9. In the three 'census' which were made of the Roman people
about the time of the second Punic war, the numbers stand as
follows (see Livy, Epitom. l. xx. Hist. l. xxvii.36, xxix.
37), 270, 213, 137, 108, 214,000. The fall of the second
and the rise of the third appears so enormous, that several
critics, notwithstanding the unanimity of the MSS., have
suspected some corruption of the text of Livy. (See
Drakenbroch ad xxvii. 36, and Beaufort, Republique Romaine,
tom. i. p. 325). They did not consider that the second
census was taken only at Rome, and that the numbers were
diminished, not only by the death, but likewise by the
absence, of many soldiers. In the third census, Livy
expressly affirms that the legions were mustered by the care
of particular commissaries. From the numbers on the list we
must always deduct one-twelfth above threescore and
incapable of bearing arms. See Population de la France, p.
72.