NAVIGATION—COINAGE.

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lakes and cross rivers. They accordingly constructed suchmachines as would answer their purpose of passage or migra-tion. So were rafts and canoes, formed of canes, osiers, twigs,&c. where they grew, which they fashioned like boats, andthen covered with skins of various animals; others formed raftsof wood; whilst some others fashioned canoes, having hollowedout trees for that purpose. One way or other, each peoplethus possessed a marine, proper for their purpose it is true,but in various degrees of excellence. This was the casewith Greeks as well as barbarians of all nations; all thesepeople, excepting the immediate descendants of Noah,might, perhaps, lay a feasible claim to the honour of theoriginal invention of these articles; and, having never seensuch, they virtually have each a good title to the distinction.Indeed, many of them might have taken the idea for suchinvention from the policy of certain animals, and the natureof others ; to instance only the sagacity of the beaver and hisraft, and the little nautilus with his swelling sail: hencethey might have adopted from that animal, and that piscatoryinsect, the idea of a raft, and also of a vessel with a sail.

In latter days, we find the Teutonic Saxons lirst came tothis country, according to Mr. Turner, the Anglo-Saxon historian, in vessels they called cyules—keUs by Sir WalterRaleigh . Marine vessels have borne a variety of names, aswell as of numerous figures, from the gondola of the Vene-tians to the canoe of the Esquimaux, —the British man-of-warto the ponderous bonaventure in which the Doge annuallyespouses the sea.

All those nations, too, through whose hands the maritimepower has passed, from time to time, as they havebeen instructed by experience or faught by necessity,might repeatedly have made additions and improvements innaval architecture: some calculated for mercantile utility,whilst others have only attended to warlike strength, andsome to answer both purposes, like our Indiamen. But now,the British navy, being supplied with the best materials,and having as inseuious workmen as any, with the additionof its warlike children, may defy all other nations, andproudly claim the sovereignty of the watery world; theyhaving proved repeatedly that their claim is not withoutfoundation.

COINAGE.

Although coinage and money are said to he two distinctthings; yet, from habitual use, it is difficult to name the oneand not think upon the other. The distinction lies here: