nce, that in it was vested the regulation of
the morals and discipline of Rome, the senate and the centuries of the
knights, the distinction of honour and of ignominy were under the sway
of that office, the legal right to public and private places, the
revenues of the Roman people fell under their beck and jurisdiction. The
institution of the thing originated in this, that the people not having
been subjected to a survey for several years, the census could neither
be deferred, nor had the consuls leisure to discharge their duty, when
wars impended from so many states. An observation was made by the
senate, "that an office laborious in itself, and one little suited to
the consular office, required a magistrate for itself, to whose
authority should be submitted the duties of the several scribes, the
custody and care of the records, as well as the adjustment of the form
to be adopted in the census." And inconsiderable though the proposal
might be, still the senate received it with great pleasure, because it
increased the number of patrician magistrates in the state, judging also
that that would come to pass, which really did occur, viz. that the
influence of those who should preside, and the honour of the office
would derive on it additional authority and dignity. The tribunes also,
considering the discharge of the duty (as was really the case) as
necessary rather than the duty itself, as being attended with lustre,
did not indeed offer opposition, lest they should through perverseness
show a disposition to thwart them even in trifles. After the honour was
rejected by the leading men of the state, the people by their suffrages
appointed to the office of conducting the census Papirius and
Sempronius, concerning whose consulate doubts are entertained, that in
that magistracy they might have some recompence for the incompleteness
of their consulate. They were called censors from the nature of their
office.

9. Whilst these matters are transacting at Rome, ambassadors come from
Ardea, imploring aid for their city, which was nearly destroyed, in
consideration of their very ancient alliance, and of the treaty recently
renewed. For by intestine wars they were not allowed to enjoy the peace
with Rome, which they had by the soundest policy preserved; the cause
and origin of which is said to have arisen from a struggle between
factions; which have proved and ever will prove more a cause of
destruction to several states, than foreign