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It is however generally allowed that Hadrian's was the master- 

 mind that planned and carried out the mighty Wall whose 

 remains to this day excite the wonder and admiration of the 

 beholder. Did he fail to grasp the elementary truth that, 

 unsupported, all his magnificent work was of but little practical 

 worth? That he did take in the whole situation, is, I think, 

 very clear. Hence his plan must have included a series of camps 

 intended to prevent the outflanking of the Wall ; and thus it is 

 most probable that all the five stations were on the west, and in 

 direct communication with the line via Whitbarrow, which may 

 be Virosidiim. 



To carry forward such an undertaking, Hadrian would require an 

 immense quantity of provisions, not to mention numerous other 

 wants ; and this would necessitate a regular service of convoys 

 from head-quarters to the front. Now, under certain circumstances, 

 he could not but perceive that a route by way of the Tebay Valley 

 might be a hazardous one for convoys at least ; still, all the same, 

 his commissariat must of necessity be replenished at regular inter- 

 vals. Hence he must have a port in connection with the western 

 end of the Wall, which should, if need be, relieve him of all 

 anxiety on this score. Even if Agricola had not originally chosen 

 Maryport as his port, as I attempted to show in Tra?isaaions, 

 Part IX., p. 67, it is certain that there was a port at the time of 

 Hadrian, as is proved by the presence of altars by Marcus Moenius 

 Agrippa. But why should he have been chosen in preference to 

 a less important officer ? If our surmise be correct, it will readily 

 be allowed that the position was one, the importance of which 

 cannot be easily over-estimated. This officer, according to the 

 Camerino altar already mentioned, was specially selected to com- 

 mand the British fleet; and at the same time, amongst other 

 commands, he was tribune of the ist Equestrian Cohort of the 

 Spaniards. 



The intention of the fleet is obvious, whilst the cavalry must 

 have been necessary to keep open a line of communication with 

 Deva (Chester), at any rate through the Cumberland section of 

 the road, as also to overawe the natives in these parts. Such a 



