ward appearance, as the lowest of human beings may be of more real utility to his fellowcreatures, than one of more extensive influence; and the smallest of God's works has as much claim to our admiration, as the largest and most shewy. I must now leave off, for I am going out."

CHAPTER VII.

Now, mamma," said Anne, the following morning," we are quite ready; will you proceed if you please, for I am anxious to know how the poor Romans fared. I suppose the messenger had returned to Camillus."

"Yes; he had immediately been sent back, to accept with gratitude his offers of assistance, and to give him full power, as their dictator, to act as he should think proper. By this time Brennus and his army were quite tired of the siege; and an agreement was made between them and the Romans, that they should retire from Rome, upon receiving one thousand pounds weight of gold. A dispute arose respecting the quantity; and, in the midst of some very insulting behaviour from the Gauls, Camillus

made his appearance with a large army. He immediately, in quality of dictator, ordered the gold to be carried back to the capitol, saying,

that not gold, but iron should obtain peace for Rome.' A battle took place, in which the Gauls were completely defeated, and the Romans once more freed. Rome was, however, nothing but a heap of ruins; and again it was proposed, by some of the citizens, to remove to Veii; again Camillus objected, and by his entreaties prevailed upon his countrymen to rebuild their city. Rome was accordingly restored, in part, to its former grandeur and beauty, and Camillus had the glory of being its second founder, three hundred and sixty-nine years after its first foundation. Soon after this, Manlius, who had so nobly driven off the Gauls, endeavouring to seize supreme power, was condemned to be thrown from the Tarpeian rock, by the people, who, with their usual changeableness, immediately afterwards murmured against Camillus for allowing the execution. Being appointed military tribune with L. Furius, he led an army against the Volscians. Furius, a young man, was anxious to attack the enemy: Camillus prudently resolved to wait for a favourable opportunity. The former, how

ever, taking advantage of the illness of Camillus, led the army to battle; his troops were defeated and flying, when Camillus, ill and aged, left his bed, restored order, and obtained a victory. At this time, the pride and jealousy of a woman caused a fresh change in the government. A tribune had two daughters, one of whom was married to a Patrician, the other to a Plebeian; the wife of the latter, jealous of the honours shewn to her sister, fell into a lingering illness and melancholy, which, when her father discovered the cause, he determined, if possible, to remove, by procuring that one of the consuls should be chosen from the Plebeians. This attempt caused much dissention, and fresh disputes arose from a law, proposed at the same time, called the Agrarian, which had for its object the division of common lands among the people. During five years, the state was torn to pieces by these quarrels; at last, Camillus, finding that the people would never be satisfied until they had succeeded in having a plebeian consul, advised the Senate to comply with their wishes, and a plebeian consul was chosen. Camillus then resigned the dictatorship, which he had held five times, built a temple to Concord, which he had vowed to do

when peace should be restored to his country, and retired from public affairs."

"Did he live much longer, mamma ?”

"Only two years; he died of the plague, at the age of eighty-two. Ten years after the admission of the plebeians to the consulship, a dictator was selected from the same rank of people; but this office had now lost its dignity, being resorted to on the most trifling occasions. In the time of a plague, a dictator had been chosen merely to drive a nail into Jupiter's temple, in order to stop the progress of the infection; having done which he laid down his office."

Philip, are you disposed to relate to your sister the anecdote respecting the gulph which is said to have opened in the forum?"

"I will do it with pleasure, mamma; but are you going to leave us?"

"I am obliged to go upon a little business; therefore Curtius, and some of the heroes about the time we are speaking of, are in your hands."

"Before you begin, brother, will you tell me whether there was only one forum in Rome." "There were several; but that built by Romulus, and beautified by Tarquinius, was called