which was about fix feet, terminated by a triangular point of fteel of eighteen inches; the fword was fhort and doubleedged, fuited alike to cut or thruft; and the folder in action was wifely inftructed to prefer the latter use of it. The legion was drawn up eight deep; and the regular distance of three feet was left between the files and ranks.

The cavalry, without which this body would have been. imperfect, was divided into ten fquadrons; the first confifted of a hundred and thirty-two men, the other nine only of fixtyfix the whole amounted to feven hundred and twenty-fix.

The camp of a Roman legion was alike celebrated for its perfect regularity, as the foldiers were for the exactness of their difcipline. Its form was a quadrangle; and a fquare of about feven hundred yards, we may calculate, was fufficient fpace for the encampment of twenty thousand men. The prætorium or General's tent, in the middle, rofe above the reft; diftinct and different quarters were occupied by the cavalry, infantry, and auxiliaries. The streets were broad, and between the tents and furrounding rampart was left a vacancy of two hundred feet: the height of the rampart was generally twelve feet, defended by a ditch of the fame depth and breadth, and further fecured by a ftrong line of palifades. The legions, early inured to labour, were accustomed to fortify their camp with their own hands, and were taught to confider the ufe of the pick-axe and fpade equally neceflary with the javelin or fword. When the fignal of departure was given by found of trumpet, the foldiers fell filently into their ranks, without delay or confufion. To the weight of their arms, were added kitchen furniture, the inftruments of fortification, and provifion for feveral days; yet, beneath this accumulated burthen, they were trained to march ufually twenty miles within fix hours. On the appearance of an enemy, they difencumbered themfelves of their baggage, and readily ranged themselves in order of battle: the flingers and archers in the van, the military engines in the rear; the auxiliaries formed the first line, the legions the fecond, and the cavalry covered the flanks.

The navy of Rome would have appeared in the eye of modern Europe, far inadequate to her greatnefs, and unworthy of her Empire. But the ambition of the Romans was confined to the land; nor did they poffefs that enterprizing fpirit of navigation, so neceffary to the establishment of a maritime power. In the Punic wars a naval force had been formed

with

with difficulty, and was at laft crowned with fuccefs; and the imprudence of Antony rifked his fame and fortune on the engagement at Actium. Yet the Romans never could be induced to confider the fea as their proper department; and though their dominion over it was extenfive and undisputed, they ftill continued to regard the ocean as an object rather of terror than curiofity. The policy of their Emperors extended no farther than to fecure the peaceful navigation of it; and content with protecting the neceffary commerce of their fubjects, they cautiously refrained from exploring the remote coafts of the unfrequented main.

CHAP. XLII.

Rome under the Emperors, Tiberius and Galigula-Degeneracy and Luxury of the Romans.-Appius the Epicure. The Spintria.Caligula's Treatment of his Horfe.-Claudius. -Nero.-Galba.Otho.-Vitellius-Conqueft of Britain. -Patus and Arria.-Meffalina.-Seneca.-Perfecution of the Chriftians.

FRO

ROM the death of Auguftus to the reign of Vefpafian, the annals of Rome are ftained with cruelty and blood; and hiftory tranfmits a race of monsters which difgrace humanity. Authors have mentioned this fact, without attempting to affign the caufe. If we confider the character of the Roman people, and the ftate in which the firft Emperors found themselves on their acceffion to the throne, we will discover reasons that gave rife to this excefs of cruelty and tyranny. In defpotic governments, which have been long eftablished, the fubjects are difpofed to obey, as much as the monarch to command. But the defcendants of the people who had given the law to Kings, and difpofed of kingdoms, were not prepared for flavery. Their early education; the hiftory of their country; the books which they read; the characters which they admired; all tended to infpire them with the admiration of patriotism, and the love of liberty *. Even the Emperor Antonius ranks Brutus among the models of perfect virtue.

Such being the fpirit of the Romans, the fituation of the Emperors, who were originally on a level with the people, tended to precipitate them into crimes. The forms of a

2

* Logan.

long

eftablished

eftablished monarchy command veneration as well as obedience; and hereditary fucceffion removes the idea of competitors for the crown. But the Roman Emperors, having no rights but what they had ufurped, faw a rival in every wealthy Patrician; and, depending on the army, foreboded a fucceffor whenever a General was victorious. Hence the affaffination of the moft illuftrious citizens.

Auguftus was fucceeded by Tiberius his fonin-law, whofe tyranny became infupportable, and he was affaffinated in the 23d year of his reign.

A. D. 14.

The Romans were, at this time, arrived at the highest pitch of effeminacy and vice. The wealth of almost every nation of the empire, having for fome time, circulated thro' the city, brought with it the luxuries peculiar to each country; fo that Rome prefented a deteftable picture of various pollution.

In this reign lived Appicius, fo well known for having reduced gluttony into a fyftem. Some of the notorious in this way, thought it no fhame to give near an hundred pounds for a fingle fifh, and exhauft a fortune of fifty thoufand pounds in one entertainment. Diffipation of every other kind kept pace with this; while the deteftable folly of the times thought it was refining upon pleasure to make it unnatural.

There were at Rome men called Spintria, whofe fole bufinefs it was, to ftudy new modes of pleasure; and these were univerfally favourites of the great.

The people had, for fome years, been accustomed to live in idlenefs, upon the donations of the Emperor; and, being fatisfied with fubfiftence, entirely gave up their freedom. "After the death of Auguftus," fays a celebrated historian, "the Roman people ran headlong into flavery."

In the eighteenth year of this monarch's reign, our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST fuffered death on the crofs. Soon after his death, Pilate wrote to Tiberius an account of his paffion, refurrection, and miracles; upon which the Emperor made a report of the whole to the fenate, defiring that Chrift might be accounted a God by the Romans. But the fenate being difpleafed that the propofal had not come firft from themfelves, refufed to admit of his apotheofts; alledging an ancient law, which gave them the fuperintendance in all matters of religion. They even went fo far as, by an edict, to command, that all Chriftians fhould leave the city. But Tiberius, by another edict, threatened death to all fuch as fhould accufe them; by which means, they continued unmolested during the rest of his reign. VOL. I.

Caius

A. D. 38.

Caius Caligula, the fucceffor of Tiberius, exceeded his predeceffor in all manner of diffipation and profligacy; but in martial affairs he was much his inferior. He is famous, however, for a mock expedition that he made against the Germans. After arriving at that part of the low countries oppofite to Britain, he received into his protection a fugitive prince of that ifland, and fent pompous letters to the fenate, giving an account of the happy conqueft of the whole kingdom. Some time after, making the foldiers fill their helmets with pebbles and cocklefhells, which he called the fpoils of the ocean, he returned to the city to demand a triumph; and, when that honour was denied him by the senate, he fell into the most extravagant cruelties. He was fo far from entertaining any defire to benefit the public, that he often complained of his ill fortune, because no fignal calamity happened in his time; and made it his conftant wifh, that either the utter destruction of an army, or fome plague, famine, earthquake, or other extraordinary defolation might continue the memory of his reign to fucceeding ages. He had another more comprehenfive wish, that all the Romans had but one neck, that he might ftrike it off at one blow, His common phrase was, "Let them hate me, "fo they fear me."

The luxuries of former princes were fimplicity itself, when compared to those which Caligula practifed. He contrived new ways of bathing, where the richeft oils and most precious perfumes were exhaufted with the utmoft profufion. He found out dishes of immenfe value, and had even jewels, as we are told, diffolved among his fauces. He fometimes had fervices of pure gold prefented before his guests inftead of meat, obferving, "That a man fhould be an economist or an "Emperor."

The expenfive manner in which he maintained his horfe will give fome idea of his domestic economy. He built it a ftable of marble, and a manger of ivory. Whenever this animal, which he called Incitatus, was to run, he placed fentinels near its ftable, the night preceding, to prevent its flumbers from being broken. He appointed it an house, furniture, and a kitchen, in order to treat all its vifitors with proper refpect. The Emperor fometimes invited Incitatus to his own table, prefented it with gilt oats, and wine in a golden cup. He often fwore by the fafety of his horse; and it is faid he would have appointed it to the confulfhip, had he not been prevented by death.

His behaviour compelled his fubjects to cut him off, for the fecurity of their own perfons, after a fhort reign of three years, ten months, and eight days. "Nature feemed to have

"brought

"brought him forth," fays a philofophic writer, "to fhow "what was poffible to be produced, from the greatest vice "fupported by the greatest authority *."

As foon as the death of Caligula was made public, it produced the greatest confufion in all parts of the city. The confpirators, who only aimed at deftroying a tyrant, without attending to a fucceffor had all fought fafety by retiring to private places.

The fenate affembled, in the capitol, to debate about extinguishing the name and family of the Cæfars, and restoring the commonwealth to the old constitution. But one of the foldiers, who were employed to ranfack the palace, lighting accidentally upon Claudius, uncle to the late Emperor, who had hid himself in a corner behind the hangings, pulled him out to the rest of his gang, and recommended him as the fittest perfon in the world to be Emperor. All were much pleased at the motion; and taking him along with them by force, they lodged him among the guards. But, as they could not agree among themselves, and the multitude cried out for one governor, they were at laft obliged to confirm the election of the foldiers. To this they were the lefs averfe,

because they had pitched upon fuch an eafy A. D. 42. prince, as would be wholly at their command and difpofal.

The conqueft of Britain was the most remarkable act of his time, owing partly to an expedition which he made in perfon; but chiefly to the valour of his officers.

The Britons, under their king Caractacus, were the most formidable opponents the Roman generals had ever yet encountered. This brave barbarian not only made a gallant defence, but often feemed to claim a doubtful victory. Having removed the feat of war into the most inacceffible parts of the country, he kept the Romans in continual alarm, for nine years. The Britons, however, being at laft entirely routed, the wife and daughter of Caractacus were taken prifoners; and he seeking refuge from Cartifmandua, queen of the Brigantes, was treacheroully delivered up to the conquerors. When he was brought to Rome, nothing could exceed the curiofity of the people to behold a man who had, for fo many years, braved the power of the empire. On his part, he teftified no marks of bafe dejection; but, as he was led through the streets, happening to obferve the fplendour of every object around him; "Alas," cried he, "how is it poffible, "that people poffeffed of fuch magnificence at home, could "think of envying Caractacus an humble cottage in Britain!" When he was brought before the Emperor, while the other