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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

vided a new gothicism does not rear its leaden mace to destroy literature, as anavowed enemy to its views and designs. As to the particular materials, thoseused in the very infancy of the science, were certainly such as nature appeared tohave kindly furnished the inhabitants of different countries with, in aid of their hum-ble views, and supposed necessities. Afterwards, when, by degrees, the first rudeessays grew into a regular and established system* then, as now, such timberas was peculiar to each climate, was adapted to this great purpose, under thedirection of proper artificers, by all nations who boldly aimed at the characterof becoming maritime powers. The plane tree, the cypress, the oak, the fir,the cedar, with many others, as will be hereafter more fully explained, fellrapidly to the builder’s axe, victims to the insatiable avarice, and pride ofman; and for one vessel which, in the beginning, was rudely, though inge-niously, formed out of a single tree, it soon became necessary to fell, what,comparatively speaking, might be called a forest. ■■• r

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CHAPTER