f 49 ) 



On the Luxury of the Romans. 



The Roman writers who flourished during the Republic say 

 little about Natural History. It is more treated of by the wri- 

 ters under the Empire. But the works they have left us on such 

 subjects contain few original remarks, and are little else than 

 compilations, a circumstance which must appear very strange, 

 since no nation had ever greater opportunities of observing. 



In the earliest ages of the republic, besides that the Roman 

 institutions were in general adverse to every kind of study, the 

 simplicity of manners that prevailed was especially unfavourable 

 to the progress of natural history, a science of luxury, expen- 

 sive, and not to be carried on without many previous arrange- 

 ments. 



Indeed the relations among the beings that form the subject 

 of natural history, cannot be established without bringing toge- 

 ther a great number. Much assistance is therefore derived 

 from commerce, drawing, as it does, towards a central point, 

 the productions of foreign countries. Now, the Romans, during 

 a very long period were not commercial. By the first treaty 

 made with the Carthaginians, they bound themselves not to sail 

 beyond the strait that separates Sicily from Africa. Still later, 

 in the year of Rome 405, they gave up altogether their trade 

 with Sardinia, and with the coast of Africa. 



Commerce was checked, not through ignorance, but from the 

 policy of their government, in order to withstand the introduc- 

 tion of luxury. Rome had no silver money till the 472d year 

 from the foundation of the city., 268 years before Christ. At 

 the date of the last Macedonian War, a senator was degraded 

 from his rank for having ten pounds of silver plate. Gold 

 plate was seen for the first time at the end of this war, in the 

 triumph of Paulus ^Emilius. But luxury was the speedy con- 

 sequence of victory, and the luxury of individuals was carried 

 to the utmost extravagance. We shall notice it in so far as re- 

 gards natural history. 



The luxury of the table, for example, caused to be imported 

 into Rome from foreign countries a multitude of animals ; of 



OCTOBEll DECEMBER 1830. D 



