HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE,

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and the most inconsiderable cotemporary ship, (if such must be the generalterm) occupied in the same manner. After having trod the same groundwhich the greater part of all authors or commentators have felt themselvescompelled to pass over; after attributing as well to Jason, to Hercules, toMinos, and others, taken individually, together with the Egyptians and Phoeni-cians, as a people, that rank of inventors and improvers in the science of MarineArchitecture, which it is universally admitted they were severally entitled to, itseems very evident, that the Grecians having, after the conclusion of the Trojanwar, enjoyed a long and continued peace, their population began to encrease sorapidly, as to render it advisble, if not actually necessary for them, to send forthdistant colonies, for the mere purpose of easing the mother country. Settle-ments were accordingly made in Asia Minor, and many of the adjacent islands,where, captivated by the fertility of the soil, as well as the salubrity of the air,they founded twelve most flourishing cities, and called the country Ionia *. Thenatural affection subsisting between the new, and the parent country, laid thefoundation of so perfect an alliance between them, that they formed, as it were,one state ; and, relying on that naval power which in those early ages of theworld was considered as extremely formidable, hesitated not to wage war againstthe most powerful princes and governments.

The inhabitants of Peloponnesus, in a short time after this event, pursued thesame measure, and detaching colonies to the westward, gained a footing onthe southern parts of Italy, where, having founded Crotona, Tarentum, andother cities of the first consequence, that country acquired, from the new set-tlers, the name of Graecia Major. The power, the consequence necessary tocarry these measures into effect, must of necessity have been great; nor wasit in war and colonization only that the Greeks became so formidable and con-spicuous : commerce attracted their notice in a very considerable degree ; sothat notwithstanding their history is more enveloped in doubt than that ofany other coeval state, or nation, yet no one can deny their marine to havebeen the most consequential in the universe, at a time when the greatness ofCarthage was in embryo, and the Roman name had not commenced its exist-ence.

The Corinthians, according to the best authors, rose into consequence assuccessors, or rather rivals, to the rest of their Grecian neighbours. The com-

* Now forming a part of Anatolia.

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