s
often been called in question by modern critics. The _Gallic War_, though
its publication was doubtless timed to impress on the mind of the Roman
people the great services rendered by Caesar to Rome, stands the test of
criticism as far as it is possible to apply it, and the accuracy of its
narrative has never been seriously shaken. The _Civil War_, especially in
its opening chapters is, however, not altogether free from traces of
misrepresentation. With respect to the first moves made in the struggle,
and the negotiations for peace at the outset of hostilities, Caesar's
account sometimes conflicts with the testimony of Cicero's correspondence
or implies movements which cannot be reconciled with geographical facts. We
have but few fragments of Caesar's other works, whether political pamphlets
such as the _Anticato_, grammatical treatises (_De Analogia_) or poems. All
authorities agree in describing him as a consummate orator. Cicero (_Brut.
22_) wrote: _de Caesare ita judico, illum omnium fere oratorum Latine loqui
elegantissime_, while Quintilian (x. i. 114) says that had he practised at
the bar he would have been the only serious rival of Cicero.

The verdict of historians on Caesar has always been coloured by their
political sympathies. All have recognised his commanding [Sidenote:
Character.] genius, and few have failed to do justice to his personal charm
and magnanimity, which almost won the heart of Cicero, who rarely appealed
in vain to his clemency. Indeed, he was singularly tolerant of all but
intellectual opposition. His private life was not free from scandal,
especially in his youth, but it is difficult to believe the worst of the
tales which were circulated by his opponents, _e.g._ as to his relations
with Nicomedes of Bithynia. As to his public character, however, no
agreement is possible between those who regard Caesarism as a great
political creation, and those who hold that Caesar by destroying liberty
lost a great opportunity and crushed the sense of dignity in mankind. The
latter view is unfortunately confirmed by the undoubted fact that Caesar
treated with scant respect the historical institutions of Rome, which with
their magnificent traditions might still have been the organs of true
political life. He increased the number of senators to 900 and introduced
provincials into that body; but instead of making it into a grand council
of the empire, representative of its various races and nationalities, he