The Press. — 1856-04-05 (London, England)

APRIL 5, 1856.  past and the perils of the future, and Ey refused to recede one inch from their )n. As might be expected, this party red in its ranks better men of action the aristocrats ; their aims were practidefinite. Tho others would be desigas waverers and visionaries ; and the [uence is that the names of the former ieparably connected with the last strug' the republic against tyranny. They become proverbs of virtue and patriotism, pronounced with admiration by thouwho know not that the same cause proboth the proscriptions of Sulla and the of Cato. But there was also a third party, the foresight and political knowledge aristocrats united the more active and ,tic qualities of the oligarchs. They imposed of younger men, who had been and bred in license and contempt of who had talents to discern the rottenif the present state of things, ambition lire to turn it to their own account, and in proportion to their ambition. At the this class, and immeasurably superior rest of them, was Julius Caesar. re was yet another statesman in whom is of a later period sac many heroic .s, and who doubtless possessed many of Aues which might have enabled him to the republic ; but on his banners non patria could never be inscribed. Pom rhaps not less than his rival, discerned .ness of the State; and had he possessed !nt patriotism or strength of character ly round him the whole Conservative .nd reconcile their differences, the days republic might have been lengthened, still numbered. But we agree with :erivale that Pompey, not less than , was aiming at supreme power. He enlured to use as tools both the aristocrats 'le oligarchs: both suspected him, and Ted him but a faint allegiance, and his forces could make no head against the counsels and prompt action of the ;Icsareans.  . these remarks we may, we think, come conclusion that the autocracy of Angus_ not absolutely inevitable, could not been long dela) ed. The fresh civil wars followed the death of Julius had still disgusted the nation with public affairs. us dark death or dreamful ease " was teir prayer. Officials and public men Aopelessly corrupt. In vain had Cicero oed to the knights the privilege of sitting iudices, trusting thereby to curb the licentess of the oligarchs. From among the is came the publicans, or farmers of the le ; from among the nobles the provin)rattors. These played into each other's The praitor connived at the extortion publican, and the publican, as a judex, .ted the prietor and his friends. To .e the forms of the republic amid this ,f organised corruption was manifestly Faith and honour were no more—the had lost its savour—the nation was ripe -ery. Merivale's style is temperate, and the ;sion of his opinions cautious. But it is fficult to see that he, too, is to some a victim of the fascination which is tsed over a certain class of minds to unity, vigour, and completeness !spotic governments. He is unjust, ink, to the Roman nobility, and we surmise is an enemy to the theory of graduation. In his account of the Gerto which we shall presently advert, there :riking passage bearing upon this subn the meanti►ne let us turn to a more Lial subject—the Augustan literature. ►aracter and mission of Horace is finely ted  the policy of Augustus to curtail the excessive of the few, and make the masses dependent for joyments upon the Government itself. It was im good service therefore to expose to scorn or the men who made a parade of their wealth, or anxiety to amass it; to sing the praise of simpli_ indifference, and contrast with the smoke, the and the splendour of Rome, the languid indolence of - slumbers in the meadow. At the same time, the , of the new nobility might demand some consols. from their patrons for the mortification they expezed at the sneers of the survivors of the true aristocracy. them Horace had a salve in his specious disparagement lustrious parentage, and clas.:ent from generations of  APRIL of the pat sturdily 11 position. numbered than the cal and de nated as consequen are insepa: files of th have becol and are pr sands who (Weed botl suicide of who to th of the arit energetic were comp born and order, who ness of ti to desire t vigour in head of th to the rest There w Romans c qualities, a the virtue tve the sibi sed pat pey, perhe the sicknet sufficient I to rally r party and of the rei though sti Mr. Mull Caesar, deavoured and the c tendered : divided foi united co Caesareans From th to the cow tus, if no have been which folk further di:: " Give us now their were hop( restored t( as judices, tiousness knights ea revenue ; cial prneto hands. T of the put acquitted preserve t: mass of o useless. I salt had lo for slavery Mr. Me expression not diffict extent a exercised by the 1 of despot we think, should sus social gra( mans, to %I is a striki ject. In congenial The (than( sketched :• It was thi affluence of I their enjoyn doing him g ridicule the betrayed an: city and in, noise and the mid day slut jealousy of I tion from t nenced at thi For them H( of Illustrious