OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

109

gard to civil objects, it was the supreme court chap.of appeal; with regard to criminal matters, atribunal, constituted for the trial of all offencesthat were committed by men in any public sta-tion, or that affected the peace and majesty ofthe Roman people. The exercise of the judi-cial power became the most frequent and seri-ous occupation of the senate; and the import-ant causes that were pleaded before them, af-forded a last refuge to the spirit of ancient elo-quence. As a council of state, and as a courtof justice, the senate possessed very consider-able prerogatives; but in its legislative capa-city, in which it was supposed virtually to re-present the people, the rights of sovereigntywere acknowledged to reside in that assembly.

Every power was derived from their authority,every law was ratified by their sanction. Theirregular meetings were held on three stated daysin every month, the calends, the nones, and theides. The debates were conducted with decentfreedom; and the emperors themselves, whogloried in the name of senators, sat, voted, anddivided with their equals.

To resume, in a few words, the system of the G( , noralimperial government, as it was instituted by ! dcaof l,| «

. r ••iii • i “upfUal

Augustus, and maintained by those princes who syst<™.understood their own interest and that of thepeople, it may be defined an absolute monarchydisguised by the forms of a commonwealth.

The masters of the Roman world surroundedtheir throne with darkness, concealed their irre-sistible strength, and humbly professed them-