"The Revolution of Niebuhr," it has been customary to give an abstract of his conclusions, with little attention to the evidence upon which they rest. But the acute and laborious criticisms of many scholars, chiefly German, have greatly modified the faith which the present generation is disposed to place in Niebuhr's authoritative dicta; and in some cases there may be observed a disposition to speak lightly of his services. If I may say anything of myself, I still feel that reverence for the great Master which I gained in youth, when we at Oxford first applied his lamp to illuminate the pages of Livy. No doubt many of the results which he assumes as positive are little better than arbitrary assertions. But I conceive that his main positions are still unshaken, or rather have been confirmed, by examination and attack. If, however, they were all abandoned, it will remain true for ever, that to him is due the new spirit in which Roman History has been studied; that to him must be referred the origin of that new light which has been thrown upon the whole subject by the labours of his successors. In a work like this, dissertation is impossible; and I have endeavoured to state only such results of the new criticism as seem to be established. If the young reader has less of positive set before him to learn, he will at all events find less that he will have to unlearn. Far the greater part of this work was printed off before the appearance of Sir George Cornewall Lewis's Inquiry into the Credibility of Early Roman History.' Much labour might be saved by adopting his conclusions, that Roman History deserves. little or no attention till the age at which we can securely refer to contemporaneous writers, and that this age cannot be carried back further than the times of Pyrrhus. It is impossible to speak too highly of the fullness, the clearness, the patience, the judicial calmness of his elaborate argument. But while his conclusions may be conceded in full for almost all the Wars and Foreign Transactions of early times, we must yet claim attention for the Civil History of Rome in the first ages of the Republic. There is about it a consistency of progress, and a clearness of intelligence, that would make its fabrication more wonderful than its transmission in a half-traditionary form. When tradition rests solely on memory, it is fleeting and uncertain; but when it is connected with customs, laws, and institutions, such as those of which Rome was justly proud, and to which the ruling party clung with desperate tenacity, its evidence must doubtless be carefully sifted and duly estimated, but ought not altogether to be set aside. I have made free use of the works of modern writers. Among the works of our English labourers in this field it is almost superfluous to notice Dr. Arnold's History of the early times of the Republic, Mr. Merivale's of the last age, and Bishop Thirlwall's account of the dealings of Rome with Macedon and Greece. Among foreign Scholars, I should be ungrateful if I omitted to mention Becker's admirable work on Roman Antiquities, with Marquhardt's Continuation (to which I am largely indebted for the Chapters on Constitutional History), the two works of K. W. Nitzsch on Polybius and the Gracchi, the volume of M. de Mérimée on the period of the Social War and the First Civil Wars, and Drumann's elaborate Biographies. I have not been studious to add Notes for the purpose of authenticating facts, except when the fact stated seemed specially to require it: otherwise such references only have been made as may serve to excite interest or impart instruction. WESTMINSTER, 1855. CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. § 1. Relation of Italy to Roman History. § 2. Length of Italian Peninsula. § 3. Breadth. § 4. Extent of surface. § 5. Reasons for considering Phy- sical Structure. § 6. Division of Italy into two portions. § 7. Physical Structure of upper portion: The Alps, or northern limits of the valley of the Po. 8. Upper Apennines, or southern limits of this valley. § 9. Plain of the Po itself. § 10. Physical structure of lower portion of Apennine range. § 11. Its southern flank. § 12. Northern flank. § 13. Deduction of geographical features of Italy from foregoing description: Few prominent Headlands and large Gulfs. § 14. Few Islands. § 15. No large Rivers, except in the valley of the Po. § 16. No large Plains, except in same valley. § 17. No large Lakes, except in same valley. Peculiar character of Lakes in many parts of sub-Apennine districts. § 18. Marshy character of some districts. Methods of reclaiming land in modern times. § 19. Climate. § 1. Constant invasions of Italy, notwithstanding Alpine barrier. § 2. Its subdivision among numerous tribes. § 3. Signification of the name ITALY in Roman times. § 4. Roman Italy occupied by at least six distinct races. § 5. Pelasgians. § 6. Opicans or Oscans. § 7. Umbrians. § 8. Sabellians. § 9. Etruscans. § 10. Greeks. § 11. Romans a compound race. § 12. Evi- dence of Tradition. § 13. Evidence of Language:-Roman language akin to the Greek in structure, being probably Pelasgian, mixed with Oscan, with Sabine vocabulary added. § 14. Comparison between Romans and English in respect to origin. § 15. Sources of early Roman History . 15 ORIGIN OF ROME: ROMULUS AND NUMA. § 1. Belief of the Romans that they were sprung from the East. § 2. Legend of Æneas. § 3. Legend of Ascanius. § 4. Legend of Rea Silvia, and birth of the Twins. § 5. Legend of recognition of Twins by Numitor. § 6. Legend of the quarrel of Romulus and Remus. Variations in Legends. § 7. Romulus founds Rome. Uncertainty of dates. § 8. Asylum. Rape of Sabines. § 9. War with Sabines. Legends of Tarpeia, of Janus, of Sabine women. § 10. Peace between Romans and Sabines. ROMULUS AND TITUS TATIUS JOINT KINGS. § 11. Legend of Cæles Vibenna and Etruscan settlers at Rome. Four of Seven Hills now occupied. § 12. Death of Titus Tatius. Reign and Death of Romulus. § 13. Institutions attributed to Romulus: (1) Social; (2) Political; (3) Military. § 14. Interregnum: NUMA POMPILIUS, a Sabine, second king of Rome. § 15. Religious institu- tions attributed to Numa. § 16. His love of agriculture. § 17. Other in- § 1. Increase of Rome in next two reigns. § 2. Choice of TULLUS HOSTILIUS. § 3. War with Alba. Legend of Horatii and Curiatii. § 4. War with Etruscans. Punishment of Mettus Fuffetius. § 5. Forced migration of Albans to Rome. § 6. War with Sabines. § 7. Curia Hostilia. § 8. Death of Tullus. § 9, 10. Election of ANCUS MARTIUS: his institutions. § 11. Subjugation of Southern Latium: increase of Roman citizens. § 12. Pons |