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thousand wild beasts； which were all killed in the arena。 The Romans were undoubtedly a barbarous people； who delighted in horrible spectacles。 They viewed with pleasure the dead bodies of criminals dragged through the streets； or thrown down the Scalae Gemoniae and Tarpeian rock； for their contemplation。 Their rostra were generally adorned with the heads of some remarkable citizens； like Temple…Bar； at London。 They even bore the sight of Tully's head fixed upon that very rostrum where he had so often ravished their ears with all the charms of eloquence； in pleading the cause of innocence and public virtue。 They took delight in seeing their fellow…creatures torn in pieces by wild beasts； in the amphitheatre。 They shouted with applause when they saw a poor dwarf or slave killed by his adversary； but their transports were altogether extravagant； when the devoted captives were obliged to fight in troops； till one side was entirely butchered by the other。 Nero produced four hundred senators； and six hundred of the equestrian order； as gladiators in the public arena： even the women fought with wild beasts； as well as with each other； and drenched the amphitheatres with their blood。 Tacitus says； 〃Sed faeminarum illustrium； senatorumque filiorum plures per arenam faedati sunt；〃 〃But many sons of Senators； and even Matrons of the first Rank； exposed themselves in this vile exercise。〃 The execrable custom of sacrificing captives or slaves at the tombs of their masters and great men； which is still preserved among the negroes of Africa； obtained also among the antients； Greeks as well as Romans。 I could never； without horror and indignation； read that passage in the twenty…third book of the Iliad； which describes twelve valiant Trojan captives sacrificed by the inhuman Achilles at the tomb of his friend Patroclus。
Dodeka men Troon megathumon uias eathlous Tous ama pantas pur eathiei。
Twelve generous Trojans slaughtered in their Bloom； With thy lov'd Corse the Fire shall now consume。
Even Virgil makes his pious Hero sacrifice eight Italian youths to the manes of Pallas。 It is not at all clear to me； that a people is the more brave； the more they are accustomed to bloodshed in their public entertainments。 True bravery is not savage but humane。 Some of this sanguinary spirit is inherited by the inhabitants of a certain island that shall be namelessbut； mum for that。 You will naturally suppose that the Coliseo was ruined by the barbarians who sacked the city of Rome： in effect； they robbed it of its ornaments and valuable materials； but it was reserved for the Goths and Vandals of modern Rome； to dismantle the edifice； and reduce it to its present ruinous condition。 One part of it was demolished by pope Paul II。 that he might employ the stones of it in building the palace of St。 Mark。 It was afterwards dilapidated for the same purposes； by the cardinals Riarius and Farnese； which last assumed the tiara under the name of Paul III。 Notwithstanding these injuries； there is enough standing to convey a very sublime idea of ancient magnificence。
The Circi and Naumachia； if considered as buildings and artificial basins； are admirable； but if examined as areae intended for horse and chariot races； and artificial seas for exhibiting naval engagements； they seem to prove that the antient Romans were but indifferently skilled and exercised either in horsemanship or naval armaments。 The inclosure of the emperor Caracalla's circus is still standing； and scarce affords breathing room for an English hunter。 The Circus Maximus； by far the largest in Rome； was not so long as the Mall； and I will venture to affirm； that St。 James's Park would make a much more ample and convenient scene for those diversions。 I imagine an old Roman would be very much surprised to see an English race on the course at New…Market。 The Circus Maximus was but three hundred yards in breadth。 A good part of this was taken up by the spina； or middle space； adorned with temples； statues； and two great obelisks； as well as by the euripus； or canal； made by order of Julius Caesar； to contain crocodiles； and other aquatic animals； which were killed occasionally。 This was so large； that Heliogabalus； having filled it with excellent wine； exhibited naval engagements in it； for the amusement of the people。 It surrounded three sides of the square； so that the whole extent of the race did not much exceed an English mile； and when Probus was at the expence of filling the plain of it with fir…trees to form a wood for the chace of wild beasts； I question much if this forest was more extensive than the plantation in St。 James's Park； on the south side of the canal： now I leave you to judge what ridicule a king of England would incur by converting this part of the park into a chace for any species of animals which are counted game in our country。
The Roman emperors seemed more disposed to elevate and surprize； than to conduct the public diversions according to the rules of reason and propriety。 One would imagine； it was with this view they instituted their naumachia； or naval engagements； performed by half a dozen small gallies of a side in an artificial basin of fresh water。 These gallies I suppose were not so large as common fishing…smacks； for they were moved by two； three； and four oars of a side according to their different rates； biremes； triremes； and quadriremes。 I know this is a knotty point not yet determined； and that some antiquarians believe the Roman gallies had different tires or decks of oars； but this is a notion very ill supported； and quite contrary to all the figures of them that are preserved on antient coins and medals。 Suetonius in the reign of Domitian； speaking of these naumachia； says； 〃Edidit navales pugnas； pene justarum classium； effosso； et circumducto juxta Tyberim lacu； atque inter maximas imbres prospectavit；〃 〃He exhibited naval engagements of almost intire fleets； in an artificial Lake formed for the purpose hard by the Tyber； and viewed them in the midst of excessive Rains。〃 This artificial lake was not larger than the piece of water in Hyde…Park； and yet the historian says； it was almost large enough for real or intire fleets。 How would a British sailor relish an advertisement that a mock engagement between two squadrons of men of war would be exhibited on such a day in the Serpentine river？ or that the ships of the line taken from the enemy would be carried in procession from Hyde…Park…Corner to Tower…wharf？ Certain it is； Lucullus； in one of his triumphs； had one hundred and ten ships of war （naves longas） carried through the streets of Rome。 Nothing can give a more contemptible idea of their naval power； than this testimony of their historians； who declare that their seamen or mariners were formed by exercising small row…boats in an inclosed pool of fresh water。 Had they not the sea within a few miles of them； and the river Tyber running through their capital！ even this would have been much more proper for exercising their watermen； than a pond of still…water； not much larger than a cold…bath。 I do believe in my conscience that half a doz