24. L.CaeciliusMetellus, brother of the preceding [No. 23], was praetor B. C. 71, and as propraetor succeeded Verres in the government of Sicily in B. C. 70. He defeated the pirates, who had conquered the Roman fleet and taken possession of the harbour of Syracuse, and compelled them to leave the island. His administration is praised by Cicero for restoring peace and security to the inhabitants, after the frightful scenes which had been enacted there by Verres; but he nevertheless attempted, in conjunction with his brothers, to shield Verres from injustice, and tried to prevent the Sicilians from bringing forward their testimony and complaints against him. He was consul B. C. 68 with Q. Marcius Rex, but died at the beginning of his year. (Liv. Epit. 98; Oros. 6.3; Cic. Verr. Act. 1.9, Accus. 2.4, 3.16, 2.28, 56, 67, 3.53, in Pis. 4; D. C. 35.4.)