fentence on the criminal. The laws alfo pardoned the husband or father, who, in the transport of his paffion, killed the gallant, particularly if of a fervile rank. Ibidem. Note". The difcourfe of Micio in Terence, the manner in which Cicero excufes the debaucheries of his client, and the exhortation of Cato fufficiently explain the morals of the Romans in this respect. They cenfured debauchery only so far as it prevented the discharge of the effential duties of the citizen. Nor were their ears more chafte than their actions. The Cafina of Plautus is little known; but those who have read that miserable piece, can hardly comprehend how it is poffible that there should be but forty or fifty years between that farce and the Andria. It confifts of a vile intrigue between a parcel of flaves, heightened only by smutty jefts and obfcenities, low as their condition. None of Plautus's comedies, however, were played fo often, nor received with fo much applause, as this wretched performance. Such were the Roman manners at the time of the fecond Punic war: fuch that virtue which the pofterity of ancient Rome so much regretted and admired. To page 202. Note 12. We muft, however, diftinguish Homer, Hefiod, Pindar, and the tragic Poets, who lived in an age when their tradition was more pure Ibidem. Note 111. In His Mythology explained by history. Ibidem. Note 113, I am much indebted, in thefe inquiries, to the learned Freret, of the Academy of Belles. Lettres. He has opened a route, which appears obvious from all fides. I conceive, however, that he reasons much better on facts than dogmas. Prejudiced greatly in his favor, I eagerly ran over his Reply to the Chronology of Sir Ifaac Newton; but, may I venture to fay, it by no means answered my expectations. I fee nothing new in that piece, if we except the principles of a new theology and chronology, which, however, we already poffeffed; fome defective and inconclufive genealogy; a few minute researches into the chronology of Sparta, an ancient fyftem of aftronomy, which I do not well understand, and the elegant preface of M. de Bougainville, which indeed I perufe every time with additional pleasure. 1 Ibidem. Note 119. This relation of Lactantius differs a little from that of Diodorus. Ibidem. Note 120. Mr. Fourmont, the elder, hath written a differtation on Ephemerus, wherein there are fome very bold conjectures and pleasant extravagancies. It ill becomes a young writer to hold others in contempt; but I really cannot reply feriously to that piece. Thofe who cannot fee that the Panchaia defcribed in Diodorus Siculus, is fituated to the fouth of Gidrofia, and at a little distance weftward of the peninfula of India. may believe, with Mr. Fourmont, that the gulph is fouth of Arabia Feiix, that Phank, on the continent is the ifle of Panchaia, that the defart of Pharan is the most delightful place in the world, and that the city of Pieria in Syria is the capital of a little district in the neighbourhood of Medina. To page 203. Note 125. Such is the story of the fcholiaft, adopted by Sir Ifaac Newton. But I actantius writes the infcription ZAN XPONOY, which gives it, in my opinion, a more antique air. Lucian, for fables go on always gathering fomething, tells us, that the infcription intimated, that Jupiter no longer thundered, but had fubmitted to the fate of mortals. 1 Ibidem. Note 132. It is worth observing, that this Ofiris and his fifter were faid to be the youngest of the deities. It required a great many ages for the Egyptians to arrive at this fimplicity. Ibidem Note 133. The worship of the fun hath prevailed in all nations. I shall give what appear to me the reasons of it. It is perhaps the only object in the world that is at once fole and perceptible. Perceptible to all the nations upon earth, in the most brilliant and beneficent manner, it is no wonder it should attract their homage. Sole and indivifible, those who reasoned on the subject, and were not too difficult, discovered in it all the diftinguishing marks of divinity. Ibidem. Note 134. I am not very well fatisfied with this paffage. I give the best reasons I can find; but it seems to me, that, in fuch early ages, fentiment must have been their guide; and fentiment fpeaks always in behalf of the fyftem of liberty. To page 204. Note 137. I mean among the Greeks; his worship was long kept up in Italy. Ibidem. Note 144. They were obliged to prostitute themselves, once in their lives, to the first comer, in the temple of Venus. Voltaire, who imposes on them the obligation of doing it every year, treats it as an idle and ridiculous fable. Herodotus, however, had travelled into these parts; and Mr. Voltaire is too well versed in history to be ignorant, how many fimilar triumphs fuperftition has made over humanity and virtue. What does he think of an act of faith? But I anticipate his answer, I was, befides, ignorant that Babylon was then the best governed city in the world. Quintus Curtius defcribes it as the moft licentious. Berofa, the Babylonian himself, complains that his fellow-citizens, breaking down all the barriers of modesty, lived like brute beafts; and the fcholiaft upon Juvenal may inform us, that in his time it was not degenerated. To page 205. Note 151. After the taking of Perufa, he facrificed three hundred of the principal citizens upon an altar erected to the divinity of his father. Ibidem. Notes 156. It is with impatience I expect the continuation of those differtations on this fubject, which M. de la Bleterie hath promised us. The fyftem of Auguftus, fo often misunderstood, will be laid down with the utmo minutenefs. This author hath a peculiar delicacy, and an amiable freedom, of fentiment. He is argumentative without dryness, and expreffes himself with all the graces of a clear and elegant ftyle. Perhaps, however, this Defeartes of hiflory reafons a little too much a priori, and founds his conclufions lefs upon authority of particular facts, than on general induction: but this is the fault only of men of great genius. Ibidem Note 157, Auguftus bequeathed to Tiberius and Livia only millies quingenties, thirty millions of livres. The augur Lentulus died in his reign, worth quater millies, fourfcore millions. Ibidem. Note 159. I diftinguish the greatness of the Roman empire from that of the republic: the one confifted in the number of provinces, the other in that of its citizens. Ibidem. Note 1. Vitellius fent his gallies as far as the pillars of Hercules, in order to catch the uncommon and delicate fish, of which this luxurious dish was compofed. If we may credit Dr. Arbuthnot, it coft 765,625 1. Sterling. A. ABASSIDES, the extent of their empire in the ninth century, vol. iv. p. 75. In the tenth century, 81. Abdoubrahman (the Third), his revenue in the tenth century, vol. iv. 8o. Adalbert (the Firft), account of, vol. v. 149. (the Second), vol. v. 156. (the Third), inquiry into his birth, vol. v. 156. Addifon, his Treatife of Antient Medals examined, vol. iii. 276. vol. vi. 248. His Explanation of the 35th Ode of the firft Book of Horace confidered, vol. iv. 31. Adelais, adventures of, vol. v. 165. Aderfield's Hiftory of Charles the Twelfth, vol. iii. 185. vol. vi. 153. Alamintus, account of his converfation with Hannibal, vol. iii. 201. vol. vi. 171. Albert-Azo (the Firft), mentioned, vol. v. 175. Fixes his refidence at Atefte or Efte, 178. (the Second), his conduct and charcter confidered, vol. v. 179. The common father of the Italian and German Princes of the kindred line of Efte and Brunswick, ibid. (the Seventh) his character and fuccefs, vol. v. 206. D'Alembert, Remarks upon an obfervation regarding hiftory, vol. iv. 178. vol. vii. 121. Alevoerde, his life of Servetus, vol. iii. 225. vol. vi. 195. Allamand (Mr.), his character, vol. iii. 270. vol. vi. 241. (the Third), relinquishment of his power, vol. v. 240. His character, ibid. Ammonius edited by Valcknaer, vol. iii. 185. vol. vi. 154. Anderfon's Defcription of Iceland, vol. iii. 270. vol. vi. 241. Anglicarum Rerum Scriptores, a new edition recommended, vol. v. 245. A proper editor for the purpofe mentioned, 256. The extent and nature of the defign, 260. Anquetil du Perron, his Voyage to the Eaft Indies, vol. iii. 125. Anfon's Voyage, vol. iii. 279. vol. vi. 251. VOL. VII. Anti-Machiavel, vol. iii. 194. vol. vi. 163, Antony Nicolas, Procefs of, vol. iii. 270. vol. vi. 241. D'Anville, his Memoir on the Getæ, vol. iii. 20. His remarks on the Roman mile, vol. iii. 265. vol. vi. 236. Apthorpe (Mr.), his cenfure of Mr. Gibbon's defcription of the promised land, vol. v. 23. Account of his work, 76. Arabs, their fituation in the ninth century, vol. iv. 77. Ariftotle, character of, as a critic, vol. iv. 157. vol. vii. 96. Arretin's Letters, vol. iii. 209. vol. vi. 179. New Arretin, vol. iii. 287. vol. vi. 258. Arrian, tactics of, vol. iii. 64. Aftruc's Hiftory of Languedoc, vol. iii. 166. 175. vol. vi. 135. 144. Auguftus, his mode of travelling, vol. iv. 9. vol. vii. 9. His elevation confidered, and the causes of it pointed out. vol. iv. 195. vol. vii. 139. Aufaldus de traditione, &c. vol. iii. 234. vol. vi. 205. B. Barberac, his History of ancient Treaties, vol. iii. 166. vol. vi. 135. Barclay's Argenis, vol. iii. 21. Bargaus, his Differtation de Everforibus, &c. examined, vol. iii. 182. vol. vi. 151. Baronius contrafted with Dr. Middleton, vol. v. 68. Barré (Mr. de la), his differtations compared with Gedoyn's, vol. iii. 79. Barthelemy, his Memoir on the Monuments of Rome, vol. iii. 266. vol. vi. 237. Bayle compared with Le Clerc, vol. iii. 77. His Dictionary, 8o. 83. Remarks on, vol. iii. 283. vol. vi. 254. Criticifm on Maimbourg's Hiftory of Calvinifm, vol. iii. 298. vol. vi. 270. Beau, his Memoir on the Roman Legion, vol. iii. 21. Beaufort, (Mr. de), his opinions refpecting the first five ages of Rome, vol. iv. 159. vol. vii. 99. Belley, his Explanation of a Camayeu, vol. iii. 21. Of a Agate, ibid. Berengarius, account of his conduct, vol. v. 164. an Bernoulli's correfpondence with Leibnitz, vol. iii. p. 269. vol. vi. 241. Berta, her vices mentioned, vol. v. 159. |