energy of mind, and a patriot zeal, which, while it enabled them to repel the slaves of despotism, formed them for the attainment of that eloquence, and those refinements, which have elevated them so high in the rank of polished nations. The Peloponnesian war, from the relative situation of the Grecian Islands, acquired all the horrors of civil discord, and gave to these horrors all their power in influencing the passions, and determining the character of man; friendship and resentment, emulation and ambition, eloquence and subtility, assumed their empire over the minds of the actors, and made impressions not easily effaced. It was amid these interesting scenes, that the Athenian genius was reared. The most striking exertions of imagination and sentiment are excited by the presence and intercourse of men in peculiar situations; they are most vigorous when produced in the mind by the agency of its principal spring, by the emulation the friendships, and the oppositions, that are likely to arise amid the tumults of civil war: and it may be farther observed, when its danger and alarms have passed away, the tranquillity that succeeds is favourable, in a high degree, to the productions of the human mind. Peace, in destroying war, does not extinguish that character of feeling and intellect, to which it gave birth; but peace is followed by security and leisure: and from these arise curiosity, inquiry, and knowledge; it is, therefore, natural to suppose, that the orator, who in the troubles of civil contention animated the courage of his fellowcitizens, will, in the shade of peaceful retirement, cultivate an acquaintance with the muses; that the statesman will apply that subtilty which the exigency of his country formerly demanded to the pursuits of philosophy; and that the gene rous mind of the soldier will be allured by the prospect which the fine arts and polite literature open to his view. Thus, the foaming torrent subsiding, a tranquiake reflects the image of philosophy, politeness, and elegance; thus the Athenian genius, nursed and gradually matured amid the dangers of civil contention, attained, after the Peloponnesian war, the splendour of meridian glot from which it was destined to fall under the victorious arms of the king of Macedon, on the plains of Chæronea; when the shock that destroyed the liberties of Greece convulsed the throne of Darius, and, vibrating through the remote regions of Asia, announced the progress of Philip's warlike son. The fire which was almost extinguished in VOL. IV. Greece was lighted up in Rome, at a period the most favourable to the exertions of the mind; not when the Romans were a severe and purely a warlike people, nor when they had fallen from their glory, and were enervated by false refinements; but when they mixed the love of elegance with the cares of government, and indulged, in the midst of war and faction, an inclination to study. These were the causes that conducted the genius of Rome to the splendour and refinement which marked the age of Augustus; whose inordinate ambition and cautious temper led him to destroy the essence and preserve the shadow of freedom; to smoothe the pillow of expiring liberty, rather than, rudely, hurry on her death; and thus to lay the foundation of that debasement, which, operating through successive ages, at length rendered the Roman people an easy prey to the deluge of barbarism; which, in destroying their empire and defacing their character, had well nigh swept away the monuments of their former genius. How much the rivalship, the jealousy, and even the antipathy, of nations, contribute to the advancement of literature and philosophy, may be farther illustrated by observing the ardour with which they were embraced and cultivated by the turbulent states of Italy; when the followers of Mahomet urged the final flight of the muses from their favourite residence; and let it ever be remembered, with gratitude, that Greece, with her schools and libraries, was not overwhelmed, before Europe had escaped from the deluge of barbarism; and that the seeds of science were not scattered by the wind, before the Italian soil was prepared for their reception. No. CLXXII. - Mores hominum. The manners of men. THE structure of the human body has been accurately described: its functions have been explained, and the mutual dependencies of its parts have been illustrated by the anatomist and the naturalist; they have been able to explore the causes of the feebleness of childhood, of the blooming honours of youth, of the strength of maturer years, and of the mournful debility of age: but the philosopher and metaphysician have encountered more difficulty in applying themselves to the study of the mind; the delicacy of its nature, the secresy of its principles, the wonderful extent and variety of its powers, have often eluded research, and excited astonishment. The subject, however, being the most interesting that can attract the investigation of man; it has, in all cultivated ages, occupied much of his attention; and a conscious pride must be felt in acknowledging, that there are a few, to whom the high honour belongs, of having, in some degree, laid open the philosophy |