Fulvius resigned the dictatorship.  At the end of this summer, a Carthaginian fleet of forty ships, under the command of Hamilcar, passed over to Sardinia.  At first it laid waste the territory of Olbia, and then Publius Manlius Vulso, with his army, making his appearance, it sailed round thence to the other side of the island, and devastating the territory of Caralis, returned to Africa with booty of every kind.  Several Roman priests died this year, and others were substituted.  Caius Servilius was appointed pontiff, in the place of Titus Otacilius Crassus.  Tiberius Sempronius Longus, son of Tiberius, was appointed as augur, in the place of Titus Otacilius Crassus; and Tiberius Sempronius Longus, son of Tiberius, was appointed decemvir for the performance of sacred rites, in the room of Tiberius Sempronius Longus, son of Caius.  Marcus Marcius, king of the sacred rites, and Marcus Aemilius Papus, chief curio, died; but no priests were appointed to succeed them this year.  The censors this year were Lucius Veturius Philo, and Publius Licinius Crassus chief pontiff.  Licinius Crassus had neither been consul nor praetor before he was appointed censor, he stepped from the aedileship to the censorship.  These censors neither chose the senate, nor transacted any public business, the death of Lucius Veturius prevented it; on this Licinius also gave up his office.  The curule aediles, Lucius Veturius and Publius Licinius Varus, repeated the Roman games during one day.  The plebeian aediles, Quintus Catius and Lucius Porcius Licinius, furnished brazen statues for the temple of Ceres, out of the money arising from fines, and exhibited games with great pomp and splendour, considering the circumstances of the times.

7.  At the close of this year, Caius Laelius, the lieutenant general of Scipio, came to Rome on the thirty-fourth day after he set out from Tarraco, and entering the city accompanied by a train of captives, drew together a great concourse of people.  The next day, on being brought into the senate, he stated that Carthage, the capital of Spain, had been captured in one day, that several cities which had revolted were regained, and that fresh ones had been received into alliance.  From the prisoners, information was gained, corresponding for the most part with what was contained in the letter of Marcus Valerius Messala.  What produced the greatest effect upon the fathers, was the march of Hasdrubal into Italy, which was with difficulty resisting Hannibal and his forces.  Laelius also, who was brought before the general assembly, gave a particular statement of the same things.  The senate decreed a supplication for one day, on account of the successes of Publius Scipio, and ordered Caius Laelius to return as soon as possible to Spain, with the ships he had brought with him.  I have laid the taking of Carthage in this year, on the authority of many writers, although aware that some have stated that it was taken the following year, because it appeared