QUINTUS, a celebrated Roman orator, the cotemporary of Cicero, pleaded with universal applause at 19 years of age, and continued the same profession during 48 years. But being at last eclipsed by Cicero, he quitted the bar, and embraced a military life: became a military tribune, praetor, Hortensius, and afterwards consul about 80 B. C. Cicero speaks of him in such a manner as makes us regret the loss of his orations. Hortensius had a wonderful memory, and delivered his orations without writing down a single word, or forgetting one particular that had been advanced by his adversaries. He died very rich, a little before the civil war, which he had endeavoured by all possible means to prevent.