s I am with a loathing for affairs of every
other kind, which you will find in an incredibly worse position than
when you left them.[36]

[Footnote 35: The _comitia_ were twice postponed this year. Apparently
the voting for Cicero had in each case been completed, so that he is
able to say that he was "thrice returned at the head of the poll by an
unanimous vote" (_de Imp. Pomp._ Sec. 2). The postponement of the elections
was probably connected with the struggles of the senate to hinder the
legislation (as to bribery) of the Tribune, Gaius Cornelius (Dio, 36,
38-39).]

[Footnote 36: The first allusion in these letters to the disturbed
position of public affairs. See the passage of Dio quoted in the
previous note. There were so many riots in the interval between the
proclamation and the holding of the elections, not without bloodshed,
that the senate voted the consuls a guard.]

VIII (A I, 3)

[Sidenote: B.C. 66. Coss., M. AEmilius Lepidus, L. Volcatius Tullus.]

In this year Cicero was praetor, and delivered his first extant
public speech (_apud populum_) in support of the _lex Manilia_,
which gave Pompey the command in the Mithridatic War with the
provinces of Asia and Bithynia. The strict Optimates opposed it.
Cicero supported it on the grounds of the importance of the war and
the proofs Pompey had already given of military ability, courage,
personal prestige, and good fortune. He takes occasion to point out
the mischief done to the Roman name by oppressive or fraudulent
governors and imperators. In this same year he delivered one of his
ablest speeches in court in defending A. Cluentius Habitus on a
charge of poisoning. At the consular elections this year the two
first elected were disabled for bribery.

TO ATTICUS (AT ATHENS)

ROME, JANUARY

[Sidenote: B.C. 66, AET. 40]

I have to inform you of the death of your grandmother from pining at
your long absence, and at the same time because she was afraid that the
Latin towns would revolt and fail to bring the victims up the Alban
Mount. I presume that L. Saufeius will send you a letter of condolence
on the subject.[37] I am expecting you here in the course of January--is
it a mere rumour or does it come from letters of yours to others? For to
me you have not mentioned the subject. The statues which you got for me
have been landed at Caieta. I haven't seen them, for I have been unable
to lea