Marble Statues, as appears by a Will mentioned by _Marcellus_, which runs thus, _My Will and Pleasure is, that my Heir, at his own Expence, build in my native Countrey a Publick_ Portico, _in which, I desire my Silver and Marble Statues may be reposited_. I believe my Author understands in this Clause of the Will, the same Kind of _Portico’s_ with those I now comment upon, which were of so considerable a Length, that they reached from the Imperial Palace, to the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. For _Procopius_ writes, in his _First Orat. de Ædif. Justin._ That in the Reign of _Justinian_, the Church of St. _Sophia_, and both the long _Portico’s_, stretching themselves as far as the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, were burnt down. The same Fact is testified by _Cedrinus_, who says, that both these _Portico’s_ were consumed by Fire, in the Reign of _Basiliscus_, altho’ after these Casualities, they were always rebuilt. I would observe, that every _Ward_ at _Constantinople_ had in it some _Portico’s_, though some _Wards_ at Rome had none. _Four Gradus._] The Word, which is here called _Gradus_, signifies a Tribunal, which was ascended by Marble Steps, to receive the Bread which was to be distributed among the common People, and which, was therefore called, _Panis Gradilis_. _Valentinian_ tells us, that the carrying the _Panis Gradilis_ from one Tribunal to another, is strictly forbidden. He also commands in _Cod. Theod._ that every one receive the _Panis Gradilis_ from the Tribunal. From which Passages it is plain, that this _Gradus_ was a famous Tribunal, from whence they used to distribute Bread. For _Constantine_, as _Metaphrastes_ writes, bestowed every Day upon the Poor, eighty Thousand Loaves. _Socrates_, _Lib._ II. _Cap._ 13. says expressly, that he gave Daily eighty Thousand Bushels of Corn to the Poor; besides, as _Suidas_ adds, Wine, and Flesh, and Oil. These were therefore _Gradus_, or Tribunals, erected in this _Ward_ for that Purpose. _It was governed by one_ Curator, _who had under his Charge the whole_ Ward.] The _Curators_ (who seem something like our Aldermen) were first instituted by _Augustus_, and by _Suetonius_, _Cap._ XXX. are called _Magistratus_. He divided, says he, meaning _Augustus_, the City into Streets and _Wards_, and commanded that the _Wards_ should be governed by a Magistrate, chosen by Lot yearly, and that the Streets should be governed by a Master elected out of the common People. Afterwards, in the Room of these, _Alexander Augustus_ appointed fourteen _Curators_. _Lampridius_ tells us, that _Rome_ chose fourteen _Curators_, out of the most eminent Citizens, and obliged them to assist the _Prefect_ of the City, so that all, or most of them attended, when any Thing was transacted for the good of the Publick. It was a principal Part of their Business to decide Causes, and to take Care of Orphans, and the Poor.