Geologists tell us that Great Britain was once connected with the
mainland of western Europe. It was fortunate for Britain that this
connection was severed and that it became an island. We see an
illustration of this advantage in the case of the Roman invasion. It
was easy for the Romans to march great armies into Gaul and take
complete possession of that country, but it was with no little
difficulty that they sent fleets across the tempestuous waters of the
Channel. This may have been one reason why they never succeeded in
permanently establishing their language and their laws in the island
of Britain. It is true that they conquered and held it for several
centuries, but they never destroyed its individuality,--they never
Latinized it as they did France and Spain.