Note:ThisisprovedbyapassageofPlinytheElder，wherehespeaksofacertainkindofgrapevitispicata。vinumpicatumwhichgrowsnaturallytothedistrictofVienne，andhadrecentlybeentransplantedintothecountryoftheArverni，Auvergne，oftheHelvii，theVivarias。andtheBurgundyandFrancheCompte。PlinywroteA。D。77。Hist。Nat。xiv。1。—W。]
[Footnote98:Plin。Hist。Natur。l。xv。]
[Footnote99:Plin。Hist。Natur。l。xix。]
[Footnote100:SeetheagreeableEssaysonAgriculturebyMr。
Harte，inwhichhehascollectedallthattheancientsandmodernshavesaidofLucerne。]
Agricultureisthefoundationofmanufactures；sincetheproductionsofnaturearethematerialsofart。UndertheRomanempire，thelaborofanindustriousandingeniouspeoplewasvariously，butincessantly，employedintheserviceoftherich。
Intheirdress，theirtable，theirhouses，andtheirfurniture，thefavoritesoffortuneunitedeveryrefinementofconveniency，ofelegance，andofsplendor，whatevercouldsoothetheirprideorgratifytheirsensuality。Suchrefinements，undertheodiousnameofluxury，havebeenseverelyarraignedbythemoralistsofeveryage；anditmightperhapsbemoreconducivetothevirtue，aswellashappiness，ofmankind，ifallpossessedthenecessaries，andnonethesuperfluities，oflife。Butinthepresentimperfectconditionofsociety，luxury，thoughitmayproceedfromviceorfolly，seemstobetheonlymeansthatcancorrecttheunequaldistributionofproperty。Thediligentmechanic，andtheskilfulartist，whohaveobtainednoshareinthedivisionoftheearth，receiveavoluntarytaxfromthepossessorsofland；andthelatterareprompted，byasenseofinterest，toimprovethoseestates，withwhoseproducetheymaypurchaseadditionalpleasures。Thisoperation，theparticulareffectsofwhicharefeltineverysociety，actedwithmuchmorediffusiveenergyintheRomanworld。Theprovinceswouldsoonhavebeenexhaustedoftheirwealth，ifthemanufacturesandcommerceofluxuryhadnotinsensiblyrestoredtotheindustrioussubjectsthesumswhichwereexactedfromthembythearmsandauthorityofRome。Aslongasthecirculationwasconfinedwithintheboundsoftheempire，itimpressedthepoliticalmachinewithanewdegreeofactivity，anditsconsequences，sometimesbeneficial，couldneverbecomepernicious。
Butitisnoeasytasktoconfineluxurywithinthelimitsofanempire。ThemostremotecountriesoftheancientworldwereransackedtosupplythepompanddelicacyofRome。TheforestsofScythiaaffordedsomevaluablefurs。AmberwasbroughtoverlandfromtheshoresoftheBaltictotheDanube；andthebarbarianswereastonishedatthepricewhichtheyreceivedinexchangeforsouselessacommodity。^101TherewasaconsiderabledemandforBabyloniancarpets，andothermanufacturesoftheEast；butthemostimportantandunpopularbranchofforeigntradewascarriedonwithArabiaandIndia。
Everyyear，aboutthetimeofthesummersolstice，afleetofahundredandtwentyvesselssailedfromMyos—hormos，aportofEgypt，ontheRedSea。Bytheperiodicalassistanceofthemonsoons，theytraversedtheoceaninaboutfortydays。ThecoastofMalabar，ortheislandofCeylon，^102wastheusualtermoftheirnavigation，anditwasinthosemarketsthatthemerchantsfromthemoreremotecountriesofAsiaexpectedtheirarrival。ThereturnofthefleetofEgyptwasfixedtothemonthsofDecemberorJanuary；andassoonastheirrichcargohadbeentransportedonthebacksofcamels，fromtheRedSeatotheNile，andhaddescendedthatriverasfarasAlexandria，itwaspoured，withoutdelay，intothecapitaloftheempire。^103Theobjectsoforientaltrafficweresplendidandtrifling；silk，apoundofwhichwasesteemednotinferiorinvaluetoapoundofgold；^104
preciousstones，amongwhichthepearlclaimedthefirstrankafterthediamond；^105andavarietyofaromatics，thatwereconsumedinreligiousworshipandthepompoffunerals。Thelaborandriskofthevoyagewasrewardedwithalmostincredibleprofit；buttheprofitwasmadeuponRomansubjects，andafewindividualswereenrichedattheexpenseofthepublic。AsthenativesofArabiaandIndiawerecontentedwiththeproductionsandmanufacturesoftheirowncountry，silver，onthesideoftheRomans，wastheprincipal，ifnottheonlyinstrumentofcommerce。Itwasacomplaintworthyofthegravityofthesenate，that，inthepurchaseoffemaleornaments，thewealthofthestatewasirrecoverablygivenawaytoforeignandhostilenations。^106Theannuallossiscomputed，byawriterofaninquisitivebutcensorioustemper，atupwardsofeighthundredthousandpoundssterling。^107Suchwasthestyleofdiscontent，broodingoverthedarkprospectofapproachingpoverty。Andyet，ifwecomparetheproportionbetweengoldandsilver，asitstoodinthetimeofPliny，andasitwasfixedinthereignofConstantine，weshalldiscoverwithinthatperiodaveryconsiderableincrease。^108Thereisnottheleastreasontosupposethatgoldwasbecomemorescarce；itisthereforeevidentthatsilverwasgrownmorecommon；thatwhatevermightbetheamountoftheIndianandArabianexports，theywerefarfromexhaustingthewealthoftheRomanworld；andthattheproduceoftheminesabundantlysuppliedthedemandsofcommerce。
[Footnote101:Tacit。Germania，c。45。Plin。Hist。Nat。xxxvii。
13。Thelatterobserved，withsomehumor，thatevenfashionhadnotyetfoundouttheuseofamber。NerosentaRomanknighttopurchasegreatquantitiesonthespotwhereitwasproduced，thecoastofmodernPrussia。]
[Footnote102:CalledTaprobanabytheRomans，andSerindibbytheArabs。ItwasdiscoveredunderthereignofClaudius，andgraduallybecametheprincipalmartoftheEast。]
[Footnote103:Plin。Hist。Natur。l。vi。Strabo，l。xvii。]
[Footnote104:Hist。August。p。224。Asilkgarmentwasconsideredasanornamenttoawoman，butasadisgracetoaman。]
[Footnote105:Thetwogreatpearlfisherieswerethesameasatpresent，OrmuzandCapeComorin。Aswellaswecancompareancientwithmoderngeography，RomewassuppliedwithdiamondsfromthemineofJumelpur，inBengal，whichisdescribedintheVoyagesdeTavernier，tom。ii。p。281。]
[Footnote*:Certainlynottheonlyone。TheIndianswerenotsocontentedwithregardtoforeignproductions。ArrianhasalonglistofEuropeanwares，whichtheyreceivedinexchangefortheirown；Italianandotherwines，brass，tin，lead，coral，chrysolith，storax，glass，dressesofoneormanycolors，zones，&c。SeePeriplusMarisErythraeiinHudson，Geogr。Min。i。p。
27。—W。TheGermantranslatorobservesthatGibbonhasconfinedtheuseofaromaticstoreligiousworshipandfunerals。Hiserrorseemstheomissionofotherspices，ofwhichtheRomansmusthaveconsumedgreatquantitiesintheircookery。Wenck，however，admitsthatsilverwasthechiefarticleofexchange。—
M。
In1787，apeasantnearNelloreintheCarnaticstruck，indigging，ontheremainsofaHindutemple；hefound，also，apotwhichcontainedRomancoinsandmedalsofthesecondcentury，mostlyTrajans，Adrians，andFaustinas，allofgold，manyofthemfreshandbeautiful，othersdefacedorperforated，asiftheyhadbeenwornasornaments。AsiaticResearches，ii。19。—M。]
[Footnote106:Tacit。Annal。iii。53。InaspeechofTiberius。]
[Footnote107:Plin。Hist。Natur。xii。18。Inanotherplacehecomputeshalfthatsum；QuingentiesH。S。forIndiaexclusiveofArabia。]
[Footnote108:Theproportion，whichwas1to10，and121/2，roseto142/5，thelegalregulationofConstantine。SeeArbuthnot'sTablesofancientCoins，c。5。]
Notwithstandingthepropensityofmankindtoexaltthepast，andtodepreciatethepresent，thetranquilandprosperousstateoftheempirewaswarmlyfelt，andhonestlyconfessed，bytheprovincialsaswellasRomans。"Theyacknowledgedthatthetrueprinciplesofsociallife，laws，agriculture，andscience，whichhadbeenfirstinventedbythewisdomofAthens，werenowfirmlyestablishedbythepowerofRome，underwhoseauspiciousinfluencethefiercestbarbarianswereunitedbyanequalgovernmentandcommonlanguage。Theyaffirm，thatwiththeimprovementofarts，thehumanspecieswerevisiblymultiplied。
Theycelebratetheincreasingsplendorofthecities，thebeautifulfaceofthecountry，cultivatedandadornedlikeanimmensegarden；andthelongfestivalofpeacewhichwasenjoyedbysomanynations，forgetfuloftheancientanimosities，anddeliveredfromtheapprehensionoffuturedanger。"^109Whateversuspicionsmaybesuggestedbytheairofrhetoricanddeclamation，whichseemstoprevailinthesepassages，thesubstanceofthemisperfectlyagreeabletohistorictruth。
[Footnote109:Amongmanyotherpassages，seePliny，Hist。
Natur。iii。5。Aristides，deUrbeRoma，andTertullian，deAnima，c。30。]
Itwasscarcelypossiblethattheeyesofcontemporariesshoulddiscoverinthepublicfelicitythelatentcausesofdecayandcorruption。Thislongpeace，andtheuniformgovernmentoftheRomans，introducedaslowandsecretpoisonintothevitalsoftheempire。Themindsofmenweregraduallyreducedtothesamelevel，thefireofgeniuswasextinguished，andeventhemilitaryspiritevaporated。ThenativesofEuropewerebraveandrobust。Spain，Gaul，Britain，andIllyricumsuppliedthelegionswithexcellentsoldiers，andconstitutedtherealstrengthofthemonarchy。Theirpersonalvalorremained，buttheynolongerpossessedthatpubliccouragewhichisnourishedbytheloveofindependence，thesenseofnationalhonor，thepresenceofdanger，andthehabitofcommand。Theyreceivedlawsandgovernorsfromthewilloftheirsovereign，andtrustedfortheirdefencetoamercenaryarmy。Theposterityoftheirboldestleaderswascontentedwiththerankofcitizensandsubjects。
Themostaspiringspiritsresortedtothecourtorstandardoftheemperors；andthedesertedprovinces，deprivedofpoliticalstrengthorunion，insensiblysunkintothelanguidindifferenceofprivatelife。
Theloveofletters，almostinseparablefrompeaceandrefinement，wasfashionableamongthesubjectsofHadrianandtheAntonines，whowerethemselvesmenoflearningandcuriosity。Itwasdiffusedoverthewholeextentoftheirempire；themostnortherntribesofBritonshadacquiredatasteforrhetoric；
HomeraswellasVirgilweretranscribedandstudiedonthebanksoftheRhineandDanube；andthemostliberalrewardssoughtoutthefaintestglimmeringsofliterarymerit。^110ThesciencesofphysicandastronomyweresuccessfullycultivatedbytheGreeks；
theobservationsofPtolemyandthewritingsofGalenarestudiedbythosewhohaveimprovedtheirdiscoveriesandcorrectedtheirerrors；butifweexcepttheinimitableLucian，thisageofindolencepassedawaywithouthavingproducedasinglewriteroforiginalgenius，orwhoexcelledintheartsofelegantcomposition。^!TheauthorityofPlatoandAristotle，ofZenoandEpicurus，stillreignedintheschools；andtheirsystems，transmittedwithblinddeferencefromonegenerationofdisciplestoanother，precludedeverygenerousattempttoexercisethepowers，orenlargethelimits，ofthehumanmind。Thebeautiesofthepoetsandorators，insteadofkindlingafireliketheirown，inspiredonlycoldandservilemitations:orifanyventuredtodeviatefromthosemodels，theydeviatedatthesametimefromgoodsenseandpropriety。Ontherevivalofletters，theyouthfulvigoroftheimagination，afteralongrepose，nationalemulation，anewreligion，newlanguages，andanewworld，calledforththegeniusofEurope。ButtheprovincialsofRome，trainedbyauniformartificialforeigneducation，wereengagedinaveryunequalcompetitionwiththoseboldancients，who，byexpressingtheirgenuinefeelingsintheirnativetongue，hadalreadyoccupiedeveryplaceofhonor。ThenameofPoetwasalmostforgotten；thatofOratorwasusurpedbythesophists。Acloudofcritics，ofcompilers，ofcommentators，darkenedthefaceoflearning，andthedeclineofgeniuswassoonfollowedbythecorruptionoftaste。
[Footnote110:HerodesAtticusgavethesophistPolemoaboveeightthousandpoundsforthreedeclamations。SeePhilostrat。l。
i。p。538。TheAntoninesfoundedaschoolatAthens，inwhichprofessorsofgrammar，rhetoric，politics，andthefourgreatsectsofphilosophyweremaintainedatthepublicexpensefortheinstructionofyouth。Thesalaryofaphilosopherwastenthousanddrachmae，betweenthreeandfourhundredpoundsayear。
Similarestablishmentswereformedintheothergreatcitiesoftheempire。SeeLucianinEunuch。tom。ii。p。352，edit。Reitz。
Philostrat。l。ii。p。566。Hist。August。p。21。DionCassius，l。lxxi。p。1195。Juvenalhimself，inamorosesatire，whichineverylinebetrayshisowndisappointmentandenvy，isobliged，however，tosay，—
"—OJuvenes，circumspicitetstimulatvos。
MateriamquesibiDucisindulgentiaquaerit。"—Satir。vii。
20。
Note:Vespasianfirstgaveasalarytoprofessors:heassignedtoeachprofessorofrhetoric，GreekandRoman，centenasestertia。Sueton。inVesp。18。HadrianandtheAntonines，thoughstillliberal，werelessprofuse。—G。fromW。SuetoniuswroteannuacentenaL。807，5，10。—M。]
[Footnote!:Thisjudgmentisrathersevere:besidesthephysicians，astronomers，andgrammarians，amongwhomthereweresomeverydistinguishedmen，therewerestill，underHadrian，Suetonius，Florus，Plutarch；undertheAntonines，Arrian，Pausanias，Appian，MarcusAureliushimself，SextusEmpiricus，&c。
JurisprudencegainedmuchbythelaborsofSalviusJulianus，JuliusCelsus，Sex。Pomponius，Caius，andothers。—G。fromW。
Yetwhere，amongthese，isthewriteroforiginalgenius，unless，perhapsPlutarch?orevenofastylereallyelegant?—M。]
ThesublimeLonginus，who，insomewhatalaterperiod，andinthecourtofaSyrianqueen，preservedthespiritofancientAthens，observesandlamentsthisdegeneracyofhiscontemporaries，whichdebasedtheirsentiments，enervatedtheircourage，anddepressedtheirtalents。"Inthesamemanner，"sayshe，"assomechildrenalwaysremainpygmies，whoseinfantlimbshavebeentoocloselyconfined，thusourtenderminds，fetteredbytheprejudicesandhabitsofajustservitude，areunabletoexpandthemselves，ortoattainthatwell—proportionedgreatnesswhichweadmireintheancients；who，livingunderapopulargovernment，wrotewiththesamefreedomastheyacted。"^111Thisdiminutivestatureofmankind，ifwepursuethemetaphor，wasdailysinkingbelowtheoldstandard，andtheRomanworldwasindeedpeopledbyaraceofpygmies；whenthefiercegiantsofthenorthbrokein，andmendedthepunybreed。Theyrestoredamanlyspiritoffreedom；andaftertherevolutionoftencenturies，freedombecamethehappyparentoftasteandscience。
[Footnote111:Longin。deSublim。c。44，p。229，edit。Toll。
Here，too，wemaysayofLonginus，"hisownexamplestrengthensallhislaws。"Insteadofproposinghissentimentswithamanlyboldness，heinsinuatesthemwiththemostguardedcaution；putsthemintothemouthofafriend，andasfaraswecancollectfromacorruptedtext，makesashowofrefutingthemhimself。]
ChapterIII:TheConstitutionInTheAgeOfTheAntonines。
PartI。
OfTheConstitutionOfTheRomanEmpire，InTheAgeOfTheAntonines。
Theobviousdefinitionofamonarchyseemstobethatofastate，inwhichasingleperson，bywhatsoevernamehemaybedistinguished，isintrustedwiththeexecutionofthelaws，themanagementoftherevenue，andthecommandofthearmy。But，unlesspubliclibertyisprotectedbyintrepidandvigilantguardians，theauthorityofsoformidableamagistratewillsoondegenerateintodespotism。Theinfluenceoftheclergy，inanageofsuperstition，mightbeusefullyemployedtoasserttherightsofmankind；butsointimateistheconnectionbetweenthethroneandthealtar，thatthebannerofthechurchhasveryseldombeenseenonthesideofthepeople。Amartialnobilityandstubborncommons，possessedofarms，tenaciousofproperty，andcollectedintoconstitutionalassemblies，formtheonlybalancecapableofpreservingafreeconstitutionagainstenterprisesofanaspiringprince。
[Footnote*:Oftenenoughintheagesofsuperstition，butnotintheinterestofthepeopleorthestate，butinthatofthechurchtowhichallothersweresubordinate。Yetthepowerofthepopehasoftenbeenofgreatserviceinrepressingtheexcessesofsovereigns，andinsofteningmanners。—W。ThehistoryoftheItalianrepublicsprovestheerrorofGibbon，andthejusticeofhisGermantranslator'scomment。—M。]
EverybarrieroftheRomanconstitutionhadbeenlevelledbythevastambitionofthedictator；everyfencehadbeenextirpatedbythecruelhandofthetriumvir。AfterthevictoryofActium，thefateoftheRomanworlddependedonthewillofOctavianus，surnamedCaesar，byhisuncle'sadoption，andafterwardsAugustus，bytheflatteryofthesenate。Theconquerorwasattheheadofforty—fourveteranlegions，^1
consciousoftheirownstrength，andoftheweaknessoftheconstitution，habituated，duringtwentyyears'civilwar，toeveryactofbloodandviolence，andpassionatelydevotedtothehouseofCaesar，fromwhencealonetheyhadreceived，andexpectedthemostlavishrewards。Theprovinces，longoppressedbytheministersoftherepublic，sighedforthegovernmentofasingleperson，whowouldbethemaster，nottheaccomplice，ofthosepettytyrants。ThepeopleofRome，viewing，withasecretpleasure，thehumiliationofthearistocracy，demandedonlybreadandpublicshows；andweresuppliedwithbothbytheliberalhandofAugustus。TherichandpoliteItalians，whohadalmostuniversallyembracedthephilosophyofEpicurus，enjoyedthepresentblessingsofeaseandtranquillity，andsufferednotthepleasingdreamtobeinterruptedbythememoryoftheiroldtumultuousfreedom。Withitspower，thesenatehadlostitsdignity；manyofthemostnoblefamilieswereextinct。Therepublicansofspiritandabilityhadperishedinthefieldofbattle，orintheproscription。Thedooroftheassemblyhadbeendesignedlyleftopen，foramixedmultitudeofmorethanathousandpersons，whoreflecteddisgraceupontheirrank，insteadofderivinghonorfromit。^2
[Footnote1:Orosius，vi。18。
Note:Dionsaystwenty—five，orthree，lv。23。Theunitedtriumvirshadbutforty—three。Appian。Bell。Civ。iv。
3。ThetestimonyofOrosiusisoflittlevaluewhenmorecertainmaybehad。—W。Butallthelegions，doubtless，submittedtoAugustusafterthebattleofActium。—M。]
[Footnote2:JuliusCaesarintroducedsoldiers，strangers，andhalf—barbariansintothesenateSueton。inCaesar。c。77，80。
Theabusebecamestillmorescandalousafterhisdeath。]
ThereformationofthesenatewasoneofthefirststepsinwhichAugustuslaidasidethetyrant，andprofessedhimselfthefatherofhiscountry。Hewaselectedcensor；and，inconcertwithhisfaithfulAgrippa，heexaminedthelistofthesenators，expelledafewmembers，whosevicesorwhoseobstinacyrequiredapublicexample，persuadedneartwohundredtopreventtheshameofanexpulsionbyavoluntaryretreat，raisedthequalificationofasenatortoabouttenthousandpounds，createdasufficientnumberofpatricianfamilies，andacceptedforhimselfthehonorabletitleofPrinceoftheSenate，^!whichhadalwaysbeenbestowed，bythecensors，onthecitizenthemosteminentforhishonorsandservices。^3Butwhilsthethusrestoredthedignity，hedestroyedtheindependence，ofthesenate。Theprinciplesofafreeconstitutionareirrecoverablylost，whenthelegislativepowerisnominatedbytheexecutive。
[Footnote*:OftheseDionandSuetoniusknewnothing。—W。Dionsaysthecontrary。—M。]
[Footnote!:ButAugustus，thenOctavius，wascensor，andinvirtueofthatoffice，evenaccordingtotheconstitutionofthefreerepublic，couldreformthesenate，expelunworthymembers，namethePrincepsSenatus，&c。Thatwascalled，asiswellknown，Senatumlegere。Itwascustomary，duringthefreerepublic，forthecensortobenamedPrincepsSenatus，S。Liv。l。xxvii。c。
11，l。xl。c。51；andDionexpresslysays，thatthiswasdoneaccordingtoancientusage。Hewasempoweredbyadecreeofthesenatetoadmitanumberoffamiliesamongthepatricians。
Finally，thesenatewasnotthelegislativepower。—W]
[Footnote3:DionCassius，l。liii。p。693。SuetoniusinAugust。