The Portland daily press., 1864-12-27
Merivals's History Of the Roman Empire.

Merivale's History Of the Roman Umpire
We have received from the publishers the
fifth and sixth volumes Of this valuable work,
in reproducing which for the benefit OF the
American public; they are doing signal SER
vice to the cause of learning end literature =
To all who have examined the preceding vol
umes, it is unnecessary to speak OF the
thorough scholarship, the vigorous men'sl
grasp, the brilliant power of generaizalon
and the profoundly philosophic spirit winch
the author brings to his task. To unfoli tbs
long record of that Colossal Crime Which eAli-
ed itself the Roman Empire. and to exhibit II,
not as a succession of disconnected sad often
contradictory fragments, butas swhole, to
shed light on half hidden causes 81 decay, and
trace the often intricate progress OF false
principle till it deyelopes itsslf in certain ruin
and disaster, was task demanding some Of
The highest qualifications, and the manner in
which it has been accomplished, places the
writer in the fort rank of modern historians.
The period ssnbraced in these two volumes
is the interpsGing one which extends from the
accessiopof Tiberius, A. D. IA, to the fall OF
Jeruseem, A. D. 20; period surpassed by
nom in the variety and significance of the
points 1t presents.
Already the empire had passed its culmin-
ating point of power; although the splendor
which invested it through its conquests, its
architecture, through art and letters blinded the
ewes of men to the truth. One is apt to feel
degree of surprise in observing how rapid was
the growth of despotism, and how swift the de-
cline of heroism in the free Roman state; but
our surprise quickly passes away when we
consider how little of true liberty that state
could ever boast. Even in the best days of
the Republic, there was one unsound spot at
the core; under the empire the canker had
spread until the whole body polite was dis
eased. However proud might be the title OF
Roman citizen, it meant only Roman NOBLE.
The people, the plebs, were Insignificant in
point of power. The senatorial order had
gathered around itself the highest immunities
and dignities; all freedom of political action
was Withdrawn from the commons. Their
freedom of speech was but the scurrilous
licence Of the tongue; their cherished right OF
accusation but a more odious form OF des-
potism. through the fundamentally OF the
mob. Rome, with all her Ooasted civilization,
was essentially barbarous. Her people ex-
hibited depravity which can be matched
only in China,--a cruelty which the world
has never matched. The tyrannies and the
crimes of Nero or Caligpla scarcely shocked
the sensibilities of a Roman citizen, because
they were prompted by spirit akin to his
own. The viciousness OF his own institutions,
the daily practice of every household harden
ed him against the sense Of wrong and suffer
ing. When he entered his own dwelling, the
slave chained in the doorway, the thongs
hanging on the wall impressed him with the
feelings of despot. " Tyranny was his own
birthright; how could he resent its exercise
in another? Unless it Immediately touched
himself, what interest had he in resenting it ?"
For Slavery was in his eyes the law of nature.
The free races were as gods to the serviIe
races. Has all the power of christianity yet
been able to strangle the deadly fallacy? A
people whose minds were thus perverted by
the daily practice of injustice, hardened by the
bloody shows Of the circus, estranged from all
pure aspirations by the practice of every de-
basing vice, were little fitted to cope with des-
potism.s The consideration of such state Of
society, of its debasing influences, and the
logical certainty with which il must tend ulti-
mately to the ruin of what freedom it had,
is pregnant with reflections to-day.
Two episodes of remarkable interest occur
In the progress Of these volumes. One is the
subjugation of southern Britain under the
emperor Claudius; the other the destruction
of Jerusalem under Vespasian. They afford
fine instances of the often brilliant style Of the
authors narrative. The pictures of society
and manners, and the portraits Of individuals
which we find here, are drawn with clear,
bold hand which often recalls something Of the
power of MacauIey in this direction. Tiberius
and Seneca and Nero stand before US like men
Of to-day Many other figures strongly
though less deliberately drawn; Germanicus,
Liyia, Caudius,, Otho, Vitellius march across
that wonderful stage like the ghostly line Of
Banquo, with the semblance and garb of life,
replacing each other in such rapid succession
that we are ready to exclaim with Tacitus:
4Brief and ill-starred were the loves Of the
Roman peoplel"s ashsaa ss90 msen9a
This work is to be completed in one more
volume, which will carry the narrative down
to the time when that Of Gibbon commences,
forming in connection with the latter a con.
nected history of that power which fills SO
much space upon the theatre Of antiquity
as to overshadow all others. 1t is a val
liable addition to our sources of historical
knowledge, and we are sure that no one can
rise from its perusal without renewed con-
c,ts7 -'s-. ..s- e,-iv st ~ ssr>-.a-',-
ments is to be found in Justice; the only safe
ty Of nations in Freedom. a2a44A n r
.History of the Romans under the Empire By
Charlss Ne iyale b D. late Fellow of St. Johns
College Cambridge. From The kourth London
Edition. With a Copious Analytical Index. New
York: d. Appleton 4 Co 1866. For sale in this