Welsh Journals

WALES. Vol. L] OCTOBER, 1894. [No. 6. THE HISTORY OF WALES. V.—THE ROMAN IN WALES. T was the work of Rome to stop the migration of the nations and to form the restless tribes of the world into an organized state. From Jerusalem in the east to Carnarvon in the west, tribal spirit was broken and national inde¬ pendence des¬ troyed ; and out of the ruins of many states and cities,— different in wealth and religion and civilization and history,—Rome rose in unriv¬ alled majesty. When Rome fell, and when the nations which formed its empire fell asunder again at the touch of the mighty barbarian of the east and north, each liberated nation looked upon itself as a little Rome. And the very :^&*f$ ANCIENT BRITISH CROSS AT MARGAM. ROMAN MEMORIAL. By E. Doncvan, 1805. Europe, the Britons clung fondly to Roman traditions long after the last Roman legion had departed. The roads, the mines, the cities, and the villas were left. And, above all, the Roman method of government was left. While the Britons were struggling against the bar- barians who poured into their country, they were en¬ gaged in a no less important struggle for the continuation of Roman unity and orderly government. The British leaders who fought against the Angle and Saxon in¬ vaders fought against each other for the succession to the departed power of the duke of the Britains or of the count of the Saxon shore. Wales owes barbarians, who had brought destruction to its over-civilized provinces, clothed themselves with the authority of the officers of the great fallen Empire. Among the other Romanized nations of its characteristic desire for independence to the mountains, and to them it owes its ever-present division. Its second great characteristic, the desire for unity which seems to be inconsistent with its love of 241 16