In his year as praetor, he acted contrary to the Sibylline Oracles to support a project to build an aqueduct to bring water to the Capitoline hill.
During his time in the city, he unsuccessfully opposed a proposal of Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, who at the time as plebeian tribune, which would introduce secret ballot for all popular trials – trials held before the people in an assembly – except for charges of perduellio.
[6] When the senate heard news of this, it sent a delegation to Lepidus and Brutus, chastising them for starting new wars when those which Rome was already fighting had gone so badly and decreeing that they should desist.
The Romans then withdraw in a disorderly manner – even abandoning their sick and wounded – and are attacked on the way out, suffering heavy casualties.
According to Velleius Paterculus, he was prosecuted by both censors, Gnaeus Servilius Caepio and Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, for extravagance in the rent of his house, for which he paid six thousand sesterces.
Cicero, who had read his speeches, spoke of him as the greatest orator of his age and says that he was the first who introduced in Latin oratory the smooth and even flow of words which distinguished Greeks.
He helped to form the style of Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Carbo, who were accustomed to listen to him with great care.