THE WESTERN COUNTRY. 135 



that ascribed, we may be assured, that, originally it was a very 

 trifling fosse. But you will naturally ask; are there not some 

 found which present a different aspect, and which evidence 

 more laborious efforts? no, on the contrary, it is remarkable, 

 that the kind of which I am now writing have as constant a 

 similarity to each other, as those rude edifices, or cabins, 

 which our first settlers rear. The description of one will an- 

 swer for all ; there is no anomaly, except, now and then, in 

 the diameter of the circle; and here, the variation will only 

 amount to a few yards. 



Permit me now to ask, whether the military art does not 

 necessarily require, that the ditch should be exterior; and, whe- 

 ther, among any people advanced to such a degree of im- 

 provement in the arts, as to attempt defensive works by throw- 

 ing up earth, a single instance can be adduced in which the 

 ditch has not an exterior position. Again, can we believe, 

 that a work, having a bank or a ditch, not higher or deeper 

 than I have mentioned, could be intended as a fortification? 

 The moment which gave birth to the idea of a defensive work 

 would also shew, that it must, in its execution, be rendered 

 adequate to the end contemplated. It is scarcely worth while 

 to go back to Livy or Polybius, upon this occasion. But they 

 both inform us, " that the Romans, in the early period of their 

 warfare, dug trenches, which were, at least, eight feet broad 

 by six deep ; that they were often twelve feet in breadth ; some- 

 times, fifteen or twenty; that, of the earth dug out of the 

 fosse, and thrown up on the side of the camp, they formed the 

 parapet, or breast-work ; and to make it more firm, mingled 

 with it turf, cut in a certain size and form. Upon the brow of 

 the parapet, palisades were also planted, firmly fixed and close- 

 ly connected." The form of the fortification was always 

 square. System appears to have been the tutelar Deicy of 

 the Romans. They always proceeded upon one plan. As 

 to the form, indeed there appears to be no reason why that 

 should not vary, not only among different nations; but with 

 the same nation, as different situations might require. The 

 Greeks generally preferred the round figure; but with them,, 

 the nature of places decided the question as to form. In. 



