cities around the Mediterranean: they likewise established colonies in Spain, and along the northern and western coasts of Africa.

11. Their ships also made pretty long voyages; some of them going into the Atlantic Ocean, and visiting the western coasts of Africa. It has even been conjectured that some of their adventurous seamen crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and discovered America, but this is at best a very doubtful matter.

12. It is certain, however, that Carthage was at one time a great and flourishing city, and that the whole country around it became populous. Such was its power, that it was the rival of Rome, and long maintained a conflict with its haughty competitor: it was at length overthrown, 146 years before Christ, having existed seven hundred and twenty-three years.

13. The Barbary States, Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, are of modern origin. The countries where these are situated were, as I have before told you, inhabited in the time of the Romans, and appear to have been very populous. They all became subject to Rome, and experienced many changes, till they were overrun by the

Saracens.

14. In after times, they became subject to the Turks, but for several hundred years they have enjoyed independence, with a nominal allegiance to the sultan of Turkey. But even this dependence has now ceased, and Algiers, at the present time, is possessed by France.

ago?

QUESTIONS. 2. What of the world about six thousand years At the present time ?- -3. How many people have probably existed since the creation of the world ?- -4. By whom and when was the empire of Assyria founded? What of it? Its duration?

-9.

-5. What of the empire of Persia ?6. Empire of the Saracens ? -7. What of China?- -8. What of the Jewish nation ?What of Egypt?- -10. When was Carthage founded ?- -11. Their ships? Seamen ?- -12. When was Carthage overthrown? How long had it existed?-13. What of the Barbary States ?14. What of Algiers?

CHAPTER CLXXIV. REVIEW continued. Duration of the Empires of Europe.

1. LET us now turn our attention to Europe. It is supposed that the Celts passed from Asia into Europe at a very early period. Whether they entered the southeastern corner between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, or whether they crossed the Ural Mountains to the north of the Caspian Sea, I cannot tell.

2. It has been conjectured that some few scattered tribes may have migrated, even into the central parts of Europe, as early as 2000 years before Christ: but this is hardly probable. It appears certain, however, that they were numerous in Germany, France, the northern part of Italy, and in Britain, several hundred years before the Christian era.

3. Whatever may have been the period at which the Celts first migrated into Europe, it is generally admitted that the earliest permanent settlement in this quarter of the globe was made by a Phoenician colony in Greece, 1856 years before Christ; this colony was led by Inachus.

4. But it was not till three hundred years after, that Athens was founded by Cecrops, who came thither, bringing with him a number of settlers, from Egypt. This is considered as the foundation of the Grecian states, and the proper point at which Grecian history begins.

5. The independence of ancient Greece was terminated by the Roman conquest, 146 years before Christ; a period of one thousand seven hundred and ten years from the first settlement by Inachus, and one thousand four hundred and ten years from the founding of Athens by Cecrops.

6. Rome was founded 753 years before Christ, and its power continued to increase, until the whole civilized world bowed beneath its yoke. Its form of government was often changed, being at first a kingdom, then a republic,

and lastly an empire. The city of Rome was taken by Odoacer, 476 years after Christ, and a period was thus put to its dominion. The whole duration of the Roman empire was one thousand two hundred and twenty-nine years.

7. The Greek empire, whose capital was Byzantium, afterwards called Constantinople, was originally a portion of the Roman empire, and was usually called the Eastern empire. Constantine removed to Constantinople in the year 329 after Christ, but the division was made by Theodosius, in 395, at which point the Greek empire began.

8. It experienced various vicissitudes, but continued till 1453, when Constantinople was taken by the Turks, and a period was put to the Greek empire, after it had existed one thousand and fifty-eight years.

9. The history of the Turks commences at the point where that of the Saracens ends. Under the name of Tartars, they overturned the Saracen empire, in the year 1258. They adopted the Mohammedan religion, and have ever since maintained it, and they extended their dominion over those countries which the Saracens had conquered, and some others.

10. Another race of Turks, called Ottomans, from Othman, their leader, entered Europe about the year 1299. Othman the First began his reign in 1268, and founded the Ottoman empire, which exists at the present day. The duration of the Ottoman empire, properly so called, from its establishment by Othman the First, to 1837, is five hundred and thirty-eight years. From the taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, that city has been the capital of the Ottoman empire.

11. The French monarchy began with Childeric, who became king in 458. His son Clovis was the first Christian king: he drove the Romans out of France, and for this reason, the French kingdom is often reckoned as commencing in his reign, about the year 487, at which time he succeeded his father Childeric. The duration of the

French monarchy, therefore, from the year 487 to 1837, is one thousand three hundred and fifty years; and it is the oldest existing kingdom in Europe.

12. The English monarchy is considered as beginning with Egbert, who was the first Saxon king of all England, and came to the throne in the year 827. From this period to 1837, is a space of one thousand and ten years. Next to France, this is the oldest monarchy in Europe.

13. The other kingdoms of Europe are of more recent origin. The Moors established themselves in Spain in 712, and were finally expelled in 1492, having held dominion in that country seven hundred and eighty years. For a long time the Moorish sovereigns held possession of threefourths of Spain; but other portions remained independent, and existed under the title of kingdoms. One of these was Asturias, which was founded by Pelagio, and his successors founded the kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Arragon, and others.

14. Ferdinand, King of Arragon, came to the throne in 1479; he married Isabella, Queen of Castile, and their two kingdoms were thus united. From this period, the several portions of Spain were gradually combined into one government: we may, therefore, consider the commencement of the reign of Ferdinand as the proper point at which the Spanish monarchy begins; and from this period to the year 1837, is three hundred and fifty-eight

years.

15. The kingdom of Portugal was founded in the year 1146, but in 1580 it was seized by Philip the Second of Spain; it became independent again in 1640. From this time to 1837, is a space of one hundred and ninety-seven years.

16. Charlemagne was king of France, but he conquered the greater part of Germany, and fixed his residence there in the year 802; but in 912, Conrad, Duke of Franconia, was elected emperor; and this is the point from which the

origin of the German empire is usually dated. It continued till the year 1806; a period of eight hundred and ninetyfour years.

17. Austria, as I have told you, was originally one of the German states, and was called an archduchy. In 1273, Rodolph of Hapsburgh became the archduke, and was elected Emperor of Germany. From this period, Austria has steadily increased in strength, and we may properly consider it as the point at which its power was established. From this date till 1837, is a space of five hundred and sixty-four years.

18. The kingdom of Prussia was founded in 1701, and has gradually increased in wealth and power from a very small beginning, till it is now the fifth state in Europe.

19. Poland, having been an archduchy for many years, was formed into a kingdom in 999, under Boleslaus. In 1795, it was seized by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, and was thus blotted out from the list of independent nations, after a duration of seven hundred and ninety-six years.

20. Russia, anciently called Scythia, was overrun by Scandinavian tribes in the ninth century, who obtained a permanent dominion in the country. It was for a long time the scene of bloodshed and turmoil, and at length was subjected by the Tartars, in 1237, who maintained their sway for two hundred and twenty-five years; it was delivered from this galling yoke by John Basilowitz the First, in 1462, and its independence was thus established. From this date till 1837, is a space of three hundred and seventyfive years.

21. The kingdom of Sweden is of considerable antiquity. About the year 481, the rulers, who were called judges, assumed the title of kings, and their descendants continued to reign till 1068; but Sweden at this time was of small extent, the people extremely barbarous, and the government unsettled. In the year 994, the king, Olaf, was converted to Christianity, and formed the country into a