VOL. XXX.l PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 313 



administration of Julius Agricola, in the reign of Fl. Vespasian, about 169 

 years before. 



In the second year of the Emperor Claudius, Anno Dom. 44, the Romans 

 invaded Britain, under the command of Aulus Plautius, in which expedition 

 Vespasian, (Suetonius, Vespasian, cap. 4,) then legate of the second legion, 

 made a conspicuous figure ; having been engaged in 30 battles, and reduced two 

 powerful provinces, above 20 towns, and the Isle of Wight. All these suc- 

 cesses could not frighten the natives into an entire submission; especially as no 

 progress was made into the country of the Brigantes, till the advancement of 

 Vespasian to the imperial throne, about 26 years after. Anno Dom. 70. Then 

 the whole empire was delivered from the miseries of Nero's, and the short but 

 lamentable devastations of the three succeeding reigns, Vespasian then, resolved 

 to push on his further conquests in Britain, sent over choice armies, commanded 

 by experienced generals; and the '20th legion, which having in the preceding 

 troubles acted seditiously, was with some difficulty reduced to submit to Vespa- 

 sian. Julius Agricola was constituted legate, who, under the governor Petilius 

 Cerealis, bore a considerable share in the successes against the Brigantes, 

 (Tacitus in Vita. Agric, cap. 8 ) The same author afterwards adds, cap. 17, that 

 he conquered the greatest part of the country of the Brigantes. Notwith- 

 standing these advantages, I dare not suppose that the Romans penetrated so 

 far into this province as Longovicum, situated so near the northern bounds of 

 the Brigantes, that at present it is not above 1 2 miles distant from Corbridge, 

 the Roman Curia, the chief town of the adjoining people the Otadini. I fix 

 upon the second year of Julius Agricola's government for this work, which 

 Tacitus thus describes, cap 20, " The beginning of summer Agricola, having 

 collected his army, fixed on the proper places for encamping, and in person 

 examined the marshes and wood ; and in the mean time gave the enemy no rest, 

 that he might be the less exposed to their sudden excursions; and after suffi- 

 ciently terrifying them, he would then by his lenity allure them to peace; by 

 which conduct many states submitted and gave hostages; on which he built 

 garrisons and fortresses round them." This excellent conduct Tacitus further 



o 



confirms from the observation of others. " For, says he, persons skilled in 

 these matters observed that no general ever chose his posts of advantage with 

 better judgment; for that no fortress built by Agricola was either taken by 

 storm, given up by capitulation, or deserted by the garrison." 



Agricola, having this summer quieted so large a tract, and finished so many 

 fortresses, it cannot be expected all should be built with the most exquisite art, 

 sufficient to perpetuate them. 



To proceed to Gordian's repairs: whose historian, Julius Capitolinus, though 



VOL. VI. S s 



