66 THE HELPLESS STATE OF THE BRITONg. 



coast were called Comttes Littoris Saxonici, or 

 Counts of the Saxon shore. They were subordinate 

 to the Dux Britanniarum, whose residence was at 

 the pretorean palace at York, where the sixth le- 

 gion was stationed, to oppose the incursions of the 

 Caledonians, should they have broken through the 

 northern barrier. These Counts of the Saxon shore 

 had Soldiers under their command, to guard the 

 coast against the invasions of the Saxons, who long 

 accustomed to peril, hazard, and plunder, often 

 made attempts from the opposite coust. 



It was to provide against these ferocious invaders, 

 that the Romans constructed the military roads ; 

 it was to have a communication between the mari- 

 time garrisons and the grand station at York, those 

 roads are generally found to terminate at some 

 distinguished place on the coast possessing a con- 

 venient bay or harbour ; and in addition to the 

 maritime garrisons and military roads, they formed 

 camps in the most convenient places to prevent the 

 enemy from penetrating into the interior of the 

 country. 



The Romans were in possession of Britain four 

 centuries, and then had to leave it for reasons before 

 named. How ephemeral is human greatness ! how 

 Jading is human glory ! how uncertain are earthly 

 possessions ! who can build stable happiness on the 

 fluctuating ocean of human affairs ! 



The Britons during the residence of the Romans 

 amongst them, had imbibed different habits, culti- 

 vated different manners, and after their complete 

 subjugation had relied on the Romans for protection* 



