A. D. 14. 131 



between the Mediterranean and the whole of the weft and north ftiores 

 of Gaul ; while almoft every other part of the country was acceflible by 

 the navigable branches of thole great rivers, to the great advantage of 

 the community, as well as the emolument of the proprietors of the lands 

 adjacent to the rivers before the Roman conqueft, who ufed to levy a 

 toll or tranfit duty on the boats palling through their territories. In 

 the very center of all this inland conveyance, at the jundion of the Rho- 

 danus with the Arar (Sonne), a river of a longer courfe and gentler cur- 

 rent than itfelf, and within an eafy diftance of the other navigable 

 rivers which flowed in the oppofite diredion, flood the great inland em- 

 porium of Lugdunum (Lions), a Gallic city, fo greatly augmented by a 

 Roman colony, the relidence of a Roman governor, and the eftablifli- 

 ment of a mint for gold and filver money, that for population it exceed- 

 ed every other city in Gaul except Narbo. With thefe advantages it 

 neceflarily became the general depofit of all the inland trade of the 

 country, and the great thoroughfare of the inland navigation; for even 

 thofe, who, on account of the rapidity of the Rhodanus, preferred land 

 carriage for the fpace between Lugdunum and the coaft, brought their 

 goods to that city to be further forwarded by water or by land. [Stra- 

 bo, L. iv, pp. 268, 288, 292, 294, 295, 318.] Even before the lettle- 

 meiit of the Romans in it, it mufl have been a place of great trade and 

 intercourfe, enlivening the whole of the river below it, which was cover- 

 ed with canoes and fmall veflels, employed in the carrying trade, as ear- 

 ly as the famous pafTage of the great Hannibal over the Alps. \_Polyb. 

 L. iii, c. 42.} 



The only vines in Gaul were on the fouth coaft : but fo fond were 

 the inland people of wine, that the Italian merchants, who carried it up 

 the Rhodanus, frequently exchanged a vefl^el of it containing about 

 eighteen gallons for a young flave. Their ufual liquor was extracted 

 from barley, or prepared by mixing honey with water. 



Having now completed the circuit of the Roman provinces, as they 

 lay extended on both fides of the Mediterranean, it only remains to ob- 

 ferve that almoft all thofe countries poured their wines into the capital ; 

 which alfo received corn from every province, that had any to ipare, 

 befides the more regular fupplies from thofe, which were pecuUarly not- 

 ed for their abundance. 



But all this importation was merely for fupplying the vaft confump- 

 tion of an all-devouring capital. There was Icarcely any exportation ; 

 there was no reciprocation of good offices ; their was no commerce *. 



• The carriage of necefTaries and luxuries for the come defirous of partaking of the fame comforts 



ufe of tl'.e Roman governors and their rttinucs fet- and kixuries, what was at fir'! the carriage of pri- 



tled in the provinces does not come under the de- vate baggage, would gradually fwcll into commer- 



fcription of commercial exportation. But as the cial importance. 

 provincials, in imitation of the Romans, would be- 



+ R 2^ ^ 



