these dissensions, the Roman arms were successful abroad. The Balearic Isles were subdued."

Majorca and Minorca you mean, mamma.” "Yes, my love, the group of islands of which they form part; the country of the Allobroges, now Savoy, Gallia Narbonensis, which now forms part of France, and several other nations were subdued. Jugurtha, king of Numidia, was also conquered. This prince had been brought up by his uncle, a king of that country, who, dying, left two sons. Jugurtha murdered the eldest, but the second escaped to Rome, and entreated the protection of the senate. Jugurtha, knowing the present character of the Romans, immediately sent ambassadors, with large presents, to be distributed amongst the senators. soon after determined that Jugurtha should keep one half of the kingdom, and give up the other to his cousin Adherbal, who, however, soon fell into the power of Jugurtha, and, like, his unfortunate brother, was murdered. The Roman people complained of this treachery, but the senate, who had been bribed to silence, were long in taking any active steps for punishing it. At last the consul was sent against Jugurtha; but he also was bribed into making terms for

It was

peace. Still more enraged than before, the people at last obtained a decree that Jugurtha should be summoned to Rome, to discover who had taken bribes. He obeyed the command, but distributed still larger sums of money amongst those in power, and was soon ordered to leave the city. Looking back upon it as he passed the gates, he is said to have exclaimed, ‘O Rome, how readily wouldst thou sell thyself, if any man were rich enough to purchase thee.' Troops were again sent to oppose him in Africa, but without success, until Metellus, the consul, by his skill and integrity, regained the credit the former generals had lost. In two years, Jugurtha, having been overthrown in several battles, was obliged to beg a peace. One of the conditions offered him was, that he should surrender himself to the Romans. This being refused, the treaty was broken off. The victory seemed certainly on the side of Metellus, could the term of his command, which was over, be lengthened. This he entreated, but was disappointed in obtaining it by his lieutenant Marius, who, forgetting that it was to Metellus that he owed his own advancement, ungratefully resolved to obtain the command for himself, and succeeded in doing so. Being an excellent sol

dier, he overthrew the Numidians and their allies in two engagements, and Jugurtha, who had taken refuge with Bocchus, king of Mauritania, his father-in-law, was, by that prince, given up to the Romans. He was carried in chains to Rome, and, having walked in the triumph of the conqueror, was starved to death in prison."

"Then I see, mamma, that punishment does sometimes follow wickedness in this world; Jugurtha was indeed a hateful character, and you might well say the Romans were changed. I can scarcely believe I am hearing the history of the same people."

"It is sad to think of it, Anne; but to continue. Marius, who had the honour of being the conqueror of Jugurtha, although he only finished what Metellus began, was originally a day labourer, but, possessing extraordinary strength and activity, with great courage and ability in war, had, through the interest of Metellus, been made a tribune of the people. On his return from Africa, he was made consul five times successively, contrary to the law, which required an interval of ten years between every consulship. During that time, he overthrew the Cimbri and Teutones, and, by his arts, Metellus

went into banishment. A war, called the Social War, was commenced with Rome by the Italian states, who had for some time been endeavouring to procure the freedom of Roman citizens, by means of Drusus and others. Drusus being assassinated, they took up arms to obtain their wishes. After the war had continued two years, the senate brought it to a conclusion, by giving the freedom of the city to such states as had not revolted, and promising it to those that should first lay down their arms. Sylla had the chief honour in this war, and, for his services, was appointed to the government of Asia Minor. This general had served under Marius, and, by degrees had become his rival in glory, and wish for power. Sylla was of a noble family, his person was handsome, and his pleasing manners enabled him to gain the affection of every one. A war had been entered into with Mithridates, the most powerful monarch of the East. He was master of Cappadocia, Bithynia, Thrace, Macedon, and all Greece, and the Romans easily found a pretence for attacking him. Whether Marius or Sylla should have the command of the army against him excited great anxiety and jealousy. At last it was decided in favour of the latter, and dreadful were

the disturbances, riot, and bloodshed which took place. Marius obtained a change in his favour, upon which Sylla marched to Rome with his army, and compelled Marius and his party to fly. He even made it lawful for any one to kill them. He then settled every thing as he thought proper in Rome, and set out against Mithridates, having first caused the goods of the proscribed persons to be confiscated."

'Mamma, I know that the being proscribed means something bad, but I hardly know what. Confiscated is being taken away, is it not?"

Yes, being seized for the use of the state. A person proscribed is one who is under sentence of death, and cannot appear, for fear of suffering it from the hands of any one who may choose to inflict it. The word is sometimes applied to persons who, for some reason or other, are obliged to conceal themselves, in which sense you may have heard it. The word proscription relates to those times of confusion when, the laws being overturned, those in power destroyed without mercy the persons who had incurred their hatred."

"Dreadful, mamma; but surely these proscriptions did not often take place."

"Too often, my dear Anne, as you will find