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II.

they contented themselves with applying to all C HA P. thefe new fruits the common denomination of apple, difcriminating them from each other by the additional epithet of their country. 2. In The vine. the time of Homer, the vine grew wild in the ifland of Sicily, and most probably in the adjacent continent; but it was not improved by the skill, nor did it afford a liquor grateful to the tafte, of the favage inhabitants 94. A thoufand years afterwards, Italy could boaft, that of the fourfcore moft generous and celebrated wines, more than two thirds were produced from her foil 95. The bleffing was foon communicated to the Narbonnese province of Gaul; but fo intenfe was the cold to the north of the Cevennes, that, in the time of Strabo, it was thought impoffible to ripen the grapes in thofe parts of Gaul ". This difficulty, however, was gradually vanquished; and there is some reason to believe, that the vineyards of Burgundy are as old as the age of the Antonines". 3. The olive, in the The olive, western world, followed the progrefs of peace, of which it was confidered as the fymbol. Two centuries after the foundation of Rome, both Italy and Africa were ftrangers to that useful plant; it was naturalized in those countries; and 94 See Homer Odyff. 1. ix. v. 358.

95 Plin. Hift. Natur. 1. xiv.

96

96 Strab. Geograph. 1. iv. p. 223. The intense cold of a Gallic winter was almost proverbial among the ancients.

97 In the beginning of the ivth century, the orator Eumenius (Panegyric. Veter. viii. 6. edit. Delphin.) speaks of the vines in the territory of Autun, which were decayed through age, and the first plantation of which was totally unknown. The Pagus Arebrignus is fuppofed by M. d'Anville to be the diftrict of Beaune, celebrated even at prefent, for one of the first growths of Burgundy.

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Flax.

CHA P. at length carried into the heart of Spain and II. Gaul. The timid errors of the ancients, that it required a certain degree of heat, and could only flourish in the neighbourhood of the fea, were infenfibly exploded by industry and experience. 4. The cultivation of flax was tranfported from Egypt to Gaul, and enriched the whole country, however it might impoverish the particular Artificial lands on which it was fown. 5. The use of grafs. artificial graffes became familiar to the farmers both of Italy and the provinces, particularly the Lucerne, which derived its name and origin from Media 100. The affured fupply of wholefome and plentiful food for the cattle during winter, multiplied the number of the flocks and herds, which in their turn contributed to the fertility of the foil. To all thefe improvements may be added an affiduous attention to mines and fisheries, which, by employing a multitude of laborious hands, ferve to increase the pleafures of the rich, and the fubfiftence of the poor. The elegant treatife of Columella defcribes the advanced state of the Spanish husbandry, under the reign of Tiberius; and it may be observed, that those famines, which fo frequently afflicted the infant republic, were feldom or never experienced by the extenfive empire of Rome. The accidental fcarcity, in any fingle province, was immediately relieved by the plenty of its more fortunate neighbours.

General plenty.

98 Plin. Hift. Natur. 1. xv.

92 Plin. Hift. Natur. 1. xix.

100 See the agreeable Effays on Agriculture by Mr. Harte, in which he has collected all that the ancients and moderns have faid of Lucerne.

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II.

Agriculture is the foundation of manufac- CHAP. tures; fince the productions of nature are the materials of art. Under the Roman empire, the Arts of labour of an industrious and ingenious people luxury. was variously, but inceffantly employed, in the fervice of the rich. In their drefs, their table, their houses, and their furniture, the favourites of fortune united every refinement of conveniency, of elegance, and of fplendour, whatever could foothe their pride, or gratify their sensuality. Such refinements, under the odious name of luxury, have been feverely arraigned by the moralifts of every age; and it might perhaps be `more conducive to the virtue, as well as happinefs, of mankind, if all poffeffed the neceffaries, and none the fuperfluities, of life. But in the prefent imperfect condition of fociety, luxury, though it may proceed from vice or folly, feems to be the only means that can correct the unequal diftribution of property. The diligent mechanic, and the skilful artift, who have obtained no fhare in the divifion of the earth, receive a voluntary tax from the poffeffors of land; and the latter are prompted, by a fenfe of inter, eft, to improve those estates, with whose produce they may purchase additional pleafures. This operation, the particular effects of which are felt in every fociety, acted with much more diffufive energy in the Roman world. The pro

vinces would foon have been exhausted of their wealth, if the manufactures and commerce of luxury had not infenfibly restored to the induf trious fubjects, the fums which were exacted from

G 4

CHAP. from them by the arms and authority of Rome.

II.

Foreign

trade.

As long as the circulation was confined within the bounds of the empire, it impreffed the political machine with a new degree of activity, and its confequences, fometimes beneficial, could never become pernicious.

But it is no eafy task to confine luxury within the limits of an empire. The moft remote countries of the ancient world were ranfacked to fupply the pomp and delicacy of Rome. The foreft of Scythia afforded fome valuable furs. Amber was brought over land from the fhores of the Baltic to the Danube; and the barbarians were astonished at the price which they received in exchange for fo ufelefs a commodity. There was a confiderable demand for Babylonian carpets and other manufactures of the Eaft: but the most important and unpopular branch of foreign trade was carried on with Arabia and India. Every year, about the time of the fummer folftice, a fleet of an hundred and twenty veffels failed from Myos-hormos, a port of Egypt on the Red Sea. By the periodical affiftance of the Monfoons, they traverfed the ocean in about forty days. The coaft of Malabar, or the island of Ceylon 102, was the ufual term of their navigation, and it was in those markets that the

101 Tacit. Germania, c. 45. Plin. Hift. Nat. xxxviii. II. The latter observed with some humour, that even fashion had not yet found out the use of amber. Nero fent a Roman knight to purchase great quantities on the spot where it was produced; the coast of modern Pruffia.

102 Called Taprobana by the Romans, and Screndib by the Arabs. It was discovered under the reign of Claudius, and gradually became the principal mart of the East.

merchants

II.

merchants from the more remote countries of CHAR Afia expected their arrival. The return of the fleet of Egypt was fixed to the months of December or January; and as foon as their rich cargo had been tranfported on the backs of camels, from the Red Sea to the Nile, and had defcended that river as far as Alexandria, it was poured, without delay, into the capital of the empire 103. The objects of oriental traffic were fplendid and trifling; filk, a pound of which was efteemed not inferior in value to a pound of gold 104; precious ftones, among which the pearl claimed the first rank after the diamond 105; and a variety of aromatics, that were confumed in religious worship and the pomp of funerals. The labour and risk of the voyage was rewarded with almost incredible profit; but the profit was made upon Roman fubjects, and a few individuals were enriched at the expence of the Public. As the natives of Arabia and India were Gold and contented with the productions and manufactures of their own country, filver, on the fide of the Romans, was the principal, if not the only inftrument of commerce. It was a complaint worthy of the gravity of the fenate, that in the pursuit of female ornaments, the wealth of the state

Strabo, 1. xvii.

103 Plin. Hift. Natur. 1. vi. 104 Hift. Auguft. p. 224.、 A filk garment was confidered as an ornament to a woman, but as a disgrace to a man.

105 The two great pearl fisheries were the fame as at present, Ormuz and Cape Comorin. As well as we can compare ancient with modern geography, Rome was fupplied with diamonds from the mine of Jumelpur, in Bengal, which is defcribed in the Voyages de Tavernier, tom. ii. p. 281.

was

filver.

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