838

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

into possession of ports and harbours which appeared extremely convenient forcommerce ; they gradually entered into nautical pursuits, as well in the capa-city of merchants as of warriors. This enlargement, however, of views andideas, does not properly come within the pending section, and is only men-tioned for the purpose of averting any hasty charge of inconsistency thattnight arise on the sudden recollection, without immediately adverting to thechronology, that at no very distant period of time from the death of Charle-magne, the fleets of the Turks, and of the Venetians, were accustomed to meetin dreadful fury, and contend for the palm of victory, with a degree of ragethat appeared to be the efflux of some still stronger passion than the love ofliberty, the thirst of glory, or the ambition of conquest. Suffice it for thepresent to repeat, that on the demise of the emperor Charles the Great, thenaval power and commerce of Venice was so well conducted and arranged, asto possess greater respect, and political influence, than that of any country inthe world.

CHAPTEB