A. D. 14. 12^ 



The principal trade of the Roman world, was the conveyance of corn, 

 and other provifions, to the all-devouring capital ; and this mofl im- 

 portant concern was under the immediate dire6tion of the emperor him- 

 felf, one of his many titles or offices, being that of commiflary-general 

 of corn. 



Italy, cultivated to the highefl degree of perfedion, produced abun- 

 dance of corn and cattle to fupply itfelf, if Rome had been the capital 

 of Italy only. 



The northern part of Italy, called Cifalpine Gaul, furniflied a quan- 

 tity of fait pork almoft fufficient for the whole confumption of Rome ; 

 magnificent tapeftry, and woollen drapery, the manufadture of Patavia 

 (Padua) ; and wools of various qualities, whereof thofe of Mutina {Mo- 

 dena) and Altinura, were remarked as the beft ; many fpecies of mar- 

 bles, the produce of the Alps, for the conveyance of which vefTels were 

 conftruded on purpofe ; good fleel, made at Comum (Como), where the 

 water was of fuch a quality, as to. give a peculiar hardnefs to the metal ; 

 excellent chryftal ; ice, the ufe of which in the burning fummers of 

 Italy, could fcarcely be called an extravagant luxury ; and cheefe, for 

 which thofe mountainous regions ilill preferve their reputation, by their 

 parmefan. 



Liguria fent from its port of Genua large wood, fome trees being 

 eight feet in diameter ; fliip timber ; wood, nothing inferior to the 

 thya wood for making tables ; cattle ; hides ; honey ; and a coarfe 

 kind of wool, which ferved to make clothing for the flaves. Etruria 

 produced large timber ; marble, efteemed not inferior to the Parian ; 

 and huge blocks of flone, for capital buildings, fliipped at the ports of 

 Pifa and Luna, which later was remarkable for its cheefe, of the aflonifh- 

 ing weight of a thoufand pondo, and for its wines, efteemed the beft 

 in Etruria. The Sabine country fent in excellent oil and wine. La- 

 tium, and Campania, where Bachus and Ceres are poetically faid to 

 have ftriven which of them fliould be moft profufe in their favours to 

 the happy foil, furniftied the beft wheat, rice, barley, and wines, of 

 which leveral particular growths were in high requeft with the epicures 

 of Rome, efpecially the Falernian, which has been rendered famous by 

 the immortal lines of Horace. Apulia excelled in the quality of its 

 wool ; and Brutium abounded in fir trees of great fize, together with 

 pitch and tar, the produce of them. 



In Rome itfelf, feveral manufactures were carried on, chiefly by the 

 knowlege and induftry of the flaves, the captives, or defcendents of the 

 captives, carried off by the Romans from all the induftrious nations 

 with whom they had been at war. But manufactures are fcarcely fcen 

 or heard of in the buftle of a great capital ; and they are totally over- 

 looked by hiftorians, only concerned with the deftrudion of mankind, 

 and the fucceftlon of their deftrovers. 



3 ' Ct2 



