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other expences of the Roman army. There seem to have been but few officers in the Roman armies, in comparison of what are employed in all our modern troops, except some Swiss corps. And these officers had very small pay: a centurion, for instance, only double a common soldier. And as the soldiers, from their pay, bought their own cloaths, arms, tents and baggage[1]; this must also diminish considerably the other expences of the army. So much lighter, at least in this respect, than our own, was that mighty government; and so easy was its yoke over the whole world. Nor will it avail you, Sir, to say, that the greater expensiveness of a modern army is owing entirely to the greater plenty of money; for, according to the opinion of the best politicians, money, after the conquest of Egypt, was nearly as plentiful at Rome, as it is at present in the richest of the European kingdoms.
In as little stead, Sir, will it serve you to alledge, that it is absolutely impossible, with
- ↑ Tacit. Ann. lib. 1.
