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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

two sides of this platform, or turning bridge, were provided with a railing whichdefended the soldiers to the height of their knees. At the end of the mast wasa conical mass of pointed iron, and at the top of this a ring ; so that the wholemachine resembled those ’which were then used for manufacturing flour. A ropewas passed through the ring, by which, through means of the block on the top. ofthe spar, the corv't were drawn up when the vessels approached each other, anddirected against those of the enemy, either on their prows, or whatever part pre-sented itself, according to the manoeuvres which happened to be practised. Whenthe corvus had grappled a vessel, if the two gallies lay along-side each other, theRomans leaped into the enemy from the stem to the stern ; if the contact waseffected at the prow only, they advanced by two and two across the bridge.The first defended themselves with their shields aa;ainst the strokes directedagainst them in front; and those that followed, in order to ward off theweapons opposed to them on the sides, rested their shields on the railing. Whenthus arranged, they seized the first favourable moment for engagement.”

Very different opinions having been entertained respecting the constructionand operation of the corvus , a diversity that has probably resulted from thevarious ancient machines which the authors of those days have indiscriminatelycalled by that name, it will be proper to collect in this place such authoritiesand arguments as will most clearly elucidate the subject. The chevalier Folard,in his admirable commentaries on Polybius, has observed, that the ancients hadseveral sorts of corvi , the construction, figure, or use of which were so different,that he is at a loss to conceive why peculiar names were not applied to each.It is evident, that, in the progress of invention, the original stone, slung at theend of the kb^um, was exchanged for the more manageable and more destructivecorvus, the principal object of which was that of grappling; and that, in thisnew machine, the weight was chiefly used to give force and certainty of opera-tion to the grappling hooks. The design was no longer the original rude one ofstaving the deck, or overwhelming part of the crew, by the fall of an immenseweight, but the more military plan of gaining a footing on the very citadelof the foe, and there disputing its possession with the sword. It is, indeed,observable, that the whole invention was suggested by the necessity of supplyingthe place of naval skill, or, more properly, of that advantage which resultedfrom superior excellence in naval architecture ; and, accordingly, by the assist-ance of the corvus, the deficiency of the seamen and the vessel itself were com-pensated by the prowess of the soldier.

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