96 



Of the Roman Empire. 



THE authority of the Roman emperors being entirely des- 

 potic, tlie happiness of their subjects depended on the tem- 

 per and disposition of the reigning monarch, and frequently 

 on his superstition. Of the character of these emperoi-s we 

 have a more detailed account than of any of the ancient 

 Asiatic monarchs : in perusing then- history it will he found, 

 that those periods during which the condition of their sub- 

 jects approached nearest to happiness, were, in the space of 

 500 years, by far the shortest, scarcely exceeding 100 years, 

 and succeeding each other at distant intervals; namely, du- 

 ring the reigns of Augustus, Titus, Nerva, Trajan, Adrian 

 and the two Antonines. 



However, for several j-ears after the commencement of this 

 empire, and even under ihe most cruel emperors, the greater 

 number of those who either by birth or otherwise had ob- 

 tained the privileges of lloman citizens, enjoyed the advan- 

 tage of being governed by the Roman laws, the most equit- 

 able ever known; by which their lives, liberties and properties 

 were secured against all but the supreme despot himself. 

 Even the conquered provinces were more humanely treated 

 than under the republican government. 



Again, 



