for your present gratification, and reserving, for a future session of the university, such paragraphs as I have copied from newspapers published during the reigns of the Emperors.

S. P. Q. R.

THE OBSERVER;

OR, CLASSIC, LITERARY, AND POLITICAL INTELLIGENcer.

A CAUTION.

Rome.

Whereas it has been represented to us, that certain persons, giving themselves the Latin name of Rhetoricians, have opened schools for the purpose of teaching youth a new kind of science, at which places many young men waste their whole time; and whereas our ancestors have already appointed in what we should instruct our children, and to what schools they ought to attend; we, therefore, think fit to declare to all such as conduct the said schools, and to those who frequent them, our opinion, which is, that we are not pleased with them.

Lucius Licinius Crassus

Censors.

To Authors, Parents, Guardians, and others.-To be disposed of, several clever young men, who are well instructed in the Greek and Latin tongues, and can write a fair and legible hand-have been accustomed to transcribe, and are fit for minor tutors in private families.

Apply to Pomponius Atticus.-N. B. Their present possessor parts with them with regret, on account of his not having sufficient employment for them.

Sævius Nicanor begs leave to assure the nobility and gentry, that he continues to instruct the youth of both sexes in reading, writing, and other branches of literature, at his stall, corner of the Via Sacra.-Private tuition on moderate terms.

Notice is hereby given, that all persons are desired

not to shew the new Senators the way to the Senate House.

CICERO'S LETTERS.

A new volume of the familiar epistles of M. T. Cicero has lately been collected and published; and, as it contains many invaluable pages, we cannot do better than recommend it most forcibly to our readers.

It is in the letters of Cicero that we see the mind of that great man exposed naked to the world-in his orations ****

We cannot close this article without extracting, as a specimen, his epistle to

To

If there be any things in the world which I despise, they are the cries, shouts, and huzzas of a mob; and I must confess that, as if to torment me, wherever I go, I am perpetually pestered with the bellowings of the populace. I had scarcely quitted Rome, when (although I travelled incognito,) I was discoveredthe roads were lined with people calling out, "Behold the saviour of his country! this is the only man in the whole nation who had penetration enough to discover the conspiracy of Catiline, and courage sufficient to overthrow the traitors.-If Romulus founded Rome -if Manlius prevented the Gauls from taking the capitol-if Camillus defeated Brennus-if Coriolanus suffered himself to be touched by the tears of his mother-if Marius put a stop to the irruptions of the barbarians-if Fabius and Scipio contrived to overcome the Carthaginians-their actions, either singly or collectively, are but trifles when compared to the wonderful deeds of the great Cicero. Nor are the acts of all the Roman patriots, who have lived since the time of Brutus, could the merits of them be concentrated into one focus of glory, to be in any way placed in competition with the most frivolous thought of this saviour of Rome!"

You may suppose how extremely painful all this was to a person who, like me, utterly detests praise. It really made me so melancholy, that I determined to put cotton in my ears, that I might hear no more of it;

and I had a great mind to perform no more of those trifles, to which I am impelled by my love for the republic, and which seem to give so much satisfaction to all good citizens.

This morning, the people of this village exhibited a pageant in my honour. It represented two geese, one very large, the other the size of life. By the small goose these honest folks intended to indicate those which saved the capitol, and by the large one, me; meaning thereby to insinuate, that I was a greater goose than those of Manlius, and consequently a greater saviour of the republic.-Oh! how I envy you your quiet undisturbed retreat!- -Farewell.

The celebrated naturalist, M. Lapidius, has lately published a treatise on precious stones, from which we gladly make the following extracts: "The virtues of the diamond, worn in a ring, are truly extraordinary. It gives courage, and strengthens the heart, and protects the wearer against witchcraft, phantoms, and sudden accidents. The amethyst defends those who carry it about them from poisons, and from the evil effects of wine. The ruby and carbuncle are powerful assistants against corrupt air and melancholy imagi nations. Coral is good against loss of blood, and disperses ghosts and terrible dreams; besides lightening the heart while chrystal is an efficacious protector against those who have an evil eye; for it is well known that there are those who, by merely looking at a person, can fascinate and destroy him.

The emerald drives away demons and tempests; cures the palsy, strengthens the memory, preserves the sight, and cures the bites of poisonous animals; and the topaz represses anger and madness, stops bleeding, and mitigates sorrow.

CIRCUS.

Great preparations are making for the approaching races: the area is enlarging, and the carriages are in great forwardness. A spacious lake is to be dug, for the exhibition of a sea fight; and a general hunting

party is proposed, to continue for five days. The gla diators and wrestlers are all eagerly awaiting for op portunities to sacrifice their lives and limbs, for the satisfaction of their friends.

Rome. For some days past we have hinted to our readers that the army would be paid, without any sacrifice of the treasure taken from the Macedonians. Nevertheless, we did not think proper to state the means to be employed. However, we have now no longer any reason to be silent, and we hasten to relate one of the most masterly financial projects ever contrived. The Proconsul Æmilius offered the inhabitants of seventy towns in Epirus full pardon, for having dared to defend their liberty against the Romans; on condition that they would deliver up to him, on an appointed day, all the gold and silver in the temples, and in the possession of private persons. At the time stated, he sent troops to collect the ransom; who, when the inhabitants, relying on the promises of the proconsul, (and indeed being at that time at peace and in alliance with Rome,) least expected it, set upon them, sacked the towns, and made prisoners one hundred and fifty thousand persons, who, of course, will be sold for slaves. Thus, by a brilliant manoeuvre, has the republic taken possession of seventy cities, which before were only her allies, and acquired money sufficient to pay and reward her soldiers.

Cato this day returned to Rome, with almost the honours of a triumph; bringing with him the treasures of Ptolemy, king of Cyprus, amounting to about one million and a half sterling. This is another of those masterly projects which the Romans understand better than any other people. Ptolemy was rich, but weak, and could make no defence against the power of our republic; consequently (although he was an ally, and gave no occasion for declaring war against him,) a law was passed for dethroning him, and Cato was charged with the execution of it. He has behaved in the most praiseworthy manner. The king, finding resistance impossible, poisoned himself; and Cato, after taking possession of his dominions, and turning his treasures

into money, has arrived safe in this city. We under stand that this great and virtuous citizen values himself highly on this just, generous, and honourable

transaction.

Jugurtha, who was six days ago led in triumph, died this day. The ceremony being over, he was thrown into a dungeon, to undergo his sentence of starvation to death. The gaolers, in their haste to strip him, tore off the tips of his ears, to get at the pendants he wore in them. Six whole days he past in struggling with famine, and manifesting, to the last, a strong desire for life. Thus is the Roman greatness of mind exemplified, in the punishment of this king. He dared to be rich, when he ought to have known that the Romans would suffer none to be wealthy but themselves; he presumed to be independent, when he must have been aware, that the Romans would crush every feeling of liberty, wherever they found it; and he was fool enough to trust himself in the power of an ally, when common sense would have told him, that there was no treachery to which the Romans would not stoop, to get possession of his person.

TO BE RESUMED.

CLAUDINE: A SAVOYARD TALE.
Resumed from page 6.

SIMON, as was usual with him, was reading the Old Testament. Our good rector sat down by him, spoke of the beautiful histories which are contained in that divine book, and particularly admired the story where Joseph pardons his brothers, that where the great king David forgives his son Absalom, and many others, which I do not know, but with all of which the rector is well acquainted. Simon was of the same opinion. The rector then told him that God had been pleased to give us these examples of piety, to the end that, being mild and merciful to our brethren, like Joseph, and to our children, like David, we might deserve to find in our common father the same compassion. All this was said much better than I can say it, but you will understand that our rector was by degrees pre