The Decline of the Roman Republic. By George Long. Vol.
V. (Bell And Sons.)—Mr. Long here concludes what, with all its faults, is a work of sterling value. The faults, indeed, are of form and manner, rather than of substance. It may even be said that one of the writer's chief excellencies does something to mar the literary effect of his work. A diligent collector of his materials, and scrupulously exact in his narra- tive, he is content to judge every personage and each action on his own and its own merits. Mommsen forms a brilliant conception of Cream, and works it out with a skill and power which,- whether we
accept this conception as true or no, have an undeniable attraction. Another writer will set himself the task of accusing, or possibly of apologising for Cicero, and a certain impression of unity is thus given to his book. Mr. Long tells the story as he finds it, and tells it with impartiality, as he tells it with a completeness and an accuracy which deserve the highest praise. His style wants strength and dignity, and his matter wants arrangement, but if one wants to learn what went on in thew latter days of the Republic, there is no surer or safer source. We do not see Caesar made into a demigod or Cicero into a helot, but we find a carefully-made digest of authorities, not without a shrewd and intelligent commentary.
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