The different States of Greece had frequent civil wars, till they were defeated by Alexander the Great; and they afterwards became subject to the government of the Ro.

mans.

At present, what was ancient Greece, is under the control of the Ottoman Porte of Constantinople.

ROME.

The Roman Empire extended, at and subsequent to the birth of Jesus Christ, over the whole world as then known, excepting the eastern part of Asia. The city of Rome was founded by Romulus, 753 years before the birth of Christ. Men only were its first inhabitants. The men and women of a neighboring territory, the Sabines, were invited to a feast in this new, rude city, when the Romans seized on the Sabine women, and each took to himself a wife by force.

After the death of Romulus, the city and then little Roman empire, was governed by kings about 250 years. The last king, Tarquin the Proud, so called, overcoming by force the conjugal chastity of Lucretia, a Roman matron of the Patrician, or noble order, caused a rebellion which ended regal government. Instead of a king, two officers, called Consuls, were annually elected, under whose authority the government was administered about 500 years, when Julius Cæsar was made Dictator; another name for King.

The Romans, for several centuries anterior to the dictatorship of Julius Cæsar, were remarkable for the plainness of their habits, their military spirit, their conquests, their civil dissentions, and the extension of their dominions.

Carthage, a city of much commerce and great opulence, was long the rival of Rome. After several long and bloody wars, this city, situated near where Tunis now stands, was destroyed by the Romans, B. C. 146. About this period, literature, with the arts and sciences, was introduced into Rome, from Greece, and generally cultivated.

Fifty years before the Saviour's birth, Julius Cæsar and Pompey the Great, were Roman Consuls. Cæsar, after hav

ing gained many battles in France and Spain, discovered and partially subdued Great Britain, and returning from the west, made war on Pompey. A battle was fought at Pharsalia, in which the arms of Cæsar were victorious. After enjoying the supreme command about five years, he was murdered in the Capitol.

The murderers of Cæsar, the principal of whom were Brutus and Cassius, engaged in a civil war with Mark Anthony, who was victorious at Phillippi. Subsequently Octavius, a relation of Julius Cæsar, afterwards the Emperor Augustus, defeated Anthony in a naval action, and became the first Emperor of Rome. To him succeeded many Emperors; most of them of the most dissolute character; till A. D. 331, when the Emperor Constantine established the Christian religion, destroying all the heathen temples, and removed the seat of government from Rome to Byzantium, then called Constantinople, in honor of the Emperor.

Constantinople continued the capital of the Eastern Empire, so called in distinction from the Western Empire, the capital of which was Rome. The Eastern Empire continued till 1453, when it was conquered by Mahomet the second, and has since been the seat of government of the Turkish Empire.

About the year 800, Charlemagne, then Emperor of the West, delivered Rome and all Italy to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, who had long sustained the appellation of the Pope; and by his successors, much of Italy has ever since been held, under the name of the Ecclesiastical States.

CARTHAGE.

The exact time when commenced the foundation of Carthage, the capital of the Carthaginian state, is not known. It is generally supposed to have been built by Dido, or Elisa, a Tyrian princess, 869 years before Christ. The husband of this princess is supposed to have been murdered by her brother-in-law, Pygmalion. Dido, however, contrived to escape from Tyre, and settled on the coast of Africa.

The Carthaginians, as they increased in power, had many engagements with the neighboring states, all of which they subdued; and at length extended their conquests to Spain, Sicily and Sardinia; and became, and long continued, the rivals of Rome.

The Romans having beheld with jealousy the growth of Carthage, for almost three centuries, sought an opportunity for the declaration of a war, commonly called the first Punic war, B. C. 264, which continued twenty-three years, and ended in a peace much to the advantage of the Romans.

The second Punic war began, B. C. 218. The famous Hannibal, with an army of 90,000 foot and 12,000 horse, crossed the Rhone, the Alps and Appenines, with a determination to pursue his march to Rome. He was victorious in the battle at Cannæ, in which 45,000 Romans were slain : but the wines of Italy enervated his army; the prudence of Fabius and the military skill of Scipio, prevailed over the diminished forces of Hannibal; and, after 17 years of war, a peace was concluded, most debasing on the part of Carthage, and which greatly diminished her power, and destroyed the means of her increase.

During fifty years of peace, the Carthaginians endeavored to repair their losses, and prepare for another encounter with their rivals. The third Punic war, commenced, B. C. 149. It was the determination of the Roman Senate, if possible, entirely to destroy the city of Carthage. This was effected, partly by force and partly by treachery. After offering terms of peace, (the principal of which was, that the Carthaginians should deliver up all their arms,) the Romans informed them that it was the decree of the Roman Senate, that their city should be destroyed.

The Carthaginians were astonished at this treachery, and held out a long time; but at length the city, 23 miles in circumference, was set on fire, and burned 17 days, and the Carthaginian power was completely destroyed, B. C. 147. Thus this city, long the seat of commerce, of wealth, and strength, the model of magnificence, and the store-house of

the riches of the world, was razed to its foundations, so that scarcely a trace of existence can be discerned.

CHINA.

Whatever may be the pretensions of the Chinese, nothing authentic respecting their history can be traced beyond the dynasty of Yu, before Christ about 2000 years. To defend themselves from the Tartars, the Chinese built a wall, 1500 miles in length. The Tartars passed the wall, A. D. 1635, and subdued China. The present Emperor, is a descendant of the Tartar Conquerors; the ancient laws, habits and government of the Chinese, being embraced by the Tartar victors. A. D. 1692, the Pope sent missionaries to China, to convert the inhabitants to Christianity.

They had much success, till suspected of interfering with the administration of government. The consequence of this suspicion was, A. D-1742, the demolition of all Christian Churches, and the total expulsion of the Jesuit missionaries from the country.

The Chinese have no navy, nor merchant vessels. Their produce is sold to foreigners, who are their carriers. Attempts have been made, twice within thirty years, on the part of Great Britain, to establish a commercial treaty with the Emperor of China, but without success. Probably there is no country in which, every foot of ground is cultivated as in this. Our teas, of herbs equalling or excelling which, there is an abundance in America, are brought from this country. The ware called China, is or may be nearly equalled in Europe or America.

TARTARY.

This country includes a vast extent of territory to the north. The inhabitants are descendants from the ancient Scythians. Their mode of life has ever been, as now, wan. dering. There have been, and are, many cities of wealth and importance; but literature and the refinements of civ ilized society, are strangers to them. The horse is their T

companion, their servant, their wealth and their food. The whole country is now, and has long been, subject to the Emperor of Russia and the present Emperor, Alexander, is pursuing all the measures of wisdom, policy and goodness, to render this portion of his subjects useful, happy and honorable.

HINDOSTAN.

Five years after the discovery of America by Columbus, the Portuguese passed the Cape of Good Hope, and discovered the Peninsula called India within the Ganges. Nine years after was made the settlement of Goa, on the Malabar coast. The first curse to civil and religious liberty was the establishment of the inquisition, to this day there remaining, a monument of folly, bigotry and cruelty. In the year 1600 was first established, by the government of Great Britain, The East India Company. Under this Company, supported by the wealth, authority and arms of the British government, an immense Empire has been added to the British Crown.

FRANCE.

It is generally agreed that, towards the close of the 5th century, the Franks, with some Goths, Vandals, &c. cros sed the Rhine, from Germany, and settled in France, under Pharamond their leader. Their first king was Clovis. The Saracens invaded France in 751; but were repulsed by Charles Martel, one of the French kings. Charlemagne, in the beginning of the 9th century, got possession of France, Germany, part of Hungary, part of Spain, the low countries and most of Italy.

Hugh Capet, a French nobleman, drove the reigning monarch from the throne, 987, which he transmitted to his descendants, in whose possession it has ever since continued, the usurpation of Bonaparte excepted. Henry 4th, in the 16th century, was one of the greatest monarchs of France. This king was stabbed by a bigot named Ravail