THE ROMANS.

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one in the place where Agricola had formerly chap.established his garrisons : Severus , who made an l-expedition into Britain, and carried his arms tothe most northern extremity of it, added newfortifications to the wall of Adrian ; and duringthe reigns of all the Roman emperors , such aprofound tranquillity prevailed in Britain , thatlittle mention is made of the a stairs of that islandby any historian. The only incidents , whichoccur, are some seditions or rebellions of theRoman legions quartered there, and some usurp-ations of the Imperial dignity by the Romangovernors. The natives , disarmed , dispirited ,and submissive, had lost all desire and even ideaof their former liberty and independence.

But the period was now come, when thatenormous fabric of the Roman empire, whichhad diffused slavery and oppression , together withpeace and civility , over so considerable a partof the globe, was approaching towards its finaldissolution. Italy, and the center of the empire,removed, during so many ages, from all concernin the wars, had entirely lost the military spirit,and were peopled by an enervated race, equallydisposed to submit to a foreign yoke , or to thetyranny of their own rulers. The emperors foundthemselves obliged to recruit their legions fromthe frontier provinces, where the genius of war, .though languishing, was not totally extimst; andthese mercenary forces, careless of laws and civilinstitutions , established a military government,no less dangerous to the sovereign than to the

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