has been equally his endeavour to give novelty to stale disquisitions,
and authority to new observations. He has both removed the rust, and
dispelled the obscurity, which enveloped the doctrines of many ancient
naturalists; but, with all his care and industry, he has exploded fewer
errors, and sanctioned a greater number of doubtful opinions, than was
consistent with the exercise of unprejudiced and severe investigation.

Pliny was fifty-six years of age at the time of his death; the manner of
which is accurately related by his nephew, the elegant Pliny the Younger,
in a letter to Tacitus, who entertained a design of writing the life of
the naturalist.




FOOTNOTES:

[776] Caligula. Titus was born A.U.C. 794; about A.D. 49.

[777] The Septizonium was a circular building of seven stories. The
remains of that of Septimus Severus, which stood on the side of the
Palatine Hill, remained till the time of Pope Sixtus V., who removed it,
and employed thirty-eight of its columns in ornamenting the church of St.
Peter. It does not appear whether the Septizonium here mentioned as
existing in the time of Titus, stood on the same spot.

[778] Britannicus, the son of Claudius and Messalina.

[779] A.U.C. 820.