Notices of Archaeological publications.
In the History of Nations, through the succession of ages since the hand of man first was raised against his fellow, amongst the continual changes to which power, wealth, dominion, have been subjected, through the ambition or cupidity of some one great family of the human race, aroused against another, there appears no problem so inexplicable as Britain under the sway of Rome. Whether we regard the Empire in the extended range of her greatness, the fair and prosperous lauds of her wide dominion, the refinements of arts and luxury, the perfection of public and social institutions, pervading all countries subjected to her rule; or we glance at the cheerless aspect of these remote Islands of the North, how may we understand the policy of Rome in her occupation of Britain?
These considerations irresistibly arrest the thoughts in contemplating that vast monument of bold determination to which the researches of Mr. Bruce relate. The barrier betwixt the Northern Sea and the Solway may rank unequalled amongst the achievements of Roman industry and skill: we seek naturally to comprehend the strong inducement which rendered possession of these remote savage countries an object of such importance. The thirst for victory and military glory seems scarce sufficient, in a struggle with such barbarous tribes: the baser motive of avarice appears inadequate, although Tacitus wrote of the gold and silver, and even the pearls of the British seas, as the "pretium Victoriæ." The degree of attention bestowed upon a territory, trifling in extent, difficult to retain, scarce included in the limits of the habitable earth, appears in the frequent presence of armies and auxiliaries, and the resort hither of wealthy colonists, the vestiges of whose luxurious villas are so frequently disinterred; but more strikingly in the fact that many of the emperors came to Britain, engaged personally in the lengthened struggle for mastery, dwelt even in our island, as if it were a territory of their predilection.
The Roman Wall, too little known, we believe, to the archaeologists of southern counties, has supplied a theme to several writers of note in antiquarian literature. Their treatises are, however, beyond the reach of general readers, being given in voluminous works, costly and of uncommon occurrence. The account related by Horsley, in the "Britannia Romana," describes this great Northern Bulwark as it existed upwards of a century since. His statements have been appropriated by Warburton, who, however, made personally a detailed inspection of these remarkable remains. A later author, of high attainments in topographical research, the historian of Northumberland, has left a detailed dissertation, rich in results of long and careful enquiry, for which his residence at Newcastle afforded him
