35.6
Despatches from the two consuls arrived in
Rome almost on the same day. The one from L. Cornelius contained his
report of the battle at Mutina; that from Q. Minucius, at Pisae, stated that
the conduct of the elections had fallen to his lot, but the whole position in
Liguria was so uncertain that it was impossible for him to leave without
bringing ruin on the friendly tribes and injury to the interests of the republic.
He suggested that if the senate thought proper they should send word to his
colleague, who had practically brought the war in Gaul to a close, requesting
him to return to Rome for the elections. If Cornelius objected on the ground
that it was not part of his allotted duties, he was ready to do whatever the
senate decided upon. But he begged them to give long and careful
consideration to the question whether it would be more in the interest of the
State that an interrex should be appointed than that he should leave his
province in such a condition. The senate instructed C. Scribonius to send
two commissioners of senatorial rank to L. Cornelius to show him the
despatch which his colleague had sent to the senate, and to inform him that
unless he came to Rome for the election of the new magistrates the senate
would consent to the appointment of an interrex rather than call away Q.
Minucius from a war which had hardly begun. The commissioners brought
back word that L. Cornelius would come to Rome for the election of the
new magistrates. The despatch which he had sent after his engagement with
the Boii gave rise to a debate in the senate. M. Claudius had written
unofficially to the majority of the senators stating that it was the good
fortune of Rome and the valour of the soldiers that they had to thank for any
success that had been gained. All the consul had done was to lose a large
number of his men and let the enemy slip out of his hands when he had the
chance of annihilating them. His losses were mainly due to the delay in
bringing up the reserves to relieve the first line, who were being
overpowered. The enemy were able to escape because he was too late in
giving the order to the legionary cavalry, and so prevented them from
following up the fugitives.
