* We pass on to the Island
at Westgate Bridge; and a quarter of a mile further leave
it by Over Bridge; one of Telford's beautiful works. Just
below it the Great Western Railway crosses the river by an
iron bridge, the western piers of which rest upon Roman foundations.
[Footnote]
* Sharon Turner's "Anglo Saxons," Vol. III., Chap. XV.
[End of Footnote]
One remarkable thing which I believe I forgot to mention to
George Hoar as we crossed the Island, is, that the meadows
on both sides of the causeway belong to the "Freemen" of the
city; and that, go back as far as we may in history, we cannot
find any account of the original foundation of this body.
But we have this clue to it--that Gloucester was made into
a Colony in the reign of Nerva, just before the end of the
first century; and in each Roman colony lands were allotted
to the soldiers of the legions who had become freemen by reason
of having served for twenty-five years. These lands were
always on the side of the city nearest the enemy; and the
lands we are crossing are on the western side of Glevum, nearest
the _Silures,_ or South Welsh, who were always the most dangerous
enemies the Romans had in Britain.
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