Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/101

 Rh their Mothers Estates, who died Intestate. The Romans had a Law that those who were not Originally Italians, in case they stood for any Office at Rome, should be oblig'd to lay out a Third of what they were worth upon Land in Italy, that so they might look upon that, and the Town, as their own Country : Antoninus relax'd a little upon this Point, and bound them to no more than a Fourth.

He was particularly careful of the Honour, and Interest of the Senate. For he not only remitted a great many Causes to the House, which used to be tryed at the Council Board ; but also impower'd them to give Judgment without Appeal. He commonly reserv'd the Offices of Ædiles and Tribunes, or Treasurers, for those Senators who were decay'd in their Fortunes, provided they were not grown poor by their Vice and Extravagance. 'Twas never his way to receive any Person into this Order, without the Consent of the whole House, nor then till he had strictly enquired into his Character. When any Nobleman was tried for his Life, he always took care to be fully informed of the Matter alledg'd against him, and never suffer'd any Commoner, tho' of the best Rank, to be concern'd in Causes of this Nature. His Custom was to come to this Rh