the treaty
of Lutatius; thought proper to refer the decision of the whole to Scipio,
who, being on the spot, could best judge what conditions the welfare of
the state required.

About the same time, Octavius the praetor sailing from Sicily into Africa
with two hundred vessels of burden, was attacked near Carthage by a
furious storm, which dispersed all his fleet. The citizens, not bearing to
see so rich a prey escape them, demanded importunately that the
Carthaginian fleet might sail out and seize it. The senate, after a faint
resistance, complied. Asdrubal, sailing out of the harbour, seized the
greatest part of the Roman ships, and brought them to Carthage, although
the truce was still subsisting.

Scipio sent deputies to the Carthaginian senate, to complain of this, but
they were little regarded. Hannibal's approach had revived their courage,
and filled them with great hopes. The deputies were even in great danger
of being ill treated by the populace. They therefore demanded a convoy,
which was granted, and accordingly two ships of the republic attended
them. But the magistrates, who were absolutely against peace, and
determined to renew the war, gave private orders to Asdrubal, (who was
with the fleet near Utica,) to attack the Roman galley when it should
arrive in the river Bagrada near the Roman camp, where the convoy was
ordered to leave them. He obeyed the order, and sent out two galleys
against the ambassadors, who nevertheless made their escape, but with
difficulty and danger.

This was a fresh subject for a war between the two nations, who now were
more animated, or rather more exasperated, one against the other, than
ever: the Romans, from a desire of taking vengeance for so black a
perfidy; and the Carthaginians, from a persuasion that they were not now
to expect a peace.

At the same time, Laelius and Fulvius, who carried the full powers with
which the senate and people of Rome had invested Scipio, arrived in the
camp, accompanied by the deputies of Carthage. As the Carthaginians had
not only infringed the truce, but violated the law of nations, in the
person of the Roman ambassadors, it might naturally be expected that they
should order the Carthaginian deputies to be seized by way of reprisal.
However, Scipio,(803) more attentive to what was required by the Roman
generosity, than by the perfidy of the Carthaginians, in order not to
deviate from the principles and maxims of his own countrymen, nor his