thecustodyanddistributionofthepublicallowanceofcornandprovisions；thecareoftheport，oftheaqueducts，ofthecommonsewers，andofthenavigationandbedoftheTyber；theinspectionofthemarkets，thetheatres，andoftheprivateaswellasthepublicworks。Theirvigilanceinsuredthethreeprincipalobjectsofaregularpolice，safety，plenty，andcleanliness；andasaproofoftheattentionofgovernmenttopreservethesplendorandornamentsofthecapital，aparticularinspectorwasappointedforthestatues；theguardian，asitwere，ofthatinanimatepeople，which，accordingtotheextravagantcomputationofanoldwriter，wasscarcelyinferiorinnumbertothelivinginhabitantsofRome。AboutthirtyyearsafterthefoundationofConstantinople，asimilarmagistratewascreatedinthatrisingmetropolis，forthesameusesandwiththesamepowers。Aperfectequalitywasestablishedbetweenthedignityofthetwomunicipal，andthatofthefourPraetorianpraefects。^109
[Footnote103:Tacit。Annal。vi。11。Euseb。inChron。p。155。
DionCassius，intheorationofMaecenas，l。lvii。p。675，
describestheprerogativesofthepraefectofthecityastheywereestablishedinhisowntime。]
[Footnote104:ThefameofMessallahasbeenscarcelyequaltohismerit。IntheearliestyouthhewasrecommendedbyCicerotothefriendshipofBrutus。HefollowedthestandardoftherepublictillitwasbrokeninthefieldsofPhilippi；hethenacceptedanddeservedthefavorofthemostmoderateoftheconquerors；anduniformlyassertedhisfreedomanddignityinthecourtofAugustus。ThetriumphofMessallawasjustifiedbytheconquestofAquitain。Asanorator，hedisputedthepalmofeloquencewithCicerohimself。Messallacultivatedeverymuse，andwasthepatronofeverymanofgenius。HespenthiseveningsinphilosophicconversationwithHorace；assumedhisplaceattablebetweenDeliaandTibullus；andamusedhisleisurebyencouragingthepoeticaltalentsofyoungOvid。]