398 Mr TYTLER'S Introduction to an Enquiry 



Towards the middle of the third century, some indications of 

 an irruption of the northern nations were discernible ; but these 

 formidable enemies may be said to have contained themselves 

 within their original settlements, until, in the fourth century, an 

 inundation of the Huns drove the northern tribes from the 

 countries where they had hitherto led a warlike and migratory 

 life, and compelled them to seek permission of the Emperor VA- 

 I,ENS to settle in Thrace. This was granted, probably it could 

 not have been prudently denied, and the historians of these 

 times affirm, that the whole of Thrace was almost instantly co- 

 vered by successive waves of this living flood of men. Macedo- 

 nia and Pannonia soon became entirely occupied by the multi- 

 tudes of stranger emigrants ; their tents were even pitched upon 

 the classic borders of Thessaly ; and war, as was to be expected 

 from the proximity of such formidable neighbours, was almost 

 instantly commenced with the Roman Empire. At the head of 

 his Goths ALAR ic penetrated to the borders of Italy, and the 

 pusillanimity of the Emperor ARC ADI us was content to purchase 

 an ignominious peace, by ceding to him the whole of Greece. 

 His next object was the conquest of Italy, which, after his army 

 had been reinforced by a new inundation of the Suevi, Alani and 

 Vandals, he concluded by the sack of Rome, in the commence- 

 ment of the fifth century. It is well known that he died when 

 meditating the conquest of Sicily and Africa. Every successive 

 year now more effectually confirmed the dominion of the 

 northern nations over the wide extent of the Western and 

 Eastern Empire. 



Rome, as we see, was taken in the beginning of the fifth cen- 

 tury. In the same period the Vandals had established their 

 monarchy in Spain. Carthage soon after fell, and the Roman 

 provinces in Africa became subject to the same victorious people. 

 ATTILA, the scourge of the human race, next appeared, to act his 

 terrible part in the extermination of ancient nations ; and, lead- 



