Note:TheremarkablespeechofCassiusshowstheproudfeelingsoftheRomanaristocracyonthissubject。—M]
[Footnote60:ApuleiusinApolog。p。548。edit。Delphin]
[Footnote61:Plin。Hist。Natur。l。xxxiii。47。]
ThenumberofsubjectswhoacknowledgedthelawsofRome，ofcitizens，ofprovincials，andofslaves，cannotnowbefixedwithsuchadegreeofaccuracy，astheimportanceoftheobjectwoulddeserve。Weareinformed，thatwhentheEmperorClaudiusexercisedtheofficeofcensor，hetookanaccountofsixmillionsninehundredandforty—fivethousandRomancitizens，who，withtheproportionofwomenandchildren，musthaveamountedtoabouttwentymillionsofsouls。Themultitudeofsubjectsofaninferiorrankwasuncertainandfluctuating。But，afterweighingwithattentioneverycircumstancewhichcouldinfluencethebalance，itseemsprobablethatthereexisted，inthetimeofClaudius，abouttwiceasmanyprovincialsastherewerecitizens，ofeithersex，andofeveryage；andthattheslaveswereatleastequalinnumbertothefreeinhabitantsoftheRomanworld。Thetotalamountofthisimperfectcalculationwouldrisetoaboutonehundredandtwentymillionsofpersons；adegreeofpopulationwhichpossiblyexceedsthatofmodernEurope，^62andformsthemostnumeroussocietythathaseverbeenunitedunderthesamesystemofgovernment。
[Footnote*:AccordingtoRobertson，thereweretwiceasmanyslavesasfreecitizens。—G。Mr。Blairp。15estimatesthreeslavestoonefreeman，betweentheconquestofGreece，B。C。146，andthereignofAlexanderSeverus，A。D。222，235。TheproportionwasprobablylargerinItalythanintheprovinces。—
M。Ontheotherhand，Zumpt，inhisDissertationquotedbelow，p。86，assertsittobeagrosserrorinGibbontoreckonthenumberofslavesequaltothatofthefreepopulation。Theluxuryandmagnificenceofthegreat，heobserves，atthecommencementoftheempire，mustnotbetakenasthegroundworkofcalculationsforthewholeRomanworld。Theagriculturallaborer，andtheartisan，inSpain，Gaul，Britain，Syria，andEgypt，maintainedhimself，asinthepresentday，byhisownlaborandthatofhishousehold，withoutpossessingasingleslave。\"Thelatterpartofmynotewasintendedtosuggestthisconsideration。Yetsocompletelywasslaveryrootedinthesocialsystem，bothintheeastandthewest，thatinthegreatdiffusionofwealthatthistime，everyone，Idoubtnot，whocouldaffordadomesticslave，keptone；andgenerally，thenumberofslaveswasinproportiontothewealth。IdonotbelievethatthecultivationofthesoilbyslaveswasconfinedtoItaly；theholdersoflargeestatesintheprovinceswouldprobably，eitherfromchoiceornecessity，adoptthesamemodeofcultivation。Thelatifundia，saysPliny，hadruinedItaly，andhadbeguntoruintheprovinces。SlaveswerenodoubtemployedinagriculturallabortoagreatextentinSicily，andweretheestatesofthosesixenormouslandholderswhoweresaidtohavepossessedthewholeprovinceofAfrica，cultivatedaltogetherbyfreecoloni?Whatevermayhavebeenthecaseintheruraldistricts，inthetownsandcitiesthehouseholddutieswerealmostentirelydischargedbyslaves，andvastnumbersbelongedtothepublicestablishments。Idonot，however，differsofarfromZumpt，andfromM。DureaudelaMalle，astoadoptthehigherandbolderestimateofRobertsonandMr。Blair，ratherthanthemorecautioussuggestionsofGibbon。Iwouldreduceratherthanincreasetheproportionoftheslavepopulation。TheveryingeniousandelaboratecalculationsoftheFrenchwriter，bywhichhededucestheamountofthepopulationfromtheproduceandconsumptionofcorninItaly，appeartomeneitherprecisenorsatisfactorybasesforsuchcomplicatedpoliticalarithmetic。
IamleastsatisfiedwithhisviewsastothepopulationofthecityofRome；butthispointwillbemorefitlyreservedforanoteonthethirty—firstchapterofGibbon。Thework，however，ofM。DureaudelaMalleisverycuriousandfullonsomeoftheminuterpointsofRomanstatistics。—M。1845。]
[Footnote62:ComputetwentymillionsinFrance，twenty—twoinGermany，fourinHungary，teninItalywithitsislands，eightinGreatBritainandIreland，eightinSpainandPortugal，tenortwelveintheEuropeanRussia，sixinPoland，sixinGreeceandTurkey，fourinSweden，threeinDenmarkandNorway，fourintheLowCountries。Thewholewouldamounttoonehundredandfive，oronehundredandsevenmillions。SeeVoltaire，del\'HistoireGenerale。
Note:ThepresentpopulationofEuropeisestimatedat227，700，000。MaltsBran，Geogr。Transedit。1832SeedetailsinthedifferentvolumesAnotherauthority，AlmanachdeGotha，
quotedinarecentEnglishpublication，givesthefollowingdetails:—
France，32，897，521
Germany，includingHungary，PrussianandAustrianPoland，56，136，213
Italy，20，548，616
GreatBritainandIreland，24，062，947
SpainandPortugal，13，953，9593，144，000
Russia，includingPoland，44，220，600
Cracow，128，480
Turkey，includingPachalicofDschesair，
9，545，300
Greece，637，700
IonianIslands，208，100
SwedenandNorway，3，914，963
Denmark，2，012，998
Belgium，3，533，538
Holland，2，444，550
Switzerland，985，000
Total，219，344，116
SincethepublicationofmyfirstannotatededitionofGibbon，thesubjectofthepopulationoftheRomanempirehasbeeninvestigatedbytwowritersofgreatindustryandlearning；
Mons。DureaudelaMalle，inhisEconomiePolitiquedesRomains，liv。ii。c。1。to8，andM。Zumpt，inadissertationprintedintheTransactionsoftheBerlinAcademy，1840。M。DureaudelaMalleconfineshisinquiryalmostentirelytothecityofRome，andRomanItaly。Zumptexaminesatgreaterlengththeaxiom，whichhesupposestohavebeenassumedbyGibbonasunquestionable，\"thatItalyandtheRomanworldwasneversopopulousasinthetimeoftheAntonines。\"ThoughthisprobablywasGibbon\'sopinion，hehasnotstateditsoperemptorilyasassertedbyMr。Zumpt。IthadbeforebeenexpresslylaiddownbyHume，andhisstatementwascontrovertedbyWallaceandbyMalthus。Gibbonsaysp。84thatthereisnoreasontobelievethecountryofItalylesspopulousintheageoftheAntonines，thaninthatofRomulus；andZumptacknowledgesthatwehavenosatisfactoryknowledgeofthestateofItalyatthatearlyage。
Zumpt，inmyopinionwithsomereason，takestheperiodjustbeforethefirstPunicwar，asthatinwhichRomanItalyallsouthoftheRubiconwasmostpopulous。Fromthattime，thenumbersbegantodiminish，atfirstfromtheenormouswasteoflifeoutofthefreepopulationintheforeign，andafterwardsinthecivilwars；fromthecultivationofthesoilbyslaves；
towardsthecloseoftherepublic，fromtherepugnancetomarriage，whichresistedalikethedreadoflegalpunishmentandtheofferoflegalimmunityandprivilege；andfromthedepravityofmanners，whichinterferedwiththeprocreation，thebirth，andtherearingofchildren。TheargumentsandtheauthoritiesofZumptareequallyconclusiveastothedeclineofpopulationinGreece。Stillthedetails，whichhehimselfadducesastotheprosperityandpopulousnessofAsiaMinor，andthewholeoftheRomanEast，withtheadvancementoftheEuropeanprovinces，especiallyGaul，Spain，andBritain，incivilization，andthereforeinpopulousness，forIhavenoconfidenceinthevastnumberssometimesassignedtothebarbarousinhabitantsofthesecountries，may，Ithink，fairlycompensateforanydeductiontobemadefromGibbon\'sgeneralestimateonaccountofGreeceandItaly。Gibbonhimselfacknowledgeshisownestimatetobevagueandconjectural；andImayventuretorecommendthedissertationofZumptasdeservingrespectfulconsideration。—M1815。]
ChapterII:TheInternalProsperityInTheAgeOfTheAntonines。
PartIII。
DomesticpeaceandunionwerethenaturalconsequencesofthemoderateandcomprehensivepolicyembracedbytheRomans。IfweturnoureyestowardsthemonarchiesofAsia，weshallbeholddespotisminthecentre，andweaknessintheextremities；thecollectionoftherevenue，ortheadministrationofjustice，enforcedbythepresenceofanarmy；hostilebarbariansestablishedintheheartofthecountry，hereditarysatrapsusurpingthedominionoftheprovinces，andsubjectsinclinedtorebellion，thoughincapableoffreedom。ButtheobedienceoftheRomanworldwasuniform，voluntary，andpermanent。Thevanquishednations，blendedintoonegreatpeople，resignedthehope，nay，eventhewish，ofresumingtheirindependence，andscarcelyconsideredtheirownexistenceasdistinctfromtheexistenceofRome。Theestablishedauthorityoftheemperorspervadedwithoutaneffortthewideextentoftheirdominions，andwasexercisedwiththesamefacilityonthebanksoftheThames，oroftheNile，asonthoseoftheTyber。Thelegionsweredestinedtoserveagainstthepublicenemy，andthecivilmagistrateseldomrequiredtheaidofamilitaryforce。^63Inthisstateofgeneralsecurity，theleisure，aswellasopulence，bothoftheprinceandpeople，weredevotedtoimproveandtoadorntheRomanempire。
[Footnote63:Joseph。deBell。Judaico，l。ii。c。16。TheorationofAgrippa，orratherofthehistorian，isafinepictureoftheRomanempire。]
AmongtheinnumerablemonumentsofarchitectureconstructedbytheRomans，howmanyhaveescapedthenoticeofhistory，howfewhaveresistedtheravagesoftimeandbarbarism!Andyet，eventhemajesticruinsthatarestillscatteredoverItalyandtheprovinces，wouldbesufficienttoprovethatthosecountrieswereoncetheseatofapoliteandpowerfulempire。Theirgreatnessalone，ortheirbeauty，mightdeserveourattention:
buttheyarerenderedmoreinteresting，bytwoimportantcircumstances，whichconnecttheagreeablehistoryoftheartswiththemoreusefulhistoryofhumanmanners。Manyofthoseworkswereerectedatprivateexpense，andalmostallwereintendedforpublicbenefit。
Itisnaturaltosupposethatthegreatestnumber，aswellasthemostconsiderableoftheRomanedifices，wereraisedbytheemperors，whopossessedsounboundedacommandbothofmenandmoney。Augustuswasaccustomedtoboastthathehadfoundhiscapitalofbrick，andthathehadleftitofmarble。^64ThestricteconomyofVespasianwasthesourceofhismagnificence。
TheworksofTrajanbearthestampofhisgenius。ThepublicmonumentswithwhichHadrianadornedeveryprovinceoftheempire，wereexecutednotonlybyhisorders，butunderhisimmediateinspection。Hewashimselfanartist；andhelovedthearts，astheyconducedtothegloryofthemonarch。TheywereencouragedbytheAntonines，astheycontributedtothehappinessofthepeople。Butiftheemperorswerethefirst，theywerenottheonlyarchitectsoftheirdominions。Theirexamplewasuniversallyimitatedbytheirprincipalsubjects，whowerenotafraidofdeclaringtotheworldthattheyhadspirittoconceive，andwealthtoaccomplish，thenoblestundertakings。
ScarcelyhadtheproudstructureoftheColiseumbeendedicatedatRome，beforetheedifices，ofasmallerscaleindeed，butofthesamedesignandmaterials，wereerectedfortheuse，andattheexpense，ofthecitiesofCapuaandVerona。^65TheinscriptionofthestupendousbridgeofAlcantaraatteststhatitwasthrownovertheTagusbythecontributionofafewLusitaniancommunities。WhenPlinywasintrustedwiththegovernmentofBithyniaandPontus，provincesbynomeanstherichestormostconsiderableoftheempire，hefoundthecitieswithinhisjurisdictionstrivingwitheachotherineveryusefulandornamentalwork，thatmightdeservethecuriosityofstrangers，orthegratitudeoftheircitizens。Itwasthedutyoftheproconsultosupplytheirdeficiencies，todirecttheirtaste，andsometimestomoderatetheiremulation。^66TheopulentsenatorsofRomeandtheprovincesesteemeditanhonor，andalmostanobligation，toadornthesplendoroftheirageandcountry；andtheinfluenceoffashionveryfrequentlysuppliedthewantoftasteorgenerosity。Amongacrowdoftheseprivatebenefactors，wemayselectHerodesAtticus，anAtheniancitizen，wholivedintheageoftheAntonines。Whatevermightbethemotiveofhisconduct，hismagnificencewouldhavebeenworthyofthegreatestkings。
[Footnote64:Sueton。inAugust。c。28。AugustusbuiltinRomethetempleandforumofMarstheAvenger；thetempleofJupiterTonansintheCapitol；thatofApolloPalatine，withpubliclibraries；theporticoandbasilicaofCaiusandLucius；theporticosofLiviaandOctavia；andthetheatreofMarcellus。Theexampleofthesovereignwasimitatedbyhisministersandgenerals；andhisfriendAgrippaleftbehindhimtheimmortalmonumentofthePantheon。]
[SeeTheatreOfMarcellus:AugustusbuiltinRomethetheatreofMarcellus。]
[Footnote65:SeeMaffei，VeroniIllustrata，l。iv。p。68。]
[Footnote66:SeethexthbookofPliny\'sEpistles。Hementionsthefollowingworkscarriedonattheexpenseofthecities。AtNicomedia，anewforum，anaqueduct，andacanal，leftunfinishedbyaking；atNice，agymnasium，andatheatre，whichhadalreadycostnearninetythousandpounds；bathsatPrusaandClaudiopolis，andanaqueductofsixteenmilesinlengthfortheuseofSinope。]
ThefamilyofHerod，atleastafterithadbeenfavoredbyfortune，waslineallydescendedfromCimonandMiltiades，TheseusandCecrops，AeacusandJupiter。Buttheposterityofsomanygodsandheroeswasfallenintothemostabjectstate。Hisgrandfatherhadsufferedbythehandsofjustice，andJuliusAtticus，hisfather，musthaveendedhislifeinpovertyandcontempt，hadhenotdiscoveredanimmensetreasureburiedunderanoldhouse，thelastremainsofhispatrimony。Accordingtotherigorofthelaw，theemperormighthaveassertedhisclaim，andtheprudentAtticusprevented，byafrankconfession，theofficiousnessofinformers。ButtheequitableNerva，whothenfilledthethrone，refusedtoacceptanypartofit，andcommandedhimtouse，withoutscruple，thepresentoffortune。
ThecautiousAthenianstillinsisted，thatthetreasurewastooconsiderableforasubject，andthatheknewnothowtouseit。
Abuseitthen，repliedthemonarch，withagood—naturedpeevishness；foritisyourown。^67Manywillbeofopinion，thatAtticusliterallyobeyedtheemperor\'slastinstructions；
sinceheexpendedthegreatestpartofhisfortune，whichwasmuchincreasedbyanadvantageousmarriage，intheserviceofthepublic。HehadobtainedforhissonHerodtheprefectureofthefreecitiesofAsia；andtheyoungmagistrate，observingthatthetownofTroaswasindifferentlysuppliedwithwater，obtainedfromthemunificenceofHadrianthreehundredmyriadsofdrachms，aboutahundredthousandpounds，fortheconstructionofanewaqueduct。Butintheexecutionofthework，thechargeamountedtomorethandoubletheestimate，andtheofficersoftherevenuebegantomurmur，tillthegenerousAtticussilencedtheircomplaints，byrequestingthathemightbepermittedtotakeuponhimselfthewholeadditionalexpense。^68
[Footnote67:Hadrianafterwardsmadeaveryequitableregulation，whichdividedalltreasure—trovebetweentherightofpropertyandthatofdiscovery。Hist。August。p。9。]
[Footnote68:Philostrat。inVit。Sophist。l。ii。p。548。]
TheablestpreceptorsofGreeceandAsiahadbeeninvitedbyliberalrewardstodirecttheeducationofyoungHerod。Theirpupilsoonbecameacelebratedorator，accordingtotheuselessrhetoricofthatage，which，confiningitselftotheschools，disdainedtovisiteithertheForumortheSenate。
HewashonoredwiththeconsulshipatRome:butthegreatestpartofhislifewasspentinaphilosophicretirementatAthens，andhisadjacentvillas；perpetuallysurroundedbysophists，whoacknowledged，withoutreluctance，thesuperiorityofarichandgenerousrival。^69Themonumentsofhisgeniushaveperished；
someconsiderableruinsstillpreservethefameofhistasteandmunificence:moderntravellershavemeasuredtheremainsofthestadiumwhichheconstructedatAthens。Itwassixhundredfeetinlength，builtentirelyofwhitemarble，capableofadmittingthewholebodyofthepeople，andfinishedinfouryears，whilstHerodwaspresidentoftheAtheniangames。TothememoryofhiswifeRegillahededicatedatheatre，scarcelytobeparalleledintheempire:nowoodexceptcedar，verycuriouslycarved，wasemployedinanypartofthebuilding。TheOdeum，designedbyPericlesformusicalperformances，andtherehearsalofnewtragedies，hadbeenatrophyofthevictoryoftheartsoverbarbaricgreatness；asthetimbersemployedintheconstructionconsistedchieflyofthemastsofthePersianvessels。
NotwithstandingtherepairsbestowedonthatancientedificebyakingofCappadocia，itwasagainfallentodecay。Herodrestoreditsancientbeautyandmagnificence。NorwastheliberalityofthatillustriouscitizenconfinedtothewallsofAthens。ThemostsplendidornamentsbestowedonthetempleofNeptuneintheIsthmus，atheatreatCorinth，astadiumatDelphi，abathatThermopylae，andanaqueductatCanusiuminItaly，wereinsufficienttoexhausthistreasures。ThepeopleofEpirus，Thessaly，Euboea，Boeotia，andPeloponnesus，experiencedhisfavors；andmanyinscriptionsofthecitiesofGreeceandAsiagratefullystyleHerodesAtticustheirpatronandbenefactor。^70
[Footnote69:AulusGellius，inNoct。Attic。i。2，ix。2，xviii。
10，xix。12。Philostrat。p。564。]
[Footnote*:TheOdeumservedfortherehearsalofnewcomediesaswellastragedies；theywerereadorrepeated，beforerepresentation，withoutmusicordecorations，&c。Nopiececouldberepresentedinthetheatreifithadnotbeenpreviouslyapprovedbyjudgesforthispurpose。ThekingofCappadociawhorestoredtheOdeum，whichhadbeenburntbySylla，wasAraobarzanes。SeeMartini，DissertationontheOdeonsoftheAncients，Leipsic。1767，p。10—91。—W。]
[Footnote70:SeePhilostrat。l。ii。p。548，560。Pausanias，l。
i。andvii。10。ThelifeofHerodes，inthexxxthvolumeoftheMemoirsoftheAcademyofInscriptions。]
InthecommonwealthsofAthensandRome，themodestsimplicityofprivatehousesannouncedtheequalconditionoffreedom；whilstthesovereigntyofthepeoplewasrepresentedinthemajesticedificesdesignedtothepublicuse；^71norwasthisrepublicanspirittotallyextinguishedbytheintroductionofwealthandmonarchy。Itwasinworksofnationalhonorandbenefit，thatthemostvirtuousoftheemperorsaffectedtodisplaytheirmagnificence。ThegoldenpalaceofNeroexcitedajustindignation，butthevastextentofgroundwhichhadbeenusurpedbyhisselfishluxurywasmorenoblyfilledunderthesucceedingreignsbytheColiseum，thebathsofTitus，theClaudianportico，andthetemplesdedicatedtothegoddessofPeace，andtothegeniusofRome。^72Thesemonumentsofarchitecture，thepropertyoftheRomanpeople，wereadornedwiththemostbeautifulproductionsofGrecianpaintingandsculpture；
andinthetempleofPeace，averycuriouslibrarywasopentothecuriosityofthelearned。AtasmalldistancefromthencewassituatedtheForumofTrajan。Itwassurroundedbyaloftyportico，intheformofaquadrangle，intowhichfourtriumphalarchesopenedanobleandspaciousentrance:inthecentrearoseacolumnofmarble，whoseheight，ofonehundredandtenfeet，denotedtheelevationofthehillthathadbeencutaway。Thiscolumn，whichstillsubsistsinitsancientbeauty，exhibitedanexactrepresentationoftheDacianvictoriesofitsfounder。Theveteransoldiercontemplatedthestoryofhisowncampaigns，andbyaneasyillusionofnationalvanity，thepeacefulcitizenassociatedhimselftothehonorsofthetriumph。Alltheotherquartersofthecapital，andalltheprovincesoftheempire，wereembellishedbythesameliberalspiritofpublicmagnificence，andwerefilledwithamphitheatres，theatres，temples，porticoes，triumphalarches，bathsandaqueducts，allvariouslyconducivetothehealth，thedevotion，andthepleasuresofthemeanestcitizen。Thelastmentionedofthoseedificesdeserveourpeculiarattention。Theboldnessoftheenterprise，thesolidityoftheexecution，andtheusestowhichtheyweresubservient，ranktheaqueductsamongthenoblestmonumentsofRomangeniusandpower。Theaqueductsofthecapitalclaimajustpreeminence；butthecurioustraveller，who，withoutthelightofhistory，shouldexaminethoseofSpoleto，ofMetz，orofSegovia，wouldverynaturallyconcludethatthoseprovincialtownshadformerlybeentheresidenceofsomepotentmonarch。ThesolitudesofAsiaandAfricawereoncecoveredwithflourishingcities，whosepopulousness，andevenwhoseexistence，wasderivedfromsuchartificialsuppliesofaperennialstreamoffreshwater。^73