In the same year, if Polybius's reckoning is correct, the Romans concluded the first peace with the Gauls; consequently for the same reasons which occasioned their peace with Alexander, and that they might be safe on this side during the war with the Samnites. Livy's account under the same year, that apprehensions of a Gallic invasion were spread abroad, and that a dictator was appointed: that the persons however sent out in order to collect information reported, that every thing was quiet among the Gauls, has an obscure reference to that statement: so far did the annals leave traces of an embassy despatcht to the Gauls; the mention of the peace was obliterated. To conclude such a peace with the Romans, who had no kind of connexion with them, unless they themselves marcht against Rome, the Gauls could have had no occasion, except it was solicited, and no reason to grant it, except presents, if not an annual tribute, which even the proudest have often considered to be no dishonour to pay to barbarians; for certainly this peace, which protected all nations dependent upon the Romans, however distant Rome herself was, almost put an end to their marauding expeditions. The northern boundary of Etruria was protected by the impassable nature of the Apennines: the road through the Abruzzi was easily defended by the brave inhabitants, and might have been dreaded by the barbarians on account of more than one defeat: there remained the middle road through Umbria which was certainly subdued, and down the lower Tiber.