BIOGRAPHIANA.

BRENNUS,

KING OF THE GAULS.

WHEN the Gauls, with Brennus at their head, took the city of Rome by ftorm, it was faved from pillage on the inhabitants promifing to pay to their conquerors fo many thoufand pounds weight of gold. Brennus fate in a chair of state in the Capitol, with a pair of scales in his hand to weigh the fum demanded. In the oppofite feale he put his fword and helmet, to make more gold neceffary to weigh it down; and when the Romans complained of this trick, he infolently and pointedly exclaimed, "Va Victis!* The conquerors always treat the

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* How completely, the French difdain even the least appearance of attention to common notions of justice and of equity, the following quotation from Citizen Genet's Declaration to the Americans, published in a pamphlet written by the intelligent and virtuous reprefentative of his country Mr. Harper, will forcibly evince: "I thank “God, I have long fince forgotten what is contained in

VOL. I.

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