1 Comte de Caylus to Mr. Mallet, 72 Abstract of my Readings; with Reflections, 73 1. Critical Refearches concerning the Title of Charles VIII. to the Crown of Naples, OF THE LETTERS. SIR, N° I. Mr. CREVIER to Mr. GIBBON. PARIS, 7th Auguft 1756. I AM extremely obliged by your expreffions of esteem, without taking them in the literal fenfe, and believing myself an oracle. But I am a lover of truth and fincerity, and always ready to avail myself of the communications of my learned friends. With the greatest pleasure, therefore, I received your ingenious conjecture illuftrating a paffage of Livy, by which I had been puzzled. I adopt all your observations and reafonings. By changing a fingle letter, you fubftitute, instead of an aukward and obfcure meaning, a thought perfpicuous in itself, fuitable to the character of the speaker, and connected with the purport of his difcourfe. I fhall not fail noticing this judicious correction, when an opportunity occurs, and mentioning the name of the person to whom I am indebted for it. I will add only one remark, of fmall importance indeed, but necessary for giving complete correctness to the paffage with which your attention has been fo fuccefsfully occupied. With your emendation it runs thus: Nec effe in vos otio veftro confultum ab Romanis credatis. The in vos does not appear to me to correspond well with otio veftro ; fince it feems to indicate VOL. VI. B |