188

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

reason, as already frequently remarked, the account of vessels composing theRoman fleet, might strictly serve for that of the Vandals also, against whomthey were equipped. It is much to be lamented, all historians, whether an-cient or modern, have not pursued the same laudable plan with Mr. Gibbon,of rendering their accounts perfect and complete; but they have in generalcontented themselves with recording the number of vessels composing fleets,but have most provokingly left the modern enquirer either totally in the darkas to the dimensions of them, or have given such vague and improbable pointsof information, as may induce a discredit, if not total disbelief of the whole.A particular detail of the military force would be difficult, if not impossible,but would, if given with the minuteness and precision of 'Mr. Gibbon, haveenabled the modern enquirer to form no imperfect judgement of the principlesof Marine Architecture, as practised by the ancients, even though the morescientific species of dissertations were wanting for the purpose of transmittingthem to posterity.

In a note subjoined by the author just quoted, to his calculation of the ton-nage comprized in the fleet, he gives the following ingenious remark:-

“ The text appears to allow for the largest vessels 50,000 medimini, or 3000tons, since the medimnus weighed 160 Roman, or 120 averdupois pounds.I have given a more rational interpretation, by supposing the Attic stile ofProcopius conceals the legal and popular modius, a sixth part of the medimnus,(Hooper’s Ancient Measures, p. 1 52, &c.) A contrary, and indeed a strangermistake, has crept into an oration of Dinarchus, (contra Demosthenem, inReishe Orator. Graec. tom. iv. p. 11, 34.) by reducing the number of shipsfrom 500 to 50, and translating psStpm, by mines, or pounds. Cousin hasgenerously allowed 500 tons for the whole of the imperial fleet ! Did he neverthink The preceding observations may clearly serve to prove the variousinaccuracies with which historical accounts abound, and the little reliance thatis to be placed in their correctness, even where they do not militate againstcommon sense and reason. Many writers, less inquisitive than Mr. Gibbon,would have been content with stating one opposite, or the other, whichever had suited their purpose, or their temper, best ; that is to say, eitherthat vessels were then in common use, which were capable of carrying threethousand tons each, or that the fleet destined for the recovery of Afric wasan assemblage of mere boats. Instances of positive assertions, wherein theaccounts have been exaggerated or depressed in as great a degree as the fore-

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