HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE

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During the five subsequent years, the Venetian marine enjoyed a perfectstate of quietude, but in 1280, the Istrians having again revolted, a strong squa-dron was equipped, for the purpose of investing Trieste by sea, while theVenetian army pressed it on the land side. On this occasion the prosperity ofthe republic received a check ; several years were not only consumed in fruit-less attacks, or stratagems, but misfortune in a more vital quarter, because theexertions of the state had been particularly directed thither, occasioned the lossof Aeon, together with the complete expulsion of the Christians from Syria, andproved that the Venetian arms, though powerful, were certainly not invincible.Public misfortune is seldom single, and there appears a species of tide, or cur-rent, in the history of all states, which during certain periods displays uninter-rupted success, and then for a time takes the contrary direction, which becomesequally uniform in opposition to the former. The term of the truce formerlyconcluded between the rival states of Genoa and Venice having drawn to ailend, neither of them appeared inclined to be content to live in amity, or evenin any longer cessation from war. The fleet of Venice appeared first at sea:it consisted of no less than sixty gallies, and was commanded by an officernamed Moresini, who had most deservedly acquired the highest reputation byhis gallantry and good conduct during preceding wars. The commencementof this war proved tolerably auspicious to Venice during the first year. Pera,then much frequented by the Genoese merchants, with many though inferiorsettlements and ports, were brought under subjection to Venice by the samearmament; while during the same period, a second, which was commanded byGiovanni Souranza, made itself master of Capha, a city of some consequence inChersonesus. Under this accumulation of apparent misfortune, the people ofGenoa were not idle, or intimidated. They most diligently applied themselvesin the convoy of their merchant vessels to and from the different ports of theirdestination, as well as in equipping a naval force sufficient to meet that of theirantagonists, so as to afford well grounded hopes of success.

These preparations being completed, the chief command of their armamentwas conferred on Lampadio Doria, a collateral descendant from the same stockof the renowned Michael Doria, who had been defeated by Dandolo. That ofVenice was also under the orders of an admiral bearing the same name as thelatter, and descended also from the same family; so that there might be said toexist a species of hereditary enmity. The rivals met in dreadful conflict near the

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