Note 2734 — PORTUS ITIUS

Archaeologia, xxxiv, 1852, pp. 237-8. I find, to my amazement, that Desjardins agrees with Airy. ‘The text,’ he argues (Géogr. de la Gaule rom., i, 360-1), ‘does not say precisely that the Portus Itius is 30 miles from Britain; it only says (1) that Caesar had ascertained that it was a very convenient port; and (2) that Britain was about 30 miles from the continent. Here we have two distinct statements.’

It is worth mentioning that Airy, in quoting the passage, omits transmissum, while Desjardins retains it. It was originally deleted by Faërn, who has been followed by various editors, in defiance of the MSS. See C. E. C. Schneider, Comm. de bellis C. I. Caesaris, ii, 1849, p. 11.