184 DECLINE OF THE 



CHAP. VII. 



for what they obtained of the precious metals, 

 must have contributed with the wars which 

 afflicted the whole Roman empire to that extinc- 

 tion, or decrease nearly approaching to extinc- 

 tion, of the supply of gold and silver, which 

 appears after a long and gradual decay to have 

 taken place towards the end of the fifth century. 



