Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/405

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 381 and to restore, at least, the image of the ancient re- CHAP, public, as it had been preserved by the policy of Au- ^^^' gustus, and the virtues of Trajan and the Antonines. It may not be useless to recapitulate some of the most important prerogatives which the senate appeared to have regained by the election of Tacitus °. 1. To in- vest one of their body, under the title of emperor, with the general command of the armies and the government of the frontier provinces. 2, To determine the list, or, as it was then styled, the college of consuls. They were twelve in number, who, in successive pairs, each during the space of two months, filled the year, and represented the dignity of that ancient office. The authority of the senate, in the nomination of the con- suls, was exercised with such independent freedom, that no regard was paid to an irregular request of the emperor in favour of his brother Florianus. " The senate," exclaimed Tacitus, with the honest transport of a patriot, " understand the character of the prince whom they have chosen." 3. To appoint the procon- suls and presidents of the provinces, and to confer on all the magistrates their civil jurisdiction. 4. To re- ceive appeals through the intermediate office of the prefect of the city from all the tribunals of the empire. 5. To give force and vahdity, by their decrees, to such as they should approve of the emperor's edicts. 6. To these several branches of authority, we may add some inspection over the finances, since, even in the stern reign of Aurelian, it was in their power to divert a part of the revenue from the public service °. Circular epistles were sent without delay to all the Their joy and CO dence. principal cities of the empire, Treves, Milan, Aquileia, ^"^ ^°"^' Thessalonica, Corinth, Athens, Antioch, Alexandria, and Carthage, to claim their obedience, and to inform them of the happy revolution which had restored the " See the lives of Tacitus, Florianus, and Probus, in the Augustan His- tory : we may be well assured, that whatever the soldier gave, the senator had already given. " Vopiscus in Hist. August, p. 216. The passage is perfectly clear ; yet both Casaubon and Salmasius wish to correct it.