LETTER OF SERVAEUS AFRICANUS
  
ON THE REDUCTION OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICIALS
   
( September 13, AD 288 )
 
 
( Johnson, Coleman-Norton & Bourne, Ancient Roman Statutes, Austin, 1961, p. 233, n. 294 ).
 
 
      The rank or title of Servaeus is unknown, but evidently he had general oversight of the imperial estates in Egypt. It is of interest to note that a sweeping attempt was made to reduce the number of bureaucratic officials, although the administrative reforms of Diocletian are usually blamed for a vast increase in bureaucracy.
      The papyrus containing this letter was reported in 1898.
 
 
ENGLISH TRANSLATION.
 
 
      Servaeus Africanus to the strategi of Heptanomia and of the Arsinoite nome, greetings.
      From the accounts themselves it is clear that many persons in their eagerness to waste imperial revenues have coined for themselves titles such as stewards, secretaries, managers. These persons are of no advantage to the fisc, but they devour the surplus.
      Accordingly, it has become necessary to instruct you that you arrange for the selection of a single capable manager for each estate, on the responsibility of the senate concerned, and that you abolish the other titles. The manager so chosen shall be enabled to appoint in addition two, or at the most three, assistants to help him in his task. In this way useless expenses themselves will be abolished and the imperial properties will receive proper attention. Of course, you will provide that such assistants shall be chosen for the managers as will meet the requirements.
      Farewell.
      Year 5 and Year 4, Thoth 16.