The object of Diodorus Siculus was, by reading and travelling, to collect materials for an universal history, from the earliest account of things to the time of Au gustus, when he flourished. But only a small portion of it has come down to us. Of 40 books, of which the entire work consisted, the first five, which bring the history of the morld to the Trojan war, are entire ; the next live are wanting ; but from the llth to the 20th inclusive the work is complete. The work of Justin is an abridgment of an universal history, written by Tropes Bompeius, who lived in the age of Augustus. It is written in a style of con siderable perspicuity and force, and a due proportion and connection is observed among its several parts. Plutarch's lives of Pyrrhus, Aratus, Agis, Cleomencs, and Philopm mon, should be read to complete this portion of history.
As these authors contain not only the history of Greece, but that of all the nations of the world that were known to the historians; so the following course of Roman history must also be regarded as comprehending all that is now to be learned of the-subsequent ancient history of all other nations.
The early part of the Roman history is treated in the most full and satisfactory manner by Dionysius of Halicar nassus. His entire work consisted of 20 books, and brought down the history to the commencement of the first Punic war; but of these, only the 11 first are now extant, and they terminate in the year 341 before Christ, after the dissolu tion of the decemvirate, and the resumption of the chief authority by the consuls. This author pays much more pat ticular attention to manners, customs, and laws, than the ancient historians usually did ; and, on this account, is pe culiarly interesting and instructive. He is, however, very credulous; and his style, though pure, is harsh. To com plete the history of the period of which Dionysius treats, the 1st, 2d, and 3d books of Livy, and the lives of Romu lus, Numa Pompilius, Valerius Poplicola, Coriolanus, and Camillus, by Plutarch, should be read.
After D-onysius, by reading from the 4th to the 10th books inclusive of Livy, the history of Rome will be brought down to the year 292 before Christ. The entire work of Livy consisted of 142 books ; but it has come down to us in a very mutilated and imperfect state, only 35 being left. This author is entitled to the highest praise for fidelity, impartiality, and the rich and eloquent grandeur of his style. A chasm occurs between the 10th and 20th books of Livy, which may be, however, in some measure, filled up, by the perusal of the 1st and 2d books of Poly bius; the 17th, 18th, 22d, and 23d books of Justin; and Appian's Punic and Illyrian wars. From Polybius we
may learn many curious and important particulars respect ing the art of war among the ancients. His topographical descriptions of the places which have been the site of the remarkable events he records arc uncommonly accurate. His style is harsh and involved; his reflections bear evi dence of a strong and reflecting mind. After Appian should be read the remainder of Livy from the 21st book to the end, which brings the history of Rome to the year 166 before Christ. The lives of Hannibal, Scipio Africa nus, Quintus Flaminius, Paulus £milius, Cato major, the Gracchi, Marius, Sylla. Cato minor, Scrtorius, Lucullus, Pompey, and Brutus, by Plutarch, will not only serve to complete the history of Livy, but will also affbrd some striking particulars respecting the manners and state of society of Rome during the most interesting period of its history.
The war of Jugurtha, and the conspiracy of Cataline, which happened respectively 100, and 62 years before Christ, have been narrated by Sallust. The great merit of this writer is his impartiality at a time when prejudice and party spirit must have been very common and very powerful in Rome. His style is remarkable for its con ciseness; and this quality is particularly conspicuous in the characters which he draws.
Most of the transactions in which Julius Caesar was en gaged, are best illustrated by his celebrated Commentaries, and the supplement to it compiled by Hirtius and others. In the Commentaries we may gain some very authentic and interesting infot mation respecting the early state, manners, laws, and customs of those nations which now hold the most distinguished place in modern Europe. The merit of this work of Caesar's is very high, in respect both to matter and style ; the advantage which he derived, in re spect to accuracy of information, from narrating his own exploits, is not, in a single instance, counterbalanced by vanity, partiality, or the concealment of his faults : his style is remarkable for its simplicity and ease. The sect et history of this important period will be most clearly under stood from a perusal of Cicero's Epistles, which may also be consulted for information respecting the state of society, manners, customs, &c. The fragments of the history of Dm Cassius contain a detail of time events, which took place be tween the period when Lucullus flourished and the death of the Emperor Claudian. In combination with this author may be read the elegant compendium of Vellelus Patercu lus, from the foundation of Rome to the reign of Tiberius, at which period he lived.