LOST BOOKS OF LIVY.

Shannon News, 2 December 1924, Page 4

LOST BOOKS OF LIVY.

DR. MARTINO-FUSCO’S ADMISSION. The Inspector-General of State Ai'cliives at Rome, who, at the instance of the Minister of Public Instruction, has been inquiring into the question of the Lost books of Livy, has returned from Naples and presented his lepoi-t, together with a signed statement by Dr. di Martino-Fusco, to the Minister, states Reuter’s correspondent. It appears that whilst examining the ,State archives at Naples, Dr. di Martino-Fusco found a document, dated December 2, 1332, already well khown, in which King Robert of Anjou ordered a sum of money to be paid to the Scribe Paolino “pro scriptura decern librorum Titi Livii de bellO Macendico.” The . profesor, not being well up in medieval documents, thought the Paolino copy was not resti’icted to the 10 known books on the Macedonian war, but believes they referred to the complete text of Livy’s works. Dr. di MartinoFusco continued his researches, and in the meantime lightly assured his friends that he had found all the missing codices, and had already begun the transliteration of the second 10. Professor Ribezzo gave publicity to the alleged find in the "Rivista Italo-Greco.”

Dr. li Martino-Fusco does not con- i test the dementi, but expresses in writing his admission that he followed a false scent, and formally retracts all his previous statements about the lost books. This last statement is regarded as accurate, but the Ministry of Public Instruction intends to watch developments. .