98 



pression of the former class, though by far the most numerous. 

 Tliis evil was co-extensive with the empire ; however it lasted 

 little more than 200 years, during which imperial cruelty was 

 exercised only in the capital. 



2dly, from the inhuman treatment of slaves, who though 

 forming a numerous part of the population, were, until the 

 reigns of Adrian and the Antonines, left wholly to the dis- 

 cretion of their musters, and could not claim the protection 

 of the laws. 



3dly, from the rapacity of the governors of the more dis- 

 tant provinces. 



4thly, From the religious persecutions, whether of christi- 

 ans by the heathen emperors, or of different christian sects 

 l)y each other, each claiming the exclusive possession of 

 divine knowledge, and rejecting every other as impious. By 

 this whole provinces were depopulated ; the inhabitants flying 

 for protection to the enemies of the empire. 



5thly, From the civil wars of the various pretenders to the 

 imperial dignity ; for there being no settled rule of succes- 

 sion after the extinction of the Julian family, the different 

 armies claimed the right of conferring the empire on their 

 respective commanders ; the outrages accompanying and 

 succeeding these wars, may well be imagined. 



6thly, From the sudden but wide-spreading incursions of 

 the Northern barbarians who ravaged with impunity exten- 

 sive 



i 



