and the detached neighbouring ftates could no longer withstand a government rendered much more formidable by being more confolidated. The clofe connexion, which fubfifts between the civil and military departments, ftrongly marked the character of the Roman people. In the enrolment of the Cenfus, a plebeian was reckoned as a foot foldier, a knight as a horfeman, and a legion as a detachment of the whole community. The firft officers of the ftate were understood to command the armies of the republic by virtue of their civil magiftracy. No citizen could afpire to any high offices, before he had performed military fervice for a certain term of years; and even in the extraordinary commiffions, which were occafionally given, civil and military rank were never disjoined. The education of a foldier was the first step to all the honours of the ftate; and the fame perfonal qualities, which were neceffary for the General, were neceffary for the Pretor or the Conful. However difficult it may appear to blend in due proportions the characters of the foldier and the citizen; yet it is evident, that in Rome the union was really effected, and became productive of the boldeft determinations in the fenate, and the moft invincible fpirit in the field. In the tranfactions of affairs with foreign ftates, the policy of the Romans was as refined, as their conduct in the field was heroic. That this policy was the refult of regular and fyftematic principles, appears from the purfuit of the fame measures in the early, as well as in the advanced ftate of the republic. Whenever occupied by an important war, the Romans diffembled injuries received from other ftates, till a convenient time of retaliation. As they did not always make peace with fincerity, their treaties were fometimes no more than fhort fufpenfions of hoftility: and they took care to introduce into them fuch conditions as ultimately proved detrimental, and even deftructive to their enemies. When they had conquered a powerful prince, they infifted upon his not making war upon his neighbours, under pretence of their alliance with themselves; and, by this prohibition, they in effect deprived him of the exercife of his military power. Whenever two nations were at war, although not always authorized by any alliance to interfere, they efpoufed the caufe of the weaker party. They never commenced hoftilities in a diftant country, without procuring fome ally near the enemy, whom they intended to attack. This measure contributed greatly to their fuccefs in their wars with Carthage. The title of ally, indeed, was fometimes no more than a fplendid and fpecious name, under which they availed themfelves of the ftrength and refources of other nations. So firm was their adherence to their fundamental maxim, "to fpare the vanquished, and fubdue the proud," that they were not to be moved by any reverfes of fortune, however difDd aftrous, VOL. I. aftrous, to folicit peace". They looked with calmnefs upon the advances even of a victorious enemy; and, in the midst of defeats, difplayed the dignity and firmnefs of their genuine character. They were cautious not to impose their laws upon conquered nations, as fuch conduct muft unavoidably have produced confederacies and infurrections on the contrary, actuated by a spirit of judicious toleration, they left to them the undifturbed exercise of their religion and laws; and only enforced fuch general principles of fubordination, as corrected their natural ferocity of difpofition, inclined them to adopt the arts and cuftoms of their conquerors, and induced them to regard the Romans, rather as their benefactors, than their mafters". In the vaft compafs of their dominions, from the Euphrates to the Atlantic Ocean, and from the Danube to the deferts of Lybia, was felt the in Hæ tibi erunt artes, pacifque imponere morem, Virgil. Æn. VI. Tacitus has informed us of the methods adopted by the po litic Agricola, to foften the rugged manners of the Britons, and make them patient of the Roman yoke. "Jam vero princi- pum filios liberalibus artibus erudire-inde etiam habitûs noftri honor, et frequens toga; paulatimque difceffum ad delini, menta vitiorum, porticus et balnea, et conviviorum elegantiam: idque apud imperitos humanitas vocabatur, cum pars fervitutis effet." Taciti Vita Agric. p. 426. Ed. Græv. The laft words of the sentence disclose to us the refined policy of the Romans. fluence fluence of their laws. Colonies were planted, municipal towns were honoured with the privileges of Roman citizens, federal states enjoying their own cuftoms and laws were civilized, and the most useful public edifices, fuch as bridges, aqueducts, and temples, adorned the different provinces. The wars, which had defolated neighbouring countries with inceffant fury, were terminated by their fuperior influence; and their tributaries, united like the branches of one family, enjoyed a degree of intercourfe and peace before unknown to the world. Their political conduct was frequently di rected by juftice, generofity, and honour; and these virtues, fupported by the extent of their dominion, and the terror of their arms, diffufed a blaze of glory round the Roman name, which dazzled the eyes of all nations. In the year of Rome 556, when the Greeks were met to celebrate the Ifthmian games at Corinth, a herald advanced into the middle of the amphitheatre, and having commanded filence by found of trumpet, he proclaimed that the Roman Senate and Titus Quinctius the general, having conquered Philip, King of Macedon, reftored liberty and the free exercise of their own laws, to all the provinces of Greece. So tranfported were the affembled multitudes with this unexpected declaration, that they could fcarcely credit the teftimony of their fenfes; and fo completely did joy poffefs their minds at the news of this aufpicious event, that they could not fix the leaft attention Dd 2 upon upon the performance of the games. A foon as they were concluded, the crowds haftened to exprefs their gratitude to the Roman general. "How happy, exclaimed they, in this tranfport of exultation, is it for the world, that there fhould exist a people who glory in expending their treasures, and enduring the hardships of war to procure the liberty of others. This people do not confine their generous exertions to the neighbouring ftates, but even traverse the ocean to repel injuftice, and establish Religion and Law. Oppreffed as we were by the yoke of a foreign tyrant, we now regain our ancient independence by the proclamation of a Roman herald. The hope of fuch happiness could only be the refult of an afpiring mindto realize fuch an expectation requires the fingular favour of the Gods, and the greatest generofity of Men "." - The deftination of the Romans to war was the firft principle of their original inftitutions; it was cultivated by their kings, and invariably purfued throughout every age of the commonwealth. It arofe indeed from the nature of their fituation. The fubjects of Romulus made themfelves obnoxious to the neighbouring ftates by the frequency of their predatory excurfions. As fuch conduct fubjected them not only to juft retaliation, but to the fevereft infliction of revenge, the wars, which the Romans at first began for the P Livy, lib. 33. c. 32, &c. fake |