this populous and fpacious city. To this feat of fupreme power ambaffadors were fent from the moft remote regions, to lay the diadems of Kings at the feet of the Emperor. From hence marched the proconfuls, lieutenants, and prætors, furrounded by numerous trains of attendants, and efcorted by cohorts of foot and fquadrons of horse, to take the command of their refpective provinces. They travelled over ftraight and fpacious roads, which interfected the empire in every direction, and which were fo folid and durable, as to remain in many places unimpaired by the ravages of time, after the lapfe of more than feventeen centuries. The ready communication between one province and another was equally fecured by fea and by land; and the fleets which anchored in the ports of Oftia, Ravenna and Mifenum, were prepared to carry the imperial arms to the moft diftant coafts. Upon the banks of great rivers, fuch as the Rhine, and the Danube, in the vicinity of populous cities, or on the frontiers of hoftile nations, were ftationed the camps of the legions. At the firft alarm of infurrection they were ready to take the field; no plot of the enemy could escape their vigilance, and no force was fufficient to repel their formidable onfet. Many of the temperate and fertile countries, which now compose the most powerful kingdoms of Europe, were enrolled in the register of tributary fiates. The imperial eagle ftretched her wings over the faireft portions of the ancient world. The empire was extended more than two thousand miles in breadth, from the wall of Anto ninus in Britain, and the northern limits of Dacia, to Mount Atlas in the weft of Africa, and reached in length more than three thoufand miles, from the Western Ocean to the Euphrates. It was fuppofed to contain above fixteen hundred thousand fquare miles of land, for the most part fertile and cultivated. In addition to Italy, it comprehended Gaul, Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, Portugal, Illyricum, Macedonia, Achaia, Cilicia, Pontus, Syria, Bithynia, Cyprus, Cyrenaica, Numidia and Mauritania. To thefe countries, which were acquired by the time Octavius had gained the battle of Actium, were afterwards added Rhætia, Noricum, Pannonia, Mæfia, Dacia, Britain, Egypt, Cappadocia, Galatia, Lycia, Comagene, Judea, Mefopotamia, Armenia, and Affyria. Most of thefe countries abounded with large and opulent cities, every one of which attefted the progrefs and influence of the arts, as well as the dominion of the Romans, by the grandeur and variety of its public works. The population of the empire was equal to its extent, as it was reputed to contain not lefs than one hundred and twenty millions of fubjects, a number far greater than was ever, either before or after that period, united under one Europeangovernment. If we confider the Modern World with reference to the Roman empire, even the dominions of the great Mogul, or the more extenfive territories or Sigonius de Antiquo Jure Provinciarum, p. 266. the Grand Signior, far as they are spread in Europe, Afia, and Africa, fink in comparifon with it. Ruffia in point of comparative population is a defert; and China, with its myriads of inhabitants, with refpect to martial energy, is a nation of effeminate flaves. Such is the fublime profpect of the metropolis, the naval and military force, and the extenfive and formidable fovereignty of ancient Rome in the meridian of her glory. A furvey fo remarkable for the variety and the fplendour of its objects, is the moft diftinguished, which hiftory prefented to us. It will appear the more extraordinary, if we contraft the empire fo extenfive and flourishing under Trajan, with its parent ftate, confifting of a fmall colony of thepherds and adventurers, originally planted by Romulus upon the banks of the Tiber, and forming one of the forty seven independent ftates of Latium, which altogether occupied a territory of fifty miles in length, and fixteen in breadth h By comparing the moft exalted state of Rome with its origin, we are naturally led to inquire into the causes of its grandeur. From confidering its fall from fuch an elevation of power, when the Imperial city was taken by the Goths, we are naturally led to inveftigate the caufes of its decline. h B. C. 753. Thefe These inquiries will form the fubjects of this and the following chapter. The leading caufes of the greatnefs of the Roman power were, I. The peculiar conftitution of the government. Thefe caufes operating upon the opinions and determining the conduct of a hardy, active, and courageous people, confpired to raise them to the fummit of empire. Rome is faid to have been founded by Romulus 752 years before Chrift. before Chrift. His fubjects compofed of fhepherds and adventurers, collected from the neighbouring country, were early difgraced by an act of violence: They peopled their new refidence by carrying off the wives and daughters of the Sabines. A reconciliation however took place, and was rendered more complete by Numa the fecond King, who was himself a Sabine. There were feven Kings of Rome, viz. Romulus, Numa, Tullius Hoftilius, Ancus Martius, Tarquinius Prifcus, Servius Tullius, and Tarquinius Superbus. The regal Government continued 244 years, which allows nearly 35 years to each reign, a long period, particularly when it be confidered that fome fome of the kings died by violent deaths, and one of them was depofed. If the Romans had tamely fubmitted to the tyranny of Tarquinius Superbus, their spirit would have been completely broken by continued fervility, and their city would have remained without diftinction among the fmall ftates of Latium. Tarquin courted the approbation of the lower orders of his fubjects, to deprefs by their means the power of the higher: but by his infolence and cruelty he firft expofed himfelf to the hatred, and afterwards to the indignation of all his fubjects. The rape of Lucretia by Sextus his fon brought his reign to a crifis. This beautiful lady, unable to furvive her dishonour, stabbed herfelf in the prefence of her husband Collatinus, and his relations. They roufed the vengeance of the people, Tarquin was expelled, and the regal government was abolished'. By this revolution a new fpring was given to the exertions of the Roman people, and they began to display fuch energy of character, as afterwards rendered them great, formidable, and illuftrious. They felt the neceffity of governors, laws, and difcipline, but of fuch governors, laws, and difcipline, as were favourable to the darling objects of their purfuits, the love of freedom, and the acquifition of power. i B. C. 509. The |