HISTORT OP THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN. 61 



lent men in the country, but their power dwindled 

 by the Roman influence, until it soon became nearly 

 extinct : as the Romans compelled their subjects to 

 build temples and offer sacrifices after the Roman 

 manner. They enacted severe laws against the use 

 of human victims, and deprived the druids of all 

 civil power. 



When Caosar had determined upon the conquest 

 of Britain, and had embarked his troops, he set sail 

 about midnight, and the next morning- arrived on 

 the coast of Dover, where he saw the rocks and cliffs 

 covered with armed men to oppose his landing. 



The Britons flocked to the standard of Cassibel- 

 aunus, whom they had chosen as their commander 

 in chief, under whom they might probably have 

 repelled the invaders, had not dissentions and 

 jealousies arisen amongst them ; but some through 

 envy, and others through fear, deserting his standard, 

 some of them retiring to the internal part of the 

 country, and others submitting to Caesar, they were 

 forced to come to an agreement with the enemy, and 

 the conqueror after having made proper arrange- 

 ments returned home, but had afterwards to return 

 to compel the Britons to fulfil their stipulations. 

 The Emperors Augustus and Tiberius were indiff- 

 erent about Britain, and the natives being comforta- 

 ble, and having had their minds somewhat expanded, 

 began to make improvements in all the arts which 

 embellish human nature. In this state they remain- 

 ed a considerable time, till at length the Romans in 

 the time of Claudius began to think seriously of 

 entirely reducing the Britons under their dominion, 



