2110-6-6-19

Penmellyn Dorking

March 15. 34.

John Buchan, Esq., M.P. House of Commons S.W.1.

Dear Sir

I hope it is neither a liberty nor an act of ingratitude to draw your attention to two errors, if such they be, in your excellent study of Julius Caesar.

1. Caesar's Landing Place. In B.G. iv. 23, Caesar gives no definite indication as to whether he turned from Dover Cliffs to sail to the right or left. I believe that some writers have favoured the shore between Ramsgate + Deal, others have voted for Romney Marshes.

However in B.G. v. 8, he says quite clearly that he landed at the same place, which he had found to be best in the previous year. Tum rursus aestus commutationem secutus remis conteudit, ut eam partem insulae caperet qua optimum esse egressurn superiore aestate cognoverat. But that place you

consider to have been Deal; and so do I, on account of Caesar's explanation that he found himself passing Britain on the left "Longius delatus aestu sub sinistra Brit. relictam conspexit.

Summa". The first Landing was near Deal or Romney The second Landing was at the same place. But, the second Landing was near Deal. Ergo, so was the first.

2. About the Legions. I should like to think that Caesar was the first to number his legions. But, consider the Numbers of the Legions as early as that day he overcame the Nervii. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Unless for some reason he began his count from 7, it seems incredible that the Legions 1-6 did not exist. But they were not his. Further, today, Idibus Martii, I read in Livy XXII. 57, "legione classica, ea legio tertia erat", referring to the disposal of troops after the Battle of Cannae.

Senex sum. Forgive my intrusion.

Yours faithfully

AH Nankivell