HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
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appeared, for a short time, more likely to contribute to the downfall of therepublic, than the arms of its adversaries. A seditious insurrection was ex-cited in consequence of the imposts which the continued equipment of so greata force unavoidably occasioned ; nor was it quelled without difficulty, till theringleaders being imprisoned, reason began to rise superior to popular fury, andconvince the dissatisfied of that critical situation which gave birth to those griev-ances of which they complained. Scarce had the Venetian admiral been joinedby the newly fitted squadron, ere he was attacked near the island of Rhodes bythe Genoese, who burned with the utmost impatience for revenge ; but it wasvery soon apparent how extensive the advantage was, which they had derivedfrom the abilities of their former commander : their line was broken even atthe first onset, and the speedy capture of a very considerable part of the fleet,afforded to Venice an easy and almost bloodless victory. The success of thevictory seemed almost boundless. The Venetian admiral having had the goodfortune to fall in with a considerable fleet of merchant vessels belonging toGenoa, sent home the whole in triumph, and pursuing his tide of fortune,having proceeded with his fleet to the coast of Syria, not only drove the Ge-noese from Ptolemais, but from every other valuable post which they possessedin that quarter. It is remarked, that at this period the republic attained to avery high pitch of power, consequence, and reputation abroad, though it wasnot equally prosperous at home. The finances were low and exhausted ; industryand commerce gave way to martial achievements ; and public glory seemedto be eagerly desired, while private oeconomy and happiness were universallyneglected.
The reduced state to which the force of the crusaders was brought, becameproductive of a peace, or rather a truce, between the rival states, brought aboutunder the mediation of the pope, who naturally considered that, which was calledthe Holy, war, ought to suspend all private animosities, as every contest be-tween nation and nation were considered, when compared with that which wasesteemed as the common cause of all Christendom. The alliance and concur-rence of two such states as Genoa and Venice, which were then very deserv-edly termed the most formidable among the maritime powers of Europe, washeld, as indispensably necessary to the furtherance of the great religiouscause, in which half the civilised world was then engaged. Every effort andattempt towards mediation had been unsuccessfully applied on the part ofmany who appeared among the most powerful states in Europe. At length,
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