Note 70 — THE EARLIEST HISTORY. (continued 2)

These relative positions were so familiar to our (German) forefathers, that in the Mayence translation of Livy, populus is rendered throughout by Geschlechter, plebes by Gemeinde. Thus it says, “There were appointed as burgomasters (consuls), T. Quinctius by the Geschlechter, and L. Genucius by the Gemeinde;” where Livy has populus and plebes. The consequence of such an artless view of the several positions was, that the men of the sixteenth century had very correct notions of many things, although devoid of the scientific learning which we cannot do without. I have found this out only a few weeks ago.