or a degree of credulity, common to the human mind in the early
stage of physical (478) researches, he is far from being deficient in the
essential qualifications of a writer of Natural History. His
descriptions appear to be accurate, his observations precise, his
narrative is in general perspicuous, and he often illustrates his subject
by a vivacity of thought, as well as by a happy turn of expression. It
has been equally his endeavour to give novelty to stale disquisitions,
and authority to new observations. He has both removed the rust, and
dispelled the obscurity, which enveloped the doctrines of many ancient
naturalists; but, with all his care and industry, he has exploded fewer
errors, and sanctioned a greater number of doubtful opinions, than was
consistent with the exercise of unprejudiced and severe investigation.

Pliny was fifty-six years of age at the time of his death; the manner of
which is accurately related by his nephew, the elegant Pliny the Younger,
in a letter to Tacitus, who entertained a design of writing the life of
the naturalist.

FOOTNOTES:

[776] Caligula. Titus was born A.U.C. 794; about A.D. 49.

[777] The Septizonium was a circular building of seven stories. The
remains of that of Septimus Severus, which stood on the side of the
Palatine Hill, remained till the time of Pope Sixtus V., who removed it,
and employed thirty-eight of its columns in ornamenting the church of St.
Peter. It does not appear whether the Septizonium here mentioned as
existing in the time of Titus, stood on the same spot.

[778] Britannicus, the son of Claudius and Messalina.

[779] A.U.C. 820.

[780] Jerusalem was taken, sacked, and burnt, by Titus, after a two
years' siege, on the 8th September, A.U.C. 821, A.D. 69; it being the
Sabbath. It was in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, when the
emperor was sixty years old, and Titus himself, as he informs us, thirty.
For particulars of the siege, see Josephus, De Bell. Jud. vi. and vii.;
Hegesippus, Excid. Hierosol. v.; Dio, lxvi.; Tacitus, Hist. v.; Orosius,
vii. 9.

[781] For the sense in which Titus was saluted with the title of Emperor
by the troops, see JULIUS CAESAR, c. lxxvi.

[782] The joint triumph of Vespasian and Titus, which was celebrated
A.U.C. 824, is fully described by Josephus, De Bell. Jud. vii. 24. It is
commemorated by the triumphal monument called the Arch of Titus, erected
by the senate and people of Rome after