THERE is one view of Roman life of which the moderns can scarcely form any satisfactory idea: we can hardly imagine how the utmost incredible number of servants and attendants, kept in the houses of the rich and noble to wait on a few persons, could find occupation, nor how the extraordinary division and subdivision of labour, was prevented from causing far more trouble and confusion, than it promoted comfort and punctuality. In order to obtain as comprehensive a view of the subject as possible, it will be best not to treat of the individual classes, as opportunities may occur, but to go at once through the whole familia, according to its different divisions, and the avocations of their members. We shall, however, only consider the slaves, in reference to their domestic arrangements, position with regard to their master, and occupation, and shall exclude all consideration of the legal part of the subject, as servitus justa, et injusta, manumissio, etc.

The Slave-family, considered in this point of view, has been treated of by Pignorius (De servis et eorum apud veteres ministerns), Titus Popma (De operis servorum), and Gori, in the explanation of the Columbarium libertorum et servorum Liviœ Augustœ. All three treatises are to be found in Poleni, Suppl. ad Grœv. thes. antt. Rom. iii.

As regards the method of acquiring slaves by the master, the general rule laid down (Inst. i. 3), servi aut nascuntur, aut fiunt, is here applicable, since the master acquired them either by purchase or birth.