made the pedestal out of a piece of the frieze and architrave of the Arch of Trajan'. Winkelmann has also mistaken in saying the man was not on the horse in Rienzi's time.

The Conservator's palace exhibits vestiges of the reform of Arnold of Brescia, and of his reestablished senate. In apartments contiguous to that which contains the old Fasti, the modern series of inglorious magistrates is ranged, in humble imitation of the venerable list of ancient conquerors and triumphs. The initials of the modern title are so given, that what must be read Conservators looks like Consuls. It does not seem to be known at what precise period the modern senate of Rome diminished from a council, which at one time amounted to fiftysix persons, to a single magistrate; nor does it appear, that after that reduction the government of the city was invariably trusted to one alone3. The senate, in the modern sense, was an office exercised by one or more persons, for a term which was at first annual; and we read of this senate long after the duties had been

See Dissertazione sulle rovine, &c. p. 410, ad fin. See-Serie cronologica de' Senatori di Roma dal Conte Antonio Vendettini in Roma, 1778.

"E primieramente vediamo dall' elenco medesimo che i Senatori ora erano più, ora un solo, e prima di questo tempo or uno or due." Vendett, loc. citat.

exercised by an individual. Notwithstanding the re-establishment dates from 1143, the chronological series does not begin before the year 1220, with Parenzio Parenzi. The names for the next year will sound powerfully to our ears

1221, HANNIBAL AND NAPOLEON.

Napoleon of the Orsi is a frequent name in the early fasti. The chief magistrate was assisted by three Assessors, to administer criminal and civil justice; but the next in dignity and power to those or to him who composed the senate, were the three Conservators; and in addition to these the same list contains the names of the Capo-Rioni, who are often enrolled with the Conservators. There were marshals also, of whom one is recorded, and Præfects, or Notaries of the præfecture. In an interregnum, or during the absence of the senators, the Conservators exercised the functions, unless they were entrusted to those who under various names of Reformers of the Roman republic-Chamberlains-Good men-Deputies of the people, supplied the place of the regular government, and were sometimes dependent on the bene placitum of the Pope, sometimes derived their authority from the people.

His title was Illustris first, and then Illustrissimus, with the addition Dei gratia.

The law by which an alien alone could be chosen for senator, does not apply to those first on the list, who are specified as Romans, nor did it constantly obtain, in subsequent periods, until the reform of the statutes in 1580.

When Brancaleone was elected, in 1252, this was the usage, but in the next century the office was divided frequently between the Colonna and Orsini. Muratori' mentions, that the custom of choosing foreigners for magistrates, was introduced into Italy before the year 1180. The choice of foreign arbitrators in the controversies of states and princes, seems to have been the fashion of the thirteenth century. Thus the English referred to Philip of France. Thus the kings of France and Arragon, and other princes-the Scotch for instance-submitted their claims to the judgment of King Edward I.2

The ancient statutes have been traced back to the year 1364.

Every vestige of the popular governments, 1 Dissertazione sopra le antichità Ital. diss. xlvi. p. 67. tom. iii.

* See-Hume, Hist. of England, Edw. I. cap. xiii.

For a short account of the statutes and government of Rome, see the Decline and Fall, cap. lxx. p. 380, tom. xii. oct. What has been said above, was inserted merely in explanation of the modern Fasti Consulares. The civil and criminal justice of Rome, previously to the late revolution, was esteemed, and with reason, the most iniquitous in Italy.

which those statutes were meant to preserve, has been gradually abolished; and the Senate and Roman people, after nearly seven centuries of feeble, dubious existence, are now at their last gasp. One of the operations of the Cardinal Gonsalvi's ministry has been to give an unity to the papal government, by depriving the Conservators of some feudal jurisdictions which they still held at Viterbo. The senatorial palace of the Capitol has probably seen the last tribunal of the expiring magistrates.

The pageant, however, remains. The three Conservators act certain parts in certain ceremonies: they stand on the second step of the papal throne, and they have a right to carry the sacramental vessels between the high altar and his holiness, on Easter Sunday. The Senator of Rome bears a still more conspicuous part in these scenes of humiliation. When the Pope pontificates, the Senator stands amidst a seated assembly, but stands at the right hand of the hierarch, on a level with the throne, and a step above the Conservators. His cloak of golden brocade, and his depending rolls of borrowed hair, suit well with the meek ministerial attitude of the gentleman-usher; but they are dwindled into nothing amidst the purple of the cardinals,

The Cardinal Gonsalvi has attempted some reforms, since the restoration of the Pope appeared likely to revive all the defects of the old government.

and the seven-fold robes of the holy father: even his patient resignation is obscured by the incense and awful bustle of that pious pantomime.

The half-starved porters of the Campidoglio make their boast to strangers, that their Senator is placed for life, and cannot be degraded from his office, even by the Pope himself. But the pontiffs have shewn their conviction of his impotence, by dispensing with the statute which enacted that no one but an alien could be chosen. His present Holiness did not think it expedient to nominate a relation, as Rezzonico had done, but gave the idle title to the young Patrizzi, the representative of a noble Siennese family transplanted to Rome.

The eloquent initials of the S. P. Q. R. are still to be seen multiplied on all the escutcheons and inscriptions of the modern city; and the same ambitious formula has been imitated by the little tributary towns of the pontifical state. We read, on the stuccoed gateway at Tivoli, of a modern" Senate, and Tiburtine People."

Stanza CXLV.

While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand.

"Quandiu stabit Colysæus, stabit Roma; quando cadet Colysæus, cadet et Roma; quando cadet Roma, cadet et mundus." These words.