138

OPERATIONS IN THE MINES.

CHAP. IV.

stances scarcely if at all less distressing to themthan those inflicted by the slavery derived frompiracy. The condition of such persons wouldresemble in some measure that of the agricul-tural villains under the feudal system of a suc-ceeding period, or that of the serfs of the crownin the Russian empire. This too appears tohave been the manner in which the mines inMacedonia were worked when that country wasconquered by the Romans ; for we learn fromLivy \ that after their general, Paulus fEmilius,had obtained possession of the province, he re-leased the peasants from the obligations theywere previously under of labouring in the minesat the command of the farmer of the finances.

The working of mines either by serfs or byslaves could neither be the most appropriatenor the most beneficial mode of operating. Bythe first method a great degree of oppressionmust be practised, and by the latter a great ex-pense in purchasing slaves must be incurred,and by both only so much labour, and of theworst kind, would be performed as could beextorted by terror.

The Romans, where they gained a province,wished speedily to simplify, or, to use a modernphrase, to centralise their administration ; andhence were induced to let the mines to farm,

Livy, lib. xlv. cap. 18.