ext. 2. On the night preceding Julius Cæsar's death, Porcia, the daughter of Cato, and wife of Brutus, received from her husband the first intimation of the plot formed for killing the usurper on the following day. After this confidential disclosure, Brutus having quitted her apartment, she called for a knife or razor, for the ostensible purpose of paring her nails : and, letting it fall, as if by accident, she thus contrived to wound herself. Her maids shrieking at the sight of her blood, the sound reached the ears of Brutus, who hastily returned to the apartment, and, having learned the cause of their alarm, affectionately chid her for having undertaken to perform that office herself, instead of employing the usual ministry of the barber *. But Porcia, in a whisper, informed him, that what had happened, was not the effect of accident, but a deliberate deed, aud, in * Barber-So in the original-Tonsor -the same who shaved and trimmed his master. their present critical circumstances, a most certain proof of her affection for him; as she was desirous of ascertaining by actual experiment, with what degree of fortitude she could bear to inflict on herself a deathwound, if he should unfortunately fail in the execution of his perilous enterprise.-Lib. 3, 2, 15. A remarkable example of martial prowess and good fortune was Sicinius Dentatus, a Roman soldier *.This hero had fought in one hundred and twenty battles-thirty-six times returned laden with the spoils of so many enemies slain with his own hand-eight of whom he killed in single combat, on challenge, in the sight of both armies.-He saved, in various battles, the lives of fourteen fellow-citizens.-He received fortyfive wounds, all in the breast, not one behind.-Nine times he marched in proud procession behind the car of triumph on the last of which joyous occasions, he displayed the following numerous collection of honorary presents, received from his different generals, as the meeds of valour-Eight golden crowns, fourteen civict, three mural t, one obsidional t-one hundred and eighty-three collars or neckchains one hundred and sixty bracelets eighteen spears-twenty-five phaleræ‡.—In recording these particulars, Valerius assures the reader, that they were all well attested by authors worthy of credit.-Lib. 3, 2, 24. To this notice of Sicinius let me add that of Scæva, a centurion in Cæsar's army during the civil war with Pompey. In the defence of a small fort or bastion against a very superior force, notwithstanding several other wounds and the loss of one eye, Scæva * Sicinius supposed by some commentators to be the same with Siccius, who was basely assassinated by order of the Decemviri, about the year of Rome 300, as recorded by Livy, Lib. 3, 43. + Civic, Mural, Obsidional Crown.Few of your Readers require to be informed that the Civic crown was conferred on him who saved a fellow-citizen's life in battle-the Mural crown, on him who first scaled the enemy's wall-the Obsidional, on him who compelled the enemy to raise a siege. Phalera.-Commentators not being agreed on the subject of those ornaments, when intended for the horseman himself, and not for his horse, I leave the Latin name as I found it. continued gallantly fighting, until, exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, he fell amid a heap of enemies killed with his own band.-His shield was found pierced with one hundred and twenty arrow-shots, according to Valerius, (Lib. 3, 2, 23)—or two hundred and twenty, as the number appears in the text of Cæsar, (Bell. Civ. 3, 53) where it is further recorded, that the brave defenders of the fort produced to their general about thirty thousand arrows, discharged into it by Pompey's party in the course of a few hours; and that the gallant Scæva recovered from his wounds, and was honourably rewarded and promoted. (To be continued.) I Mr. URBAN, Gloucester, May 6. your Review, p. 338, some just commendations on a Pamphlet written by the Rev. James Plumtre, which speaks in high terms of the British Stage. Its influence over the Morals and Manners of the People at large, hath been generally admitted by all ranks and professions in society; and, under these recommendations, it was constantly supported by the countenance, in every sense of the word, of our late excellent Monarch George the Third. There are, however, some simple fanatics, and Ultra-divines, who hold Plays, Players, and Play-houses in utter abomination: a remarkable, and almost incredible instance of which occurred lately in this City; when a Meeting of Inhabitants was called, to consider on measures of relief for the Poor, then suffering under extreme Cold, and many liberal contributions were accepted. But, upon the respectable Manager of the Theatre making an offer of the produce of an evening's performance for the support of his sinking fellowcreatures, a certain young scion of the new evangelical tree attempted to paralyze this hand of benevolence, by scornfully rejecting it-as held out from an unworthy body!— I need scarcely add, that this singular objection, against permitting one human being to assist another, and arising from illiberal, ill-founded, and unchristian-like prejudice, met with no encouragement but from those enjoying similar feelings and tenets. A VERY OLD CORRESPONDENT. Mr. 1820.] Caledonian Canal.-Bp. Bagot.-Classical Literature. 393 to exalt the character of the other. The late Dr. Townson, who published his valuable Discourses on the Gospels when Bishop Bagot, whom be had known from his infancy, was Dean of Christ Church, presented a copy of the Work to each of the Societies, Magdalen and Christ Church, of which he had been member, with appropriate inscriptions in each. In the copy given to Christ Church this was written: "For the Library of Christ Church; in which College he had the happiness of beginning his academical studies; and to which he gratefully wishes perpetual prosperity, under a succession of Deans as worthy to preside as the present." It so happened that I had the honour to be in company with a quondam Student of Christ Church, now an ornament of the House of Peers, soon after the decease of Dr. Jackson, of whom his Lordship was pleased to speak with high regard and esteem; and then added, "But the credit of putting every thing in excellent order is due to Bagot; Jackson had only to proceed in the track already marked out for him." To this just testimony it is needless to add the suffrage of a Member of the same University, though not of the same House, who will ever love and revere the memory of Bishop Bagot; of whom it may be truly said, as it was of an ancient Sage, that "to remember Bishop Bagot is a lesson of virtue." |