222 HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

that intercourse to be carried on entirely at the option of foreigners, and ihsuch manner as they thought fit. Even at the time when ambition and theIu3t of dominion prompted Ciesar to undertake his expedition, the skill of theBritons does not appear to have exceeded the construction of such vessels, ifthey could be said to deserve that name, as enabled them to pass in tolerablesafety the numerous rivers which intersect the country, or were sufficientlycapacious and safe to allow the operation of fishing at a short distance from theshore, an occupation to which all countries that had the ocean for their boun-dary, became, as was naturally to be expected, extremely addicted even in theearliest ages. '

No contrivance could nave been more artless, but there was nevertheless atrait of ingenuity in it, added to a special convenience on particular occasions,which caused the rude skill of the British boat-builder to be adopted by Caesarhimself. This circumstance, together with a brief description of the form andmaterials used in the construction, have been already given *; and it is acircumstance too curious to be passed over in silence, that even at the presentmoment, boats -{- are used in some parts of Wales very trivially varying eitherin application, construction, or materials, from those which were in use nearlynineteen centuries since. Mean and insignificant as such contrivances mightbe in the grand scale of Marine Architecture, they were fully adequate to thewants of the possessors, who sought not to extend their acquaintance with anyother parts of the human race ; but secluded almost by nature, from the restof the world, they were content with the scanty luxuries and pleasures whichProvidence had placed within their grasp, and were neither prompted byambition, by avarice, or by appetite, to seek the extension of them. Preciselyin the same state, far as can be collected from the obscure history of so remotea period, did the knowlege, or at least the practice, of the science continuefor several centuries. In so low a state was it, during the time the Romansremained possessors of the country, that they were compelled to keep constantlyon foot a naval force, not only to protect it from the depredations of the pirates,,but, as will be presently shewn, were also under the necessity of maintaining asmall fleet of gallies on the riv er Humber, to check, and prevent, without inter-mission, if possible, the incursions of the Caledonians, or Scots.

The invasion under Julius Cassar himself, appears to have been as muchindebted for its success to the astonishment with which the form of his gallies

* See page 3. f Called corracles, most probably from corium, an hide, or skin.

impressed