gaged in successful war, the cruel practice of plundering the vanquished people, and selling their persons, with the equally inhuman practice of allowing domestic slavery, must have had a great effect in hardening the hearts of the Romans, and corrupting their morals— counteracting the good effects of their constitution.

HENCE, as their constitution made them excel all other nations, notwithstanding these powerful causes of corruption, how much more would they have excelled if these causes had not existed?

THAT they did excel all other nations in virtue, is confirmed by the uniform testimony of history; and Mr. Echard, after having diligently examined the most authentic records, with a view of compiling a history of that people, in his preface to that work, says, They were

born and nursed up in plundering and murder,

and trained up in villainies; yet they became wise, frugal, just, and passionately fond of glory, until they infinitely overtopped the rest of mankind, and obtained the sovereignty over the rest of the world-more by the reputation of their virtue, than by the force of their arms."

THIS Wonderful change in the morals of the Romans, seems to have been a necessary consequence of the constitution by which their public affairs were regulated, previous to the murder of the Gracchi. But after that event, a new system took place in Rome, by which the honours and offices of the state could be obtained by violence, which made corresponding talents be cultivated, and produced corresponding manners.

As this total change in the nature of the Roman constitution has not been pointed out by historians, it seems necessary to recite the particulars.

SECTION III.

On the Causes of the Ruin of the Roman

Constitution.

THE law enacted in the 385th year of Rome, which took from the patricians their usurped rights, was called the Agrarian law of Licinius, because it also prohibited any Roman from possessing above five hundred acres of the conquered lands. But the rich had evaded the law in various ways; and many persons were, in the time of Tiberius Gracchus, possessed of very large estates, a part of which was cultivated by tenants, but the greatest part by slaves, which lessened the number of independ

ent voters.

To form a just idea of the propriety of reenacting this law, it is necessary to reflect, that the land in Italy is in general very rich, lies in a fine climate, was highly cultivated in the

time of Tiberius, and that the produce sold very high to the rich city of Rome and its populous neighbourhood; so that the rent of five hundred acres would probably be equal to from one hundred to ten thousand pounds of money at its present value; according to the situation, quality, and productions of the land, vineyards, gardens, and villas near Rome, giving very high rents.

BUT, besides these rents from land, a Roman might have mortgages upon land, or money lent to proprietors of land, or to any other persons, to any amount.

THEY might have any number of houses let for rent in the cities, and any other property, in ships, or in manufactures. The law did not limit the accumulation of property; its sole intention was to stop the monopolizing of land, which had come to such a height as to prevent great numbers of persons in good circumstances