VI.  To  this  survey  of  the  empire  if  we  add  a  view  of  the
constitution,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  government  was
administered  by  Tiberius,  from  the  beginning  of  his  reign  to
the  present  year,  the  fatal  era  of  tyranny  and  oppression,  the
inquiry  will  not  be  foreign  to  our  purpose.  In  the  first  place,
not  only  the  affairs  of  state,  but  all  questions  of  importance
between  the  citizens  of  Rome,  were  referred  to  the  wisdom  of
the  senate.  The  leading  members  of  that  assembly  claimed
and  exercised  full  freedom  of  debate ;  and  when  they  deviated
into  flattery,  the  prince  was  sure  to  reject  the  nauseous  strain.
In  dispensing  the  honours  of  government,  he  had  an  eye  to
nobility  of  birth,  to  personal  merit,  and  to  talents  as  well  civil
as  military.  His  choice,  it  was  generally  agreed,  was  made
with  judgment.  The  consuls  and  the  praetors  enjoyed  the
ancient  honours  of  their  rank  and  dignity.  The  subordinate
magistrates  exercised  their  functions  without  control.  The
laws,  if  we  except  those  of  violated  majesty,  flowed  in  their
regular  channel.  The  tributes  and  duties,  whether  of  corn  or
money,  were  managed  by  commissioners  chosen  from  the
Roman  knights.  The  revenues  appropriated  to  the  prince
were  conducted  by  men  of  distinguished  probity,  and  fre-
quently by  such,  as  were  known  to  Tiberius  by  their  char-
acter only.  Being  once  appointed,  they  were  never  removed.
Several,  it  is  well  known,  grew  grey  in  the  same  employment.
