"_Romulus_ the Son of _Apulius_, as some say, tho' according to others the Son of _Mars_ by one of the Vestal Virgins, built the City of _Rome_, and reign'd there 37 Years; after him reigned six Kings successively (their Names are of no Consequence) but the Wickedness of the last King put an end to the regal State, and introduced the Consular, which we may say lasted about the Space of 427 Years, tho' it was retrenched in Power by the Tribunes of the People, and had many Intermissions by the Creation of Dictators, the Decemviri, and the military Tribuns; during all this time, sometimes there was War, sometimes there was Peace, foreign Wars in abundance, great Civil Wars, not a few Contentions for Power amongst all Degrees of Men, vast Conquests, great Extent or Empire, till at last, in the famous Plains of _Pharsalia_, was fought a decisive Battel for the Empire, between two ambitious Men, namely, _Caesar_ and _Pompey_; the latter fled, and was treacherously slain on the _Egyptian_ Shore, whilst the former remain'd Master of the Field, and almost of the Universe." Here Mr. _Johnson_ changed the Tone of his Voice, and said, "I will pursue this no farther, for to the Death of _Pompey_ makes twenty Volumes in the History wrote by the Fathers _Catrou_ and _Rouille_, which is generally allowed to be a very good one, and, I think, one of its chief Beauties depends on the Length; for to that we owe the displaying so many various Characters, and the diving into the Motives of those great Mens Actions, who guided that extensive, powerful, I had almost said unmanagable Common-wealth. Mr. _Singleton_ laugh'd, and said, "He was surprised to hear a Man of Mr. _Johnson's_ Understanding display so much Eloquence to prove, (if he intended to prove any thing by it) that the knowing the Particulars of the Family at _Harlow-place_ was of as much Consequence, as the knowing the Springs and Wheels on which turned the Affairs of the greatest Commonwealth that was ever heard of since the Creation of the World. "Indeed, Sir, replied the Lady of the House, (who has bred up three Sons and three Daughters, who do Honour to her Education of them) I really think the penetrating into the Motives that actuate the Persons in a private Family, of much more general use to be known, than those concerning the Management of any Kingdom or Empire whatsoever: The latter, Princes, Governors, and Politicians only can be the better for, whilst every Parent, every Child, every Sister, and every Brother, are concerned in the former, and may take example by such who are in the same Situation with themselves. Mr. _Clark_ said, "that he believed the whole Account of the Mind of Man, were we only to mention the primary Passions, might be comprised in a few Words; but (continued he) from those Fountains to trace the several Channels into which they flow, and to get a Clue to guide us through all the winding Labyrinths into which they turn themselves, is no such easy Matter; that