Slavery

-The cause of the Downfaïlof the Roman Empire. The steady growth, unequalled extent, and long duration of the Roman Empire proves the wisdom of their political system, but it feil a prey, at length, to the dreadful evil of domestic slavery. It was this incurable evil vvhich, even in the time of Augustus, thinned the ranks of the legions; which, in process of time, filled the armies with mercenary soldiers, and the provinces with great proprietors; which subsequently rendered it impracticable to raise a military force in the southern provinces of the empire, and at length con sumed the vitats of the state, and left notb ing to withstand the barharians but no bles, who wanted courage to defend their property, and slaves,who were destituteof