of Carthage, for almost three centuries, sought an opportunity for the declaration of war, commonly called the first Punic war, B. C. 264, which continued twentythree 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 mili tary 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 endeavoured 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 storehouse 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 2,000 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 other 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, wandering. There have been, and are, many cities of wealth and importance; but literature and the refinements of civilized society, are strangers to them. The horse is their 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 honourable.

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 Bri tish crown.

FRANCE.

It is generally agreed that, towards the close of the 5th century, the Franks, with some Goths, Vandals, &c. crossed the Rhine, from Germany, and settled in France under Paramond 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 IV. in the 16th century, was one of the greatest monarchs of France This king was stabbed by a bigot named Ravaillac. The reign of Louis XIV. which began in 1643, and ended 1715, was the longest and most splendid. During this long reign, the arts and sciences, the belles lettres and general literature, asto

nishingly increased. Louis XV. reigned from 1715 to 1774; when Louis XVI. was crowned, who was beheaded in 1793.

The French revolution commenced in 1789, in which year the Bastile, a famous state prison, was destroyed. The National Assembly assumed the government, 1790; great mobs and massacres took place in 1791 and 1792. Jan. 21, Louis was beheaded, having been condemned by a majority of 13, out of 721 and his queen was beheaded the next month. The Dauphin, or king's oldest son, is supposed to have been poisoned in 1795. The next year Bonaparte became general in chief of the army of Italy. He continued successful in various engagements with the neighbouring powers, till 1799, when he established a Consular government, himself at the head. In 1804 he was made emperor; and in 1810 divorced his wife, and married a daughter of the Emperor of Germany.

Till 1812, success the most astonishing attended the arms of Napoleon. Ambitious to master all Europe, in the summer of this year he marched into Poland, and thence to Russia, with an army of 6 or 700,000 men, to overcome Alexander, Emperor of Russia, who had opposed his views of universal empire. With considerable loss he effected his passage to Moscow, the former capital of the Russian empire. This ancient city was burnt by the Russians, to prevent giving the French any succour. The Russian winter commenced, with unusual severity, and the French were obliged to attempt a retreat. Before this once vast army had reached Smolensk, about 200 miles, most of them were destroyed by the arms of the Russians, and the severity of the season; so that not 100,000 ever returned to their homes. Napoleon, who had run away from his army, persuaded the French government to afford him another army, with which he took the field in the spring of 1813. He was defeated at the battle of Leipsic, pursued by the allies to Paris, compelled to resign the imperial crown, and retire to Elba, a small island in K

the Mediterranean; and Louis XVIII. a brother of Louis XVI. was placed on the throne of France.

Early in the year 1815, Bonaparte escaped from Elba, and got possession of Paris, the king flying before him. The allies, English, Russian, German, Prussian, &c. were soon in arms to oppose him. At the memorable battle of Waterloo, on the confines of France, Bonaparte was overcome by the troops of the allies, commanded by the immortal Duke of Wellington. He fled to Paris, and subsequently surrendered to the English. Louis XVIII. resumed the sceptre.

After due consultation, it was resolved to send the ex-emperor to St. Helena, a small island in the Atlantic, about half way between America and Africa, where he has ever since remained, a stupendous example of defeated ambition.

SPAIN.

Spain was known to the Carthaginians several centuries before Christ. It became subject to the Romans at the end of the second Punic war, 200 years before Christ. and so continued till the downfall of the Roman empire in the fifth century..

The kingdom of Spain was founded by the Visi Goths, 467. For three hundred years after, it was a scene of butchery, superstition and division. In the eighth century, it was in a great measure conquered by the Moors, from the opposite coast of the Mediterranean, in Africa; and was divided into petty kingdoms, till united under Ferdinand the Great, 1027. The Moors were expelled in the fifteenth century; at the latter end of which Columbus succeeded in persuading Ferdinand and Isabella to patronise his projected voyage over the Atlantic, westward; by which he was enabled to discover a new world.

The discovery of America induced adventurers to explore the country. Silver and gold were found in abundance, which at first enriched, and subsequently enervated Spain. Under Charles I. (Emperor of Ger