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from the visitution of the Romans. England, on the con- 

 trary, which was better known. Lay more open to inva- 

 sion, and afforded fewer natural means of defence. It 

 - was therefore completely conquered, over and over again, 

 and became, in succession, the prey of different races of 

 invaders, who introduced their own language, manners, 

 and institutions, and, in a great measure, metamorpho- 

 sed the people whom they thus subjected; leaving them 

 nothing, mental or corporeal, they could properly call their 

 own. These again were, in turns, transformed by new 

 conquerors. "When the military science and discipline of 

 the Romans prevailed, and drove the ancient Britons, to 

 preserve an indigent and precarious independence, among 

 the bleak mountains of Wales, Cornwall and Caledonia; 

 the language, the manners, the garb, the habitations, pur- 

 suits and ideas of the people, became wholly Roman. 

 Fair cities were erected: commerce flourished: all the arts 

 of peace were understood and practised; and with them 

 the luxury and softness of Ronie was introduced, and every 

 trace of Celtic origin disappeared. At the decline of the 

 Roman empire, the extremities of that vast body Avere 

 left defenceless, and became paralysed. Britain became 

 the prey of the Saxons, who not only conquered but de- 

 solated the country; and, in the course of an obstinate 

 and murderous contest, for the possession of the soil, obli- 

 terated every trace of Roman civilization, and introduced 

 the Saxon language and Runic mythology. The Saxons, 

 in their turn, began to acquire opulence, and to be sof- 

 tened 



