TheKingoftheSacrificesrepresentedthepersonofNuma，andofhissuccessors，inthereligiousfunctions，whichcouldbeperformedonlybyroyalhands。TheconfraternitiesoftheSalians，theLupercals，&c。，practisedsuchritesasmightextortasmileofcontemptfromeveryreasonableman，withalivelyconfidenceofrecommendingthemselvestothefavoroftheimmortalgods。Theauthority，whichtheRomanpriestshadformerlyobtainedinthecounselsoftherepublic，wasgraduallyabolishedbytheestablishmentofmonarchy，andtheremovaloftheseatofempire。Butthedignityoftheirsacredcharacterwasstillprotectedbythelaws，andmannersoftheircountry；andtheystillcontinued，moreespeciallythecollegeofpontiffs，toexerciseinthecapital，andsometimesintheprovinces，therightsoftheirecclesiasticalandciviljurisdiction。Theirrobesofpurple，chariotzofstate，andsumptuousentertainments，attractedtheadmirationofthepeople；andtheyreceived，fromtheconsecratedlands，andthepublicrevenue，anamplestipend，whichliberallysupportedthesplendorofthepriesthood，andalltheexpensesofthereligiousworshipofthestate。Astheserviceofthealtarwasnotincompatiblewiththecommandofarmies，theRomans，aftertheirconsulshipsandtriumphs，aspiredtotheplaceofpontiff，orofaugur；theseatsofCicero^5andPompeywerefilled，inthefourthcentury，bythemostillustriousmembersofthesenate；andthedignityoftheirbirthreflectedadditionalsplendorontheirsacerdotalcharacter。Thefifteenpriests，whocomposedthecollegeofpontiffs，enjoyedamoredistinguishedrankasthecompanionsoftheirsovereign；andtheChristianemperorscondescendedtoaccepttherobeandensigns，whichwereappropriatedtotheofficeofsupremepontiff。ButwhenGratianascendedthethrone，morescrupulousormoreenlightened，hesternlyrejectedthoseprofanesymbols；^6appliedtotheserviceofthestate，orofthechurch，therevenuesofthepriestsandvestals；abolishedtheirhonorsandimmunities；anddissolvedtheancientfabricofRomansuperstition，whichwassupportedbytheopinionsandhabitsofelevenhundredyears。Paganismwasstilltheconstitutionalreligionofthesenate。Thehall，ortemple，inwhichtheyassembled，wasadornedbythestatueandaltarofVictory；^7amajesticfemalestandingonaglobe，withflowinggarments，expandedwings，andacrownoflaurelinheroutstretchedhand。^8Thesenatorswereswornonthealtarofthegoddesstoobservethelawsoftheemperorandoftheempire:andasolemnofferingofwineandincensewastheordinarypreludeoftheirpublicdeliberations。TheremovalofthisancientmonumentwastheonlyinjurywhichConstantiushadofferedtothesuperstitionoftheRomans。ThealtarofVictorywasagainrestoredbyJulian，toleratedbyValentinian，andoncemorebanishedfromthesenatebythezealofGratian。^10Buttheemperoryetsparedthestatuesofthegodswhichwereexposedtothepublicveneration:fourhundredandtwenty—fourtemples，orchapels，stillremainedtosatisfythedevotionofthepeople；

　　andineveryquarterofRomethedelicacyoftheChristianswasoffendedbythefumesofidolatroussacrifice。^11

　　[Footnote3:SeetheoutlinesoftheRomanhierarchyinCicero，deLegibus，ii。7，8，Livy，i。20，DionysiusHalicarnassensis，l。ii。p。119—129，edit。Hudson，Beaufort，RepubliqueRomaine，tom。i。p。1—90，andMoyle，vol。i。p。

　　10—55。ThelastistheworkofanEnglishwhig，aswellasofaRomanantiquary。]

　　[Footnote4:Thesemystic，andperhapsimaginary，symbolshavegivenbirthtovariousfablesandconjectures。Itseemsprobable，thatthePalladiumwasasmallstatuethreecubitsandahalfhighofMinerva，withalanceanddistaff；thatitwasusuallyenclosedinaseria，orbarrel；andthatasimilarbarrelwasplacedbyitssidetodisconcertcuriosity，orsacrilege。

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