86. The numbers are not ascertained by any ancient writer or
original catalogue; for the partial lists of the eastern
churches are comparatively modern. The patient diligence of
Charles a Sto. Paolo, of Luke Holstenius, and of Bingham,
has laboriousls investigated all the episcopal sees of the
Catholic church, which was almost commensurate with the
Roman empire. The ninth book of the Christian Antiquities is
a very accurate map of ecclesiastical geography.