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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

splendid political rank, which the state of Venice, in subsequent ages, acquired,and the short duration of that dazzling military greatness which, as beforeremarked, burst forth as a meteor under the auspices of Charlemagne.

It is not a little worthy of remark, that the origin and growth of all com-mercial states, as well as their history, far as can be traced from the earliest agesof the world, have been nearly, if not entirely, similar to each other. Sur-rounded by countries and kingdoms devoted to the profession of arms, and theacquisition of dominion by conquest, they have been cherished and nurtured asthe best beloved children of an haughty, an arrogant parent. The savagedisposition of the latter has appeared wonderfully softened by the endearmentsand engaging attractions of the infant, who has rapidly thriven under thecaresses of its protector. Its growing youth has, generally speaking, displayedan occasional frowardness, which has soon weakened the first ties of affection,and, encreasing with the acquisition of more manly strength and years, hascaused an assumption of equal consequence with that of the foster sire : aconduct which has rarely, if ever, failed to rouse his natural ferocity, and causefirst the disherison, to which has frequently followed the total demolition of theimprudent child.

After the ruin of the Phoenicians had taken place, the subsequent candi-dates for commercial consequence were few in number, and far inferior, inpoint of rank, to those first professors, who had raised the pursuit so high inestimation. The Grecians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, all affected toregard it with contempt, and even suffer it to be embraced by those only be-longing to their community, who were content to sacrifice what was consideredglory, to pecuniary advantage, and the ignominious acquisition of wealth, by anyother means than that of the sword. Considered as the maxims of a governmententirely military, they were certainly correct; for although a social intercoursebetween different countries may soften the manners, polish the mind, andenlarge the understanding of man, yet those artificial acquisitions and advan-tages serve only to weaken, and shake the power or influence of such a stateover its subjects, whether distant or domestic, who are ignorant of any otherpublic cement than the ravages of war, and military coercion. All inter-change of commodities not fairly and unequivocally considered as of the firstnecessity, was thought a promotion of luxury, an enervation of manners, and aconsequent injury to that national ferocity, without which, it was consideredimpossible any national glory could possibly exist. Under the prevalence and

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