I have used for the first five books of the Gallic war the text of C. E. Christ. Schneider, Halle. Schneider has given the various readings at great length; and his edition contains many valuable notes in Latin, which have often been useful to me. Probably his text of the first five books may be accepted as the best that can be made; at least I have not thought it judicious to differ from it very often. The editor appears to be in no hurry over his work, for the edition of the first four books is dated 1840; and the edition of the fifth book, which is printed separately, is dated 1849.
I have used for the other three books the edition of the Commentarii by C. W. Elberling, Copenhagen, 1827; and I have also compared it with Schneider in the first five books. It contains some of the various readings, probably the most important. I have used a copy which was lent to me by Professor Key, who has marked many passages, and his hints have often been useful to me. In many cases I have not adopted Elberling's readings, but I have noted nearly all the instances in the eight books in which I have differed from him, except a few which are of very little importance.
I have also used an edition of the eight books of the Commentarii by M. C. G. Herzog, Leipzig, 1831.
