his fleet in order of battle off Ecnomus, with the object of arresting them on the coast of Sicily, and preventing an invasion of his native land.

The Romans had 330 quinqueremes and their adversaries 350. As each Roman vessel was furnished with 300 rowers and 120 combatants, it is computed by Polybius that their force amounted to 140,000 men; the strength of the Carthaginians, whose ships were manned by at least an equal number, is reckoned at 150,000. These numbers might appear incredible did they not rest on the highest authority.

The Carthaginians were formed in a single and widely-extended line, their left wing resting on the Sicilian coast. The Romans arranged themselves in the form of a wedge or a triangle; the ships of the two consuls were at the apex, and the first and second squadrons were drawn up in an oblique line to the right and left. A third squadron, having the horse transports in tow, formed the rear face of the triangle. A fourth squadron, in the form of a crescent, the horns overlapping the rear face of the triangle, followed as a reserve at a slow pace. The Roman fleet bore on the enemy in this formation.

This wedge-shaped attack without great difficulty broke the Carthaginian line, for its centre, which was first assailed, intentionally gave way, and the battle resolved itself into three separate engagements. While the admirals with the two squadrons on the wings pursued the Carthaginian centre, and were

closely engaged with it, the left wing of the Carthaginians, drawn up along the coast, wheeled round upon the third Roman squadron, which was prevented by the vessels which it had in tow from bearing up with the two others, and by a vehement onset drove it against the shore; at the same time the Roman reserve was turned on the open sea, and assailed from behind, by the right wing of the Carthaginians. The first of these three engagements was soon at an end; the ships of the Carthaginian centre, manifestly much weaker than the two Roman squadrons with which they were engaged, took to flight. Meanwhile, the two other divisions of the Romans had a severe encounter with a superior enemy; but in close fighting the dreaded boarding-bridges stood them in good stead, and by this means they succeeded in holding their own till the two admirals with their vessels could come to their aid. By their arrival the Roman reserve was relieved, and the Carthaginian vessels of the right wing retired before superior forces. And now, when this conflict had been decided in favour of the Romans, all the Roman vessels that still could keep the sea fell in the rear of the Carthaginian left wing, which was obstinately following up its advantage, so that it was surrounded, and almost all the vessels composing it were taken. The Romans lost four-and-twenty of their ships, and the Africans lost thirty that were sunk, and threescore-and-four that were taken.

VOL. II.

C

The rest of the Carthaginian fleet retired and made for the gulf of Carthage-where it was believed that the Romans would make their descent --and, regardless of the considerable loss it had lately sustained, purposed to give battle a second time. The Romans, however, disembarked on the eastern side of the peninsula which goes to form the gulf, where the bay of Clupea presented a spacious harbour, affording protection from all winds. Here, at a distance of about fifty miles from Carthage, they landed without opposition, took post on a hill, and constructed an intrenched camp.

The Roman troops overran the country, levied contributions, and captured slaves. The end seemed almost attained, and the feeling of confidence this evoked caused the Senate to recall the greater part of the fleet and half of the army. According to these directions, Manlius, the consul, returned to Rome (whither he carried twenty thousand African captives), with all the Roman fleet and army except forty ships, fifteen thousand foot, and five hundred horse that were left with Attilius.

Everything otherwise promised well, for as the Carthaginians did not venture forth into the plain, and the Numidians had risen in rebellion, there appeared every prospect of Regulus being able to initiate the next campaign by the siege of the capital. With the forces left to him, he defeated the Carthaginians before Adis, and took by assault Tunis, a city within sixteen miles of Carthage. By

the loss of the battle of Adis, and more especially by the capture of Tunis, the Carthaginians were greatly dismayed; they consequently sued for peace. The conditions proposed by the consul could not be accepted, and preparations were made for continuing the war. Hamilcar came over from Sicily with the flower of the Sicilian soldiery, many troops of excellent Numidian horse were enlisted, and also numerous Greek mercenaries. Amongst the latter was the celebrated Greek Captain Xanthippus, renowned for strategical skill and talent in organization. Xanthippus gave out publicly that the Carthaginian overthrow near Adis was to be attributed to the errors of their commanders. Having assigned just reasons for this, he was made general of the African forces.

When spring came, the Carthaginians considered themselves strong enough to take the field and offer battle. Their army consisted of twelve thousand foot, four thousand horse, and one hundred elephants. Xanthippus ranged his troops on fair level ground fitted for both his elephants and horse. Relying on the invincibility of the Romans in the open, their leader accepted the challenge, and, owing principally to the superior number of the enemy's cavalry, sustained a crushing defeat. Only two thousand men were able to escape and seek refuge in Clupea ; amongst the few prisoners taken was the consul himself.

When this terrible news reached Rome, the first

efforts of the Romans was naturally directed to save the force shut up in Clupea. A Roman fleet of three hundred and fifty vessels, commanded by M. Aemilius and Ser. Fulvius, immediately started; a battle ensued near the Hermaean promontory in which victory remained with the Romans, their adversaries losing one hundred and fourteen ships. The road to Clupea was opened, and the fleet reached it just in time to relieve the hard-pressed remnants of Regulus' army. Notwithstanding a successful conflict before Clupea, the Romans embarked all their troops and sailed home. Independently of the cruel fate to which they left their numerous African allies, they committed a serious blunder in evacuating an important and easilydefended position, which would have secured them great facilities for landing in Africa.

Misfortunes seldom come singly; the mariners had foretold rough weather, as the season threatened some violent storms; still, despite this warning, the extemporised Roman admiral gave the orders to sail. The fleet was caught in a violent storm off Camarina, in Sicily, and of three hundred and forty ships, all but eighty perished with their crews.

Hearing what had happened to the Roman fleet, the Carthaginians repaired all their vessels, hoping once again to have the mastery on the sea. The party in the Senate, which was opposed to the war in Africa regained the ascendency, and the old plan of subjugating the islands was resumed. To do