of the Ordovices, who had recently manifested a hostile spirit. On these people he inflicted a severe and admonitory vengeance; and then proceeded to secure the victory formerly obtained by Suetonius in the Isle of Mona (Anglesey.) As he was not provided with barks, he selected the lighter divisions of the auxiliaries, and caused them to swim over the narrowest part of the Channel. The Britons, confounded by the unexpected boldness of this measure, surrendered the island without resist

ance.

In the months of deep winter which succeeded the above military operations, this able commander was still labouring at the aim of conquest, by endeavours to produce a sympathy of taste and habit between the tributary and their invaders. On the same system he acted, invariably, during the whole of his government; thus forming, by the introduction of Roman manners and arts, an epoch more important in the annals of the invasion, than any nominal extension of empire produced by the mere achievements of the sword.

In the ensuing campaign, A. D. 79, Agricola conducted the Roman arms northward, and reduced several British nations to obedience. The names of these tribes are not mentioned by Tacitus, the historian on whose authority this part of history depends; but it is observed by Mr. Whitaker, "that the only Britons who now remained unconquered by the Romans, within the present kingdom of England, were such of the Carnabii as inhabited Cheshire; the Sistuntii; the Volantii; and a part of the Gadeni and Ottadini, beyond both. These, therefore, the three first of these at least, were the nations which Agricola attacked in his second campaign, and the names of which his historian unaccountably suppresses."*-To secure these conquests, he built a number of fortresses, which are supposed to have stood on, or near, the tract where Hadrian's rampart, and the wall of Severus,

Hist. of Manchester, Vol. I. p. 40.

Severus, were afterwards erected; namely, from Solway Firth to the river Tyne.

Agricola made five other campaigns in Britain; but as these were directed against the Caledoniaus, an examination of them is not essential to the present work. It may, however, be observed that although he obtained several victories over that hardy people, he was unable to effect their entire conquest. For the security of such encroachments as he was enabled to make on their country, he advanced his line of fortifications still farther north, and formed a chain of forts across the narrow neck of land which separates the Firths of Forth and Clyde. In his two last Caledonian expeditions he was attended by his fleet, which now for the first time, sailed completely round Britain;-a voyage of discovery which, perhaps, produced as much subject of conversation and wonder, as the circumnavigation of the globe at a more recent period.

Agricola was recalled from Britain in the year 85. We have seen that he considerably extended the geographical bounds of the empire; and, by the mildness and wisdom of his government, he laid the foundation of a permanent obedience to the Roman sway in the south of Britain, now termed ENGLAND. From the time of his administration, is to be dated a great alteration in the manners of the inhabitants of this district. Roman learning, customs, and fashions met with favour among the conquered; and the adoption of these produced a sociability of intercourse, and a growing unity of interests. While Agricola held command in Britain, three successive emperors filled the throne of Rome; Vespasian; Titus; and Domitian. He was succeeded in the government of the British province by Sallustius Lucullus, of whom little is said, but that he invented a lance of a new form, and that he was put to death, by the tyrant Domitian, for bestowing on this weapon the name of the Lucullean Lance.

So imperfectly are the actions of the Romans in Britain recorded by their historians, that we are ignorant of the particular transactions which took place during the reign of the Emperor

Nerva, and that of his successor Trajan; and even of the names of the officers who were then appointed governors of this province. It is hinted, in general terms, by one writer of antiquity, that the Britons, during those reigns, bore the yoke with impatience; and, indeed, it can scarcely be supposed that they were yet sufficiently familiar with slavery to submit to the varying humours of fresh commanders, without partial opposition. But this spirit of repugnance was displayed with so little violence, that, under the direction of the Emperor Trajan, important steps were taken for the improvement of the internal polity of the country. This great emperor was ever intent on works of public benefit; and it is probable that several of the roads, which so materially conduced to the good order of the province, and which have left such impressive vestiges for the admiration of posterity, were formed during his reign.

Hadrian acceded to the imperial power, on the death of Trajan, in the year 117. Julius Severus was governor of Britain in the early part of his reign, and was succeeded by Priscus Licinius. This Emperor visited Britain in person, but not for the purpose of extending the limits of the province by force of arms. His chief view, in personally investigating this, in conjunction with other provinces of the empire, was such a careful examination into the state of civil and military affairs as might assist in preserving peace on a secure basis. In pursuit of this noble object, he caused a wall of earth to be raised, as an additional defence of the south and conquered part of Britain against its northern and unsubdued neighbours.* This rampart extended from the mouth of the river Tyne on the east, to the Solway Firth on the west, nearly occupying the line of Agricola's first chain of forts.

In

• In a note on the Itinerary of Richard of Cirencester (Mr. Hatcher's Edit. p. 52.) it is judiciously observed that this rampart of earth was, evidently, nothing more than a line, intended to obstruct the passage of an enemy between the stations, which constituted the real defences of the frontier,

In the reign of Antoninus Pius, which commenced A. D. 138, Lollius Urbicus was governor of Britain; an able general, and one who was compelled by circumstances to exercise his talents with activity. The Caledonians in the vicinity of Hadrian's wall provoked a war; and Lollius, after defeating in several engagements the Mæatæ, a tribe which inhabited the level coun try near the wall, built a strong rampart farther northward, and between the Firths of Forth and Clyde.

Similar commotions on the borders of the wall occurred in the reign of the succeeding Emperor, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; but they were quelled, without great difficulty, by his lieutenant, Calpurnius Agricola; and the south of Britain happily remained in a state of tranquillity, the inhabitants intermingling with the Romans by slow but sure degrees, and adopting their arts and polish in the same progress.

The rampart erected in the reign of Antoninus Pius proved so inefficient a barrier, that the Caledoniaus broke through it early in the reign of Commodus, who succeeded Marcus Aurelius; and being joined by the Mæatæ, committed great depredations upon the Roman province. Ulpius Marcellus, a general of great vigilance and bravery, was now appointed governor of Britain; and he defeated the confederate nations in several battles. His success exposed him to the jealousy of his tyrannical master, and he was abruptly recalled. The names of his immediate successors are not known; but it appears that they partook of the vicious imbecility which prevailed at the court of Rome. Their incapacity produced great dissatisfaction amongst the legions; and it is observable that the Roman army in Britain had now become so formidable, from its long continuance in the province, that it ventured to send a deputation to the Emperor, remonstrating on the ill conduct of the person who had the direction of military affairs, and who, in the exercise of his function, recommended these unworthy officers. Their complaints met with attention; and Pertinax, who was afterwards Emperor, was

sent to Britain, for the purpose of redressing the alleged grievances.

Pertinax met with great difficulties in restoring contented discipline among the tumultuous soldiery, but he, at length, in some measure, succeeded; and then resigned the government, as is believed, to Clodius Albinus, who possessed this command in the latter part of the reign of Commodus, and throughout the two following short and troubled reigns.

On the death of the Emperor Didius Julianus, this general ventured to contend for the diadem. He assumed in Britain the insignia of empire, and led an army, consisting of British Romans and Romanized Britons, to the Continent, where he hazarded a battle, but was defeated, and subsequently destroyed himself in despair; thus leaving L. Septimius Severus in undisputed pos

session of the throne.

The northern Britons did not fail to take advantage of the neglected state of the province, during these struggles for individual power. The Caledonians and Mæatæ made destructive incursions on the south, where the interest of the Britons was now completely united with that of their conquerors. Severus quickly reinforced the army of Britain, and bestowed the command on Virius Lupus; but the troops were either so deficient in number or in subordination, that Lupus felt it expedient to purchase the retreat of the enemy by a large sum of money. Such a peace was not likely to be durable. The incursions were repeated in several successive years, with all the ferocity incidental to a border-war; and the Emperor Severus repaired to Britain, in person, about the year 207. At this time he was aged, and afflicted with disease; but he entered on the war with alacrity, for the love of military glory lent a youthful ardour even to his latest exertions. In the present undertaking, he is said to have been additionally stimulated by a wish for removing from the dissolute pleasures of Rome his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Both these Princes attended him in his expedition; and the

events