The Allocation of the Provinces.-The first business before the new consuls was the settlement . of the provinces both praetorian and consular. As the praetors' spheres of administration could be determined by ballot they were the first to be dealt with. The City jurisdiction fell to Sergius, the alien jurisdiction to Minucius;Atilius drew Sardinia; Manlius, Sicily;Seinpronius, Hither Spain;and Helvius Further Spain. Whilst the consuls were arranging to ballot for Italy and Macedonia, two of the tribunes of the plebs, L. Oppius and Q. Fulvius, objected to their doing so. Macedonia, they alleged, ~a distant province, and nothing up to that time had stood in the way of a successful war more than the fact that when operations had hardly commenced the former consul was always recalled just as he was opening his campaign. This was the fourth year since war had been declared agai nst Macedonia. Sempronius had spent most of the year in trying to find the king and his army. Villius had actually come into touch with the enemy but was recalled before any decisive action had been fought. Quinctius had been detained in Rome for the greater part of the ye x by matters connected with religion, but had he reached his province earlier.or had the户ter. begun later._ .. his conduct of attairs showed that he could have brought the war to a close. He had now almost gone into winter quarters, 妙，it was ass..聆d that he呵勇ven such， a complexionr "., >扣 the war that it ws successor aia not interfere wim nun ne would finish it in the summer. By u sing of this kind they so far succeeded that the con {suls to accept the decision of the senate if the tribunes would do the same. As both parties left the senate free to act, a decree was made that Italy- should be administered by both consuls and T. Quinctius confirmed in has command until such time as the senate should ap point his successor. Each of the consuls had two legions assign ed to him, and with these they w ere to can了on the war against the Cis-AlpineT T " P , Gauls who had revolted from -come. tcemrorcements were also voted for Quinctius to be employed against Macedonia, com.- 州sing 6ooo foot and 3oo horse and also 3000 sfamen，L. Q. Flamininus retained his place as commander of the fleet. Each of the praetors who were to act in Stain received 8ooo intantrv turnisnea ov the Latms ana allies ana goo cavairv: these were to take the place or the oin army wnicn was to De sent home. They were also to determine the boundaries of .the two provinces of Hither and Further Spain.P. Sulpicius and P.叭llius who had formerlv been in ?Macedonia as consuls were appointed to Quinctius' staff.