Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1771. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... SECTION II. Obfervations upon the management of the Romans in their pubtick revenues. IT may not be amifs to give the profpect of a vaft empire, raifed to its greatnefs by wifdom and frugality, and ruined by profufion and ill conduit: the only ufe of hiftory being, to give us good rules, by which we fhould fquare our own actions, and to mark out the fhelves. and rocks, upon which other governments have fplit, that thereby we may learn to fteer our own courfe better, and to avoid the like dangers. Valerius Publicola was the firft who ordered that the revenue accruing to the commonwealth fhould be laid up in the Temple of Saturn, perhaps that the reverence of the place might make it be held the more facred. They lodged there two forts of treafure, the one in daily ufe, confifting of tributes and ordinary payments, the other was called the "-f-aurum veceffimarum," which was not to be touched but in cafes of the laft neceflity. It is true, for fome ages the publick had but little occafion for money, becaufe, till the fiege of Veies, which was about 350 years after the foundation of the city, their foldiers had no ftipend. However to have a referve, which'might anfwer any great emergency, well fuited with the forefight and wifdom of that people. As their empire grew, and as they entertained thoughts of enlarging their dominion by diftant conquefts, they became more folicitous to Macrob. 1. 1. Satarnal.c. 6.-f Tit. Liv. 1. 27. gather gather fuchaftockas might uphold the ftate in times both of war and peace, without burthening the Plebeians (a matter by them ever carefully avoided) in which they were very much affifted by the virtue of thofe to whom they intrufted the command of their armies, of which for a long time every one behaved himfelf like a faithful fteward ...
