CATO OF U•tea, a celebrated Roman, was the great grandson of Cato the Censor. At a very early period he was left an orphan, and, along with his brother Cassio, and his sisters Porcia and Servilia, was brought up in the house of Livins Drusus, his maternal uncle, who at that time had great influence in the administration of public affairs. He soon gave marked indications of that firm, virtuous, and decided character, by which he was afterwards so much distinguished. It appeared in his look, in his manner, in his c011Ve•sation, and even in his amusements. Plutarch relates various anecdotes of his childhood, which chew how much the dispositions of tot boy resembled those of the man. One of these particn Icily deserves to be mentioned. When in his fourteenth year, lie happened to be in Sylla's house, and seeing the heads of many illustrious persona carried out, and the spectators sighing in secret at the bloody scene, he ask ed his preceptor, " Why somebody (lid not kill that mail?" " said he, " they fear hint ilium than they hate him." " Why then," said Cam, " do you not give me a sword, that I may kill him, and deliver lily country from alas cry ?" Ilis anstere manner of life led Cato to be partial to the doctrine of the Stoics, whose philosophy he studied and embraced. Ile also devoted considerable attehtion to popular eloquence, which became no mean proficient. In the servile war with Spartacus, he Nerved as a volunteer, and gave such proofs of his military skill and courage, as to secure fur himself the bight st praises of the tommandur, and after wards a tribune's commission in the army sent into Ma cedonia tinder the Prxtur Rubritis. On being appointed to the office or quxster, for the duties of which he had prepared himself with great industry, he introduced a very thorough t•lon» into that (hi partment, correcting with an unsparing hang the abuses w 'licit had crept into it, punishing those is Ito had been guilty of introducing them, and putting the affairs of the treasury on a new and excellent footing-. For his conduct in this, he re ceived great applause front the people. The office of tribune which he filled in the consulship of Cicero, was equally honoured by his integrity and public spirit. Ile obtained it in spite of very formidable opposition, by the assistance of men of honour and virtue, and he discharg ed its functions, in the midst of many difficulties, with credit to himself, satisfaction to the people, and advan tage to the state.
Cato took an early and conspicuous part in the public transactions of that most interesting and momentous pe riod in the history of Rome. II is whole conduct seems to have been actuated by a spirit of patriotism. Ile re spected men in proportion to their solicitude for the ge neral welfare. To those who were hostile or indifferent to the interests of the republic, he set himself in active and undaunted opposition; and forgot personal comfort, and the partialities of friendship, and every private con sideration, when the interests of his country demanded his aid. To Cicero lie gave his warm support ; not yielding to him implicitly in every case, hut nefending the great plinciplcs and fcattires of his administration, and openly bestowing upon him the title of Father of his Country, an of no mean value as pronounced by the stern and patriotic Caw. lie sheweel great at .1 and courage in attacking those who had joined in the con spiracy:, of which Catiline was the head, and by his energy :Aid his eloquence in the senate, in pro curing the capital punishment of the conspirators. On
this occasion he boldly attacked Cxsar, WI o argt1Cd for mild measures, and who himself was not altogether c from suspicion of being a partaker in the guilt of for whom lie pleaded. Ft ming every thing that was Ind to the commonwealth flout the vast and unpi incip:, d ambition of this ext•aordiaary man, Cato regarded bint with jealousy and distrust, and thwarted him without ceremony and without intermission, in those projects 'ny which he attempted to aggrandize himself at the expense of his country. After a variety of occur renew, in all of which Cato acted in the must dish:tele:Act) mantle', as well as with his characteristic boleness. the fate of Rome came to depend upon the issue of a contest between Pompey and Cxsar. Althot;11 lie had disliked and op posed many of the proceedings of Pompey ; although he had on some occasions met with very injurious treatment from lum ; and although the prospect of that cis il war, widen was now inevitable, filled him with sorrow ; yet, sensible that it was necessary to take it decided pal t, and that the only hope which remained for the liliertit s of Home, was to be derived from Pompey's success, he attach ed himself to the cause of that gent ral, and co-cperated with him for the discomfiture and humiliation of Cxsar The prudence of sonic parts of Cato's (nuduct in till' impoi tam crisis, may perhaps be disput«I; and it has even been sospected that his hostility to CXl3:11' was partly produced by the personal injuries which he had E•c•i, hut when it is recollected that the injuries alluded to were the or, (Is of the profligacy of Cxsar, who had debauched Cato's sister; and that the GCS which a man of real virtue had to struggle with in those corrupted times CPC neither few nor inconsidi I able, the character of this patriot cannot suffer floni such partial and feeble imputations. After the Ltal battle of Pharsalia, Cato retired into Africa with the forces in der his command, expecting to meet with Pompey. lit ar hug of Pompey's death, he marched into labia to join Scipio, which he accomplished after a painful and ha zardous march in the midst of winter. Scipio acted rashly and foolishly: fur though Cato, N11.0 I•111:.1I1Cd ill Utica as governor of the town, strongly advised him to risk a general engagement, he despised the ads ice, and was completely overthrown. Cxsar advanced to Utica. "Strange!" said Cato, when he heard of his ap proach, " it seems he takes us for men !" Cato Nvas determined not to fall into the conqueror's hands: and seeing no chance of escape, or of successful resistance if he should escape, he resolved to fly to the last refuge of a Roman. Having demanded a sword, and read Plato'', dialogue on the immortality of the soul, tie stabbed him self under the left breast. The physician attempted to sew up the wound, but Cato tore it open again, plucked out his bowels, and expired. Cxsar, on re ceiving the intelligence of Cato's death, is reported to hay e exclaimed, " Cato, I envy thee thy death, since thou couldest envy me the glory of saving thy lift•." Cato was forty-eight years of age when he tied. Ile left a son and daughter. The former was worthless : tl c lat ter. married Brutus who killed Cxsar, vas trusted with the secret of the conspiracy, and died as her father had clone. Ste Plutarch, Sallu.st, &c. (T)