Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1853. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... body of his heroic son, (Elector, ) we find the conduct of Achilles marked by a superior spirit .of generosity. Yet, in the very act of granting the pious request, he doubts if he is quite excusable to the soul of his departed f.iend, for remitting the extremity of vengeance which he had meditated, and restoring the corse to secure the rites of burial."* To ask them, whether men, with notions similar to these, had a right to kill or enslave the prisoners, would almost be like gravely inquiring into the right of tigers and lions to kill each other, and devour the weaker beasts of the forest. If we look to the republics of Greece and Rome, in the days of their glory and civilization, we shall find no one doubting the right to make slaves of those taken in war. "No legislator of antiquity," says Voltaire, "ever attempted to abrogate slavery; on the contrary, the people the most enthusiastic for liberty-- the Athenians, the Lacedemonians, the Romans, and the Carthagenians--were those who enacted the most severe laws against their serfs. Society was so accustomed to this degradation of the species, that Epictetus, who was assuredly worth more than his master, never expresses any surprise at his being a slave."f Julius Caesar has been reckoned one of the mildest and most clement military chieftains of antiquity, and yet there is very little doubt, that the principal object in the invasion of Britain, was to procure slaves for the Roman slave markets. When he left Britain, it became necessary to collect together a large fleet, for the purpose of transporting his captives across the channel. lie sometimes ordered the captive chiefs to be executed, and he butchered the whole of Cato's Senate, when he became master of Utiea. Paul us Emilius, acting under the special orders...
