The recent discoveries, especially that made by Niebuhr of the long-lost work of Gaius, have given a great impulse to the study of Roman law in Germany; and to this impulse no one has contributed so greatly as Savigny of Berlin.

By and by he found himself succeeding Niebuhr as the diplomatic representative of Prussia at Rome.

After reading Persian for a short time in Paris with De Sacy, and after the failure of a plan of travel with Mr. Astor of New York, Bunsen joined Niebuhr at Florence in the end of 1816, and went on with him to Rome, where Niebuhr was Prussian envoy.

The Italian historian Vico wrote a book which attracted no attention for nearly two hundred years,in fact, was forgotten,but was made famous by the discoveries of Niebuhr in the Vatican library, and became the foundation of modern philosophical history.

[Footnote A: We have taken for granted the soundness of the views of Niebuhr on the Roman Agrarian contests and laws, that eminent scholar having followed in the track of Heyne with distinguished success; but it must be allowed that in some respects his positions have been not unsuccessfully assailed.