79 



derived from time the confirmation and sanction of his right to govern 

 over his equals. Yet upon tlie whole he liad little to fear from any 

 systematic or patriotic opposition. He might dread individual enemies, 

 but no hostile party. They were all cowed into suhmission, and into 

 more than submission, into servility, by the terrible misfortunes of 

 the civil wars ; so much so, that throughout his reign Tiberius had 

 not to struggle against the independence of the aristocracy, but in vain 

 endeavoured to foster a spirit of manly self-respect and patriotism in 

 those, who desired only to be slaves and to enjoy life. 



The senate had been at all times the centre of gravity in the Roman 

 constitution. In the senate was vested the whole administration and 

 de facto the best part of the legislative authority, to which the people 

 supplied little more than the external machinery. The senate there- 

 fore was the seat and instrument of aristocratic influence during 

 the republican period and tlie principal opponent of those who, under 

 the pretext of advocating the interests of the people, availed themselves 

 of the popular sympathies to their personal aggrandisement, and suc- 

 ceeded at last in establishing the monarchy on the ruins of the aristocracy. 

 Hence it was CiBsar's policy to weaken and degrade the senate.^ But, 

 when the great struggle had been finally decided in favour of the 

 monarchical principle, when the senate had ceased to be dangerous, 

 it became the interest and the policy of Augustus and his successor to 

 restore it to its former splendour and dignity, and to give it all the 

 influence and power, which, without maldug it dangerous or troublesome, 

 was calculated to render it the most useful instrument of government 

 in their hands. In the senate, composed of the men most influential 

 in society by their wealth and descent, the emperors had, or might 

 hope to have the most able and independent counsellors, the most 

 skilful and practised statesmen, the natural and best advisers of a 

 monarch unsupported by any better organized representation. 



Thus the Senate became not only the chief administrative board, 

 but also the chief court of justice, especially for political oflfences, 

 and Tiberius conferred on it also the remnant of legislative and 

 elt^ctive power, which Augustus had left to the people. The Senate 

 therefore became a Privy Council, or " Conseil Royal," subject to the 

 Emperor alone, but of such weight and dignity, and so indisj^ensable, 

 that it might have hoped to find in its vast sphere of action a 

 complete compensation for tlie loss of party influence under the 

 republic. It is true, the senate could not acquire the dignity of an 

 independent body, like the hereditary counsellors of the crown or the 



' As it was that of Loiiiii XI. uf rninue and of all hu iuiitaturs tu lower the positioa ii: 

 i.ifluciici; of the ftuJal aii>locr.-'.iv. 



