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 were nearly empty, and that there was good hope, if the same policy of persecution was pursued, of a general apostasy from Christianity ensuing? Several, too, of the statements concerning the practices of Christians betray only a very imperfect knowledge of the practices referred to.

The passage which, however, has excited the greatest suspicion and animosity is that which relates to the great numbers of the Christians; but it must be remembered that Tacitus had already spoken of "a vast multitude" as suffering at Rome in the persecution of the Emperor Nero.