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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
Philip of France had sufficient address to accommodate the existing difference,and the war, which during the space of eleven years had been with the utmostrancour carried on between the two rival republics, terminated in apparentfriendship.
The force of example never appears to possess greater influence than it doesin political affairs. The resistance of Genoa to the growing power of Venice,encouraged other states, infinitely inferior in power, as well as exertion, tomake not indeed an equal, but as much resistance as they were capable ofeffecting, against the will and commands of those who were considered impe-rious masters. Bologna had the arrogance to make the first attempt, in whichshe failed. Ancona, though treated with somewhat more respect, was equallyunsuccessful; and to such an height had the naval power of Venice raised theconsequence of the state, that in the year 1274, the Genoese publicly acknow-leged the superiority of her rivals, by not only ordering immediate restitution tobe made of a merchant vessel, which had been captured by two of the state gal-lies, but that full compensation should be made for the loss which had beensustained on the occasion. Petulance frequently prevails over a sense of infe-riority, so did it in the case of Ancona. Encouraged by the consideration of arebellion which had broken out in Istria against Venice, that state had notonly the rashness (for its conduct cannot merit any other appellation) to com-mit various depredations on the commerce of that state, but refused to pay astipulated duty required from all vessels which entered a particular part of theAdriatic. Three successive expeditions were set on foot, for the purpose ofhumbling the upstart rebels, ere the purpose was effected; but the failure of thefirst two were certainly not effected by the puissance of the enemy, but by tem-pests and stratagem.
The naval power of the Venetians at this time rose superior in every quarterwhere it was exerted, to all opposition that could be made to it. The Istrians,who had thrown off their allegiance, and appeared in open rebellion, werequelled, almost on the instant their treason was known, by a naval armament,far from considerable in force, commanded by Andrea Brascio, and the in-habitants of Ancona, finding both the solicitations and menaces of popeNicholas, who interfered in their behalf, of no avail, were compelled to pur-chase peace at the expence of an heavy tribute, in order to preserve their cityfrom the horrors of a siege.
During
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