190 ACCUMULATED TREASURE CHAP. VIII. 



succeeding centuries, those were distant pro- 

 vinces, to which must be added such as were 

 then in nearer connexion with the imperial 

 capital. Greece, Illyricum, Dacia, and Panno- 

 nia, all contributed, with the islands in the Medi- 

 terranean and the Archipelago, to add their 

 tribute to that collected within Italy itself, which, 

 according to the relations of history, contained 

 no less than eleven hundred and ninety-seven 

 cities within its limits. 



The revenue extracted from these extensive 

 dominions cannot be accurately defined. It has 

 occupied the labours of learned men, but from 

 the paucity of statistical documents in ancient 

 times and especially before the introduction 

 of the Arabian numerals, the subject must be 

 doubtful ; and the result of all inquiries be little 

 better than the conjectures of acuteness. 



It has been estimated by several diligent in- 

 quirers that the whole revenues of the Roman 

 empire in the time of Augustus amounted to a 

 sum equivalent to forty millions of our money, 

 supposing the Roman pound weight to be equal 

 to the English troy pound of twelve ounces, 

 each ounce being worth five shillings, or the 

 Roman pound of silver being equal in value to 

 three pounds of our present sterling money. 



With such a revenue, it does not appear to be 

 improbable that Augustus should have left suf- 

 ficient money to pay the legacy of two pounds 



