16 
as far as the Northern Wall.” All this was going on during the 
years of St. Patrick’s childhood, at the very time when the advo- 
cates of the Kilpatrick theory would have us believe that in this 
sadly harassed province—a very outpost of civilization—there 
existed a numerous and a Christian population. 
We begin to understand now the position which Cumberland 
held in the defence of Britain, and the reason for the number and 
importance of its stations. It was the true border of Roman 
Britain. ‘The Wall of Hadrian was the real line of defence which 
had to be protected efficiently notwithstanding the existence of the 
outlying province of Valentia. There was moreover the long 
coast line exposed to a danger from which even the conquest of 
Valentia afforded little protection, viz., the incursions of pirates 
from Ireland. Hence the chain of forts, some ten or twelve in 
number and connected by a military road, which we find extending 
from Bowness along the brink of the Solway, as far as Moresby 
and Egremont. 
Such being the military situation and needs of our county in 
Roman times, it remains to examine what would be the domestic 
and social consequences of the continued presence of these large 
garrisons. In the first place, it is just the neighbourhood where— 
apart from the proof afforded by actual remains—we should natur- 
ally expect to find a large population. I suppose in a camp like 
our own, for instance, there would generally be stationed about 
tooo soldiers alone, not counting camp-followers and civilians. 
Then consider the necessity of provisioning the garrisons, and all 
that this work would entail. Whether the supplies were brought 
by sea in fleets, or in convoys along the great roads, or were 
partially obtained from agriculture in the neighbourhood,—they 
would necessitate the employment of many besides the soldiers them- 
selves. Lastly, we must not overlook the system of military service 
established under the Romans at this period. They had the 
custom of giving lands to their veterans as a reward for their 
service and valour, and of requiring them to settle on these lands 
and colonize them. ‘The legionaries were stationed in the same 
camp for such a length of time together, that they might well look 
