of very different complexions were punishable with death, one of which was nightly meetings.

The Romans had no code of laws until that which was formed and digested by the decemviri. The number of the laws was increased from time to time by the senate and people. Each decemvir, by turn, presided for a day, and had the sovereign authority, with its insignia, the fasces. The nine others acted solely as judges in the determination of law-suits, and the correction of abuses.

Their government lasted only three years. Its dissolution was highly tragical. Appius Claudius, one of the ten, fell in love with the beautiful Virginia; she was engaged to marry Icilius, formerly a tribune of the people, and would not therefore listen to the proposals of Appius.

He therefore, to get possession of the lovely virgin, procured a base dependant to claim her as his slave. The claim was made to Appius himself, who pronounced an infamous decree, by which she was de clared to be the property of this profligate minion of his own.

Virginius, her father, who was falsely sworn to have stolen her from the dependant of Appius, was at a distance with the army Intelligence, however, by means of Icilius, was conveyed to him re specting the transactions in the city, and he returned with all imaginable speed.

Finding, notwithstanding his true and simple tale that Virginia was his daughter, that he could not preserve her from the licentious decemvir, he now begged to give her his parting embrace. His request was granted. He clasped his child in his arms, while she clung round his neck, and wet his cheeks with her tears.

As Virginius was tenderly kissing her, before he raised his head, he suddenly plunged a dagger into her bosom, saying, “Oh! my child, by this means only can I give thee freedom." He then held up the bloody instrument to the now pale and frighted Claudius, exclaiming, "By this innocent blood, Appius, I devote thy head to the infernal gods."

All was now horror and confusion. Icilius showed the dead body to the people and roused their fury. Virginius hasted to the camp bearing with him the dagger reeking with his daughter's blood; and instantly the camp was in an uproar. The power of the decemviri and the senators could not still the tumult.

Appius would have been torn to pieces at once, but he found the means of escape and voluntary death. Public tranquillity was at length restored, by the consent of the senate to abolish the decemviri. The consuls were now restored, together with the tribunes of the people, 499 years B. C.

13. A law for the intermarriage of the patricians and plebeians at Rome was passed 445 years B. C. In the same year military tribunes were created. These were in lieu of the consuls: they were six in number, three patricians and three plebeians. The consuls, however, were soon restored.

In 437 years B. C. was established the office of censors, whose duty it was to make the census of the people every five years.

§ The people, in their desire for still more power, endeavoured to break down the only two barriers that separated the patricians from themselves. These were, one, the law which prevented their intermarriage; and the other, the constitutional limitation of all the higher offices to the patrician order.

The first point, after a long contest, was conceded the other was partially evaded. The senate sought a palliative in the creation of the military tribunes above mentioned. This measure satisfied the people for a time.

The new magistracy of the censors was highly important. In addition to making the census, it was incumbent on the censors to inspect the morals and regulate the duties of the citizens. It became, in after times, the function only of consular persons, and after them, of the emperors.

14. The dissentions between the different orders of the people, raged with violence; but the senate, not long after their concession to the people, adopted for themselves a very wise expedient. This was to give a regular pay to the troops, an expense defrayed by a moderate tax on the citizens. From this period soldiers were to be obtained, and the senate had the army under its control. Roman ambition now became systematic, and irresistible.

15. Veii, the rival of Rome, was besieged by the Romans, and after a siege of ten years, was taken by Camillus, 391 years B. C. Two years after, Falerii, the capital of the Falisci, surrendered to the same general. The dominion of Rome, confined hitherto to a territory of a few miles, was now rapidly extended.

§ The siege of Veii was attended with much expense of blood and treasure to the Romans. They nearly despaired of taking it; but upon the appointment of Camillus dictator, things soon assumed a different aspect. He secretly wrought a mine into the city, which opened into the midst of the capital.

Then giving his men directions how to enter the breach, the city was instantly filled with his legions, to the utter confusion of the besieged. Thus, like a second Troy, was Veii taken after a ten years' siege, and Camillus, according to the manner of the Roman kings, enjoyed the honour of a triumuph.

It is related, that during the attack of Falerii, a schoolmaster betrayed into the hands of Camillus all his scholars, expecting to obtain a handsome reward for his treachery. The boys happened to be the sons of the principal Falisci, and the Roman general was given

to understand, that they would probably deliver up their city to recover their children.

The noble Roman, shocked at this perfidious action, sent back the boys in safety to their parents, and giving each of them a rod, bade them whip the traitor into town. This generous behaviour of Camillus accomplished more than his arms could have done. The place instantly submitted, leaving to the Roman the conditions of the surrender, which were of course very mild.

The brave Camillus, becoming at length an object of envy or jealousy with the people, he was obliged to quit Rome, and live at Ardea, a town in its neighborhood, but they had reason afterwards to be ashamed of their injustice.

16. Soon after these successes, Rome experienced a terrible calamity. It was taken, devastated, and burnt by the Gauls, under Brennus, 385 years B. C. The capitol, however, was preserved. This the barbarians besieged, but they were soon expelled the city by Camillus.

The Gauls were a branch of the great Celtic nation, and inhabited regions beyond the Alps. These they had penetrated at different periods, and a portion of this people had already settled in small towns at the foot of the mountains. This people, it seems, on some occasion, had undertaken the siege of Clusium, a city of Etruria. The Clusians, who were not of a warlike character, immediately entreated the mediation of the Romans.

The latter sent ambassadors to Brennus, but without success. These ambassadors then retired to Clusium, where they appeared at the head of the Clusians in a sally against the besiegers. Upon this, Brennus, in great displeasure, marched directly against Rome.

In this condition, an army was drawn out to save the city; but the numbers and impetuosity of the barbarians were such, that no effectual resistance was made. The greatest part of the citizens fled for protection to the neighbouring cities; the young and brave men entered into the capitol, resolved to hold out to the last against the enemy; and the aged senators assembled in the senate-house, determined patiently to await their fate.

Soon after they entered the city, Brennus, and some of his soldiers, went into the senate-house. The venerable appearance of these noble old men rendered the Gauls afraid or unwilling to harm them. A soldier at last gently shaking the beard of Papyrius, the old Roman was so offended at the act, that he struck the man on his head with an ivory staff he had in his hand: this slight blow instantly aroused the fury of the barbarians; they massacred the senators on the spot, and set fire to the city.

In this season of distress, the Romans did not give up all for lost. The little band, shut up in the capitol, made every possible arrangement for defence. They were assaulted in vain. At this juncture, Camillus, forgetting all his private wrongs, gathered an army, with which he entered Rome, and immediately put the barbarians to flight.