But the reigns great author has remarked." of the first twelve kings of Sicyon extended from A. M. 1920 to A. M. 2450;" so that they began eighty-eight years before the birth of Abraham, and ended in the time of Moses, and the reigns of the first eight kings of Argos began A. M. 2154, and ended A. M. 2525; so that they reached from the latter end of Abraham's life, to a few years after the exit of the Israelites out of Egypt. Now let any one form a just computation of the length of men's lives. in these times, and it will in no wise appear unreasonable to think, that the reigns of kings were of this length in these days. I might observe, that the ancient accounts of the kings of different kingdoms in these times agree to one another, as well as our great author's more modern catalogues. The twelve first kings of Assyria, according to the In Newton. Chro. p. 51. • See Book VI. Euseb, in Chron, writers who have given us accounts of them, reigned, one with another, about forty years each. The first twelve kings of the Egyptian kingdoms, according to Sir John Marsham's Tables, did not reign full so long; but it must be remembered that in the first times, the kings of Egypt were frequently elected, and so, many times, sons did not succeed their fathers." It Our great and learned author remarks,' that the seven kings of Rome, who preceded the consuls, reigned, one with another, thirty-five years each. It may be observed, indeed, that as the reigns of these kings do not fall within the times of which I treat, I am not concerned to vindicate the accounts which are given of them; but I would not entirely omit mentioning them, because the length of their reigns may be thought an undeniable instance of the inaccuracy of ancient computations, more especially because these kings were all more modern than the times of David. If we suppose Rome to be built by Romulus, A. M. 3256, we must begin his reign almost three hundred years after the death of David, and the lives of men in these times being reduced to what has been esteemed the common standard ever since; it may perhaps be expected, that the reigns of these kings should not be longer, one with another, than the reigns of our kings of England, from William the Conqueror; or of the kings of France, from Pharamond; or of any other series of kings mentioned by our illustrious author. here I would observe, that these seven kings of Rome were not descendants of one another; for Plutarch remarks, that not one of them left his crown to his son; two of them, namely, Ancus Martius and Tarquinius Superbus, were, indeed, descendants from the sons of former kings; but the other five were of different families. The t But Usher's Annals. Τος των Ρωμαιών όρα Βασιλεις, ων έδεις για την αρχήν απέλιπε. Plut. de animi Tranquillitat. p. 467. successors of Romulus were elected to the crown, and the Roman people did not confine their choice even to their own country; but chose such as were most likely to promote the public good." It is evident, therefore, that the length of these kings' reigns should not be estimated according to the common measure of successive monarchs; for had these Roman kings been very old men when advanced to the throne, their several reigns would have been very short. Now the reason why they are so much longer than we suppose they ought to be, may be, because, as the affairs of the infant state of Rome required that the city should be in the hands of the most able warriors, as well as skilful counsellors, so they chose to the crown none but persons in the prime of life; as well to have a king of sufficient ability to lead their armies, as that they might not have frequent vacancies of the throne to shake and unsettle the frame of their go Sce Dionys. Halicar. Antiq. Rom. Livii Hist, Flor. Hist. vernment, which was not yet firmly enough. compacted to bear too many state convulsions. Dionysius, of Harlicarnassus, has been very particular in informing us of the age of most of these kings; when they began to reign, how many years each of them reigned, and at what age most of them died. He supposes that the oldest man of them all did not live above eighty-three, for that was Numa's age when he died; and he represents L. Tarquinius as quite worn. out at eighty;' so that none of them are supposed to have lived to an extravagant term of life. But if, after what I have offered, it should be still thought that their reigns, one with another, are too long to be admitted, I might remark farther, that there were interregna between the reigns. of several of them. There was an interregnum between Romulus and Numa; another between Numa and Tullus Hostillius; another between T. Hostilius and b 4 |