Note 51 — CICERO'S LETTERS TO ATTICUS BOOK VII (continued 2)

This reserve fund was said to have been founded originally to meet a possible invasion of the Gauls. It was made up from spoils in war and from the 5 per cent tax on manumitted slaves. It was drawn upon in the second Punic War (cf. Livy XXVII, 11). Caesar (Bellum Civ. 14) says the consuls intended to open it before they left Rome; but fled in haste at a report of his approach.