well-formed race, with blue eyes and fair hair, and of a bold aspect. From their earliest youth they were trained to arms, and, therefore, they were a warlike people. Religious feeling, love of freedom, and chastity of manners, were their virtues; drunkenness, debauchery, and a love for fighting, were their vices.

In these early days of history, the Germans were divided into two great peoples the Swabians, or Suevi; and the Harzers, or Herusci. From the former, a wandering race, the inhabitants of the Rhine shores were principally decended. Three tribes, withdrawing from the great body, or Swabian union, established themselves under one leader, on that part of the river which extends from the Vosges mountains to the Ell or Ill rivulet. They were known in the time of the Romans as the Tribocii; but, in later times, they were called, after the name of the country in which they dwelt, the Alsatians. A second division of the same people detached itself from the main body

about the same period, and occupied the land lying between the Ill, which then bounded Alsatia, and Spires; they were named the Nemetes. And a third division extended itself in the same manner from the bounds of the latter, the little town of Spires, to the Nahe near Bingen. These bore the name of Vangiones, and their chief place was Worms. Below the Neckar and the Maine dwelt, on the right bank of the Rhine, the Ubii; on the left, the Treviri. From thence to the sea was occupied with various tribes and races-the Mattiaci, the Longobardi, the Sigambri, the Belgæ, the Batavi, and the Frisi.

• The difficulties which the Roman power had to overcome, before these brave people were subjugated to its sovereignty, are too well known to all readers to be Idilated on here. Suffice it to say, that never did it meet with greater resistance any where. The Germans were, in point of fact, never altogether subdued. They stood, in the time of her greatness, more

in the character of allies towards Rome, than in that of subjects; and, when luxury had enervated the strength of the empire, and ages had worn out its vigour, they assumed the port of masters more than the demeanour of friends. To prove the formidable character of these freedomloving tribes, it will suffice to say, that of the twenty-five legions which composed the military force of Rome, in the reign of Augustus, eight were encamped on the Rhine alone; making in all an army of nearly one hundred thousand men.*

The Rhine, while under the dominion of the Romans, experienced many changes in the form of its internal government, as the empire itself changed its forms and its rulers from period to period; but the Germans were never cordially united with the conquerors of the world.

They were the 1st (Julian), the 5th (Macedonian,) 19th (Macedonian), 20th (Valeria Victrix), on the Upper Rhine; and the 2d (Augusta), 13th (Gemina Pia Fidelia), 14th (Gemina Martia Victrix), and the 16th, on Lower Rhine.

the

Various quarrels arose between them at different times, which it required all the strength of Rome, and all the skill of its ablest generals, to suppress: but to relate the several efforts of the one to throw off the yoke of vassalage, and of the other to regulate their servitude, would be only to follow the history of the empire through its decline to its fall. The liberation of Germany was effected by the incursion of the barbarians of the north under Attila. They then availed themselves of the favourable opportunity, when the might of their masters was no more, and became once more free.

After the incursion of this fierce people, we find two races dwelling on the shores of the Rhine-the Franks and the Allemanni. The former occupied the lower portion of the river, even to its mouth; the latter, that which is known as the Upper Rhine, to the bounds of Helvetia. Of these the Franks occupy the largest space in history, as they ultimately became rulers of the entire.

væus,

Clodwig was the founder of the Frankish monarchy about the beginning of the fifth century; but the race of kings which succeeded him took their name from Meroand were called after him the Merovignian dynasty (A.D. 437). After the manner of the Germans, the land on the Rhine were apportioned into Duchies and Gaues; and the whole was comprehended under one general title-namely, Austrasia, or the eastern kingdom.

The history of the Merovignian monarchs, from the death of Merovæus, is one tissue of weakness and cruelty, mix

ed up with many others of the vices which disgrace human nature most. Feuds, assassinations, and drunken debaucheries, were usual among the nobles; while the common people were sunk in the lowest state of ignorance. The kings were surrounded by women and priests, and were entirely under the control of their mayors of the palace. The last sovereign of this dynasty, Childeric the Third, was deprived of his dignity by Pipin the Little