219 



in making perforations in them, often burned the 

 wood, and was fatal to the success of the opera- 

 tion. It was to avoid this inconvenience, that 

 the Gauls invented another kind of borer, (tere- 

 bragallica), which was a real gimlet, the more 

 ° regular and less rapid action of which would not 

 occasion combustion. It appears to me, that the 

 commentators of Pliny have hitherto given no 

 just idea, either of the invention of Dedalus, or 

 of the Gallic borer. 



Such, my dear Colleague, are the observations 

 which I wish to submit to your judgment. Your 

 friendship, I trust, will consider them as a proof 

 of mine, and of the lively interest which I take 

 in your labours. 



E. Q. VISCONTL 



Paris, the 12th of December, 1812. 



