I’ve long thought that Pompey is the true predecessor to Augustus. Caesar’s model got him stabbed. Had Pompey held Rome and pushed Caesar off, the Empire could have started and continued with different dynasty but much the same framework without the horrid triumviral period. Perhaps a fun alt history novel but actually relevant for seeing why the empire ended up running as it did. The seeds were all in existence long before Caesar left Gaul.
Pompey in the the above passage is already PRINCEPS and Brutus is already FIRST among the IUVENTUTIS. There is almost an identical passage in F.3.10 written to Appius the previous April.
The above passage follows on from one of the best articulations of the problem and political character with all maiestas charges, i.e. the idea that someone can be put on trial for weakening the state for basically any reason. This was the primary charge used to suppress dissent against the imperial house under the Empire.
This post is likely to grow as this idea develops. I’ve been meaning to collect passages of this sort. I also mean to collect references to Sulla in the letters, but that can wait until I’m back on my book 3 project as there is a chapter on Sulla in the works.
Liv Mariah Yarrow 
Interesting. One might go on to speculate about a struggle for succession between Gnaeus and Sextus.
oooo that would be one heck of a novel