The annals of Tacitus

xxii TACITUS, ANNALS IV
Tacitus, a chamjiion of the Senate, writing of the early
part of the reign of Tiberius (iii 60), tells us how the Emperor,
while strengthening the powers of the Principate, yielded to the
Senate the semblance of its ancient authority, by referring to
its discussion petitions from the Provinces.
A fine sight it was (writes Tacitus) magna eius diei species
fuit— to see the Senate inquiring into these matters, free as
in olden days to cancel or confirm. But Tacitus knows that
this power is a mere phantom. There was no joint government.
It differed in no respect from monarchy, non alia re
Romana quam si wrms imperitet (iv 33).
There remained (according to Stobart^) another motive
for admitting the Senate to partnership, a motive so simple
and practical that it almost eludes the notice of the constitu-
tional historian. Until a new machinery could be created,
until a competent civil service could lie organised, the mere
burden of administration was more than one man could bear.
By degrees a civil service is organised. Then, as there
is less need of the Senate, its importance steadily decreases.
This is the explanation of the paradox that the more Augustus
seems to retire from jjublic offices, the more business is
absorbed into the imperial chancellery.
In iv 22, 34, 42, and other passages we find Tiberius pre-
siding at the senatorial high court of justice. The power of
pardon has passed entirely to the Emperor. It is proposed
in the Senate (iv 30) that Serenus should be scourged to death
more maiorum. The Emperor exercises his power of iriter-
cessio^ ; and Serenus is banished.
1 he, p. 303.
'^ Compare Stobart, I.e. :—' The trihunicia potestas was not
conferred in a lump by any such formula as tribuniciam potestatem
haheto, but by a series of laws, —personal sacrosanctitas and
the right to sit on the Tribunes' Bench in 36 B.C., ius auxilii
in 30 B.C. and the rest in 23 B.C., when it first begins to be
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