Events in Sicily and Sardinia.-About this time despatches arrived from Sicily and Sardinia. The one sent from T. Otacilius, the propraetor commanding in Sicily, was read in the senate. I t stated in effect that P. Furius had reached Lilybaeum with his fleet; that he hin1self was seriously wounded and his life in great danger; that the soldiers and sailors had no payor corn given them from day to day, nor was there any Ineans of procuring any, and he strongly urged that both should be sent as soon as possible, aqd that, if the senate agreed, one of the new praetors should be sent to succeed him. The despatch from ,A. Cornelius iammula dealt with the same difficulty as to pdy and corn. The same reply was sent to both; there was no possibility of sending either, and they \vere instructed to make the best arrangements they could for their fleets and armies. T. Otacilius sent envoys to Hiero, the one man whom Rome could fall back upon, and received in reply as lJlucf1 money as he needed and a six months' supply of corn. In Sicily the allied cities sent generous contributions. Even in Rome, too, the scarcity of money was felt and a measure was carried by M. 1inucius, one of the tribunes of the plebs, for the appointment of three finance commissioners. The men appointed were: L. lEmilius Papus, who had been consul and censor; M. Atilius Regulus, who had been twice consul; and L. Scribonius Libo, one of the tribunes of the plebs. Marcus and Caius Atilius, t\VO brothers, were appointed to dedicate the temple of Concord which L. Manlius had vowed during his praetorship. Three new pontiffs were also chosen-Q. Caecilius J'vIetellus, Q. Fabius Maxlmus, and Q. Fulvius Flaccus-in the place of P. Scantinius who had died, and of L. lEmilius Paulus, the consul, and Q. .tElius Paetus, both of whom fell at Cannae.