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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

cumstance, having put to sea from St. Vallery, where they had arrived sometime before, though not without difficulty, and the loss of several of theirvessels, reached the intended place of debarkation without molestation, or far-ther injury. The event is known to the whole world, and particularly toEnglishmen. But however interesting an epoch it may form in the history ofthe country itself, it certainly proved very immaterially so to the subject ofMarine Architecture, the general knowlege and practice of it appears not tohave been in the smallest degree advanced since the reign of Egbert, except thetemporarily introduced improvements of Alfred are adduced as an exception tothe remark ; and the fleet of William himself, according to the observation justmade, stands as a corroborating proof of its unadvanced state.

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