See Dr. Parr's works,
iii. 93, where he questions the propriety of Gibbon's translation of
this passage. The learned doctor approves of the version proposed by
a Mr. Gaches, who would make out that it was the delicate parts of the
swine and the cattle, which were eaten by these ancestors of the Scotch
nation. I confess that even to acquit them of this charge. I cannot
agree to the new version, which, in my opinion, is directly contrary
both to the meaning of the words, and the general sense of the passage.
But I would suggest, did Jerom, as a boy, accompany these savages in
any of their hunting expeditions? If he did not, how could he be an
eye-witness of this practice? The Attacotti in Gaul must have been
in the service of Rome. Were they permitted to indulge these cannibal
propensities at the expense, not of the flocks, but of the shepherds of
the provinces? These sanguinary trophies of plunder would scarce'y have
been publicly exhibited in a Roman city or a Roman camp. I must leave
the hereditary pride of our northern neighbors at issue with the
veracity of St. Jerom.]

Every messenger who escaped across the British Channel, conveyed the
most melancholy and alarming tidings to the ears of Valentinian; and
the emperor was soon informed that the two military commanders of the
province had been surprised and cut off by the Barbarians. Severus,
count of the domestics, was hastily despatched, and as suddenly
recalled, by the court of Treves. The representations of Jovinus served
only to indicate the greatness of the evil; and, after a long and
serious consultation, the defence, or rather the recovery, of Britain
was intrusted to the abilities of the brave Theodosius. The exploits of
that general, the father of a line of emperors, have been celebrated,
with peculiar complacency, by the writers of the age: but his real merit
deserved their applause; and his nomination was received, by the army
and province, as a sure presage of approaching victory. He seized the
favorable moment of navigation, and securely landed the numerous and
veteran bands of the Heruli and Batavians, the Jovians and the Victors.
In his march from Sandwich to London, Theodosius defeated several
parties of the Barbarians, released a multitude of captives, and, after
distributing to his soldiers a small portion of the spoil, established
the fame of disinterested justice, by the restitution of the remainder
to the rightful proprietors. The citizens of Lon