There seems to be a similar incorrectness in the statement of the reasons why the military tribunes of the year 353 abdicated two months and a half before the regular time; in consequence of which their successors came into office on the first of October, as continued to be the practice down to the change just spoken of. After the defeat before Veii, caused by the fault of two members of the college, it was right to deprive these of their imperium: but it would have been no less absurd than unjust to depose the whole body at a moment when such a disaster was to be repaired. The alteration however rendered the election of plebeian military tribunes more difficult; and this was no doubt the end the patricians had in view, not a merely incidental advantage. The election of military tribunes as well as that of tribunes of the people was held at the close of the year of office: the latter went out three days before the former; and nothing could be so powerful a recommendation of a candidate against the means which the patricians had of controlling the elections, as his having acted honorably in the tribuneship, from which he had just retired. Now however that the appointment of military tribunes was transferred to the first of October, an ex-tribune was no longer eligible, till he had been above nine months and a half out of office; in the course of which time the people must already have become estranged from him, more especially as he had not the power of addressing them during it.