HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE

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countries, into the manufacture of armour, were adopted with considerablygreater earnestness, in respect to those who were engaged in the sea service,than in any other. There are, perhaps, few more remarkable epochs in thenaval history of the world than the ninth century. The science of maritimewar appeared to have undergone a sudden and wonderful change, and theevent of battle began no longer to depend principally on nautical skill, butbecame regulated by the personal prowess of the opposed combatants. Thedifferent manoeuvres contrived for gaining the wind, or taking other scientificadvantages of the foe, were no longer practised ; no more were the oars workedwith particular energy, and the galley impelled with dexterity, as well as fury,for the purpose of assailing the adversary with the greatest effect, and puttinga sudden decisive period to the contest, by completely destroying the opponentwith the momentum of the shock, or at best disabling him for that time fromentering into any farther contest. The vessels of the parties at war havinggrappled each other, the combatants, with cool determinate courage, joined inbattle, which very rarely ceased but with the most dreadful slaughter on bothsides, effected in consequence of an engagement fought literally hand to hand.In this circumstance alone, did the encounters of the more modern times re-semble those which so many centuries earlier, had taken place between theCarthaginians and the Romans. During their rivalship, although such modesof decision were certainly considered uncommon, vet they sometimes occurred,and there was one material distinction to be taken also into the account, fromwhich very distinction may be traced the origin of the individual spirit that in-troduced and fostered the proud, but no means unsalutary rage for chivalry,which, however it might on some grounds be supposed to further and promotethe cause of warfare, had certainly no inconsiderable effect on softening themanners, and improving the general conduct of mankind. From the samesource may also be derived that enthusiasm, and thirst for military glory, w'hichgave birth to the Crusades. In short, the function of a soldier, which had forcenturies been certainly ranked as liberal, though exercised by persons in thelower orders of life,, became on a sudden singularly raised, and was consideredas debased when filled by men destitute of pretensions to the highest orders insociety. The effect produced on Marine Architecture was such as was natu-rally to be expected. Splendor and magnificence became intermingled withthe engines of war ; and without attempting to emplate the ostentatious vanityYol. I. E e of