30 6

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

stance which rather induces a doubt of their correctness. The Venetiansthemselves, considering their admiral had conducted himself rashly, thoughbravely, in the preceding contest, introduced a system wjiich has, on someoccasions, been much more recently adopted by the Hollanders, though withoutaffording any material advantage in either instance. Certain deputies, consi-dered as well qualified to direct all matters relative to the conduct and manage-ment of a fleet, were sent on board the galley, or ship of the commander inehief, to whom they were to act as cpunsellors or advisers, and without theirapprobation no measure of moment was to be undertaken.

The chief command (the admiral who had served during the preceding cruisebeing removed) was conferred on Rusino, who had in the earlier part of thewar very deservedly acquired the highest reputation. His own force consistedof no more than thirty gallies, but having proceeded to Sardinia, which wasthe appointed place of rendezvous, he was there joined by the fleet of Arragon,which consisted of forty more. Thus strengthened, he immediately proceededin search of his antagonists, who, feeling the inconvenience which attended aprotracted war, were equally desirous of taking every measure that appearedlikely to end the dispute. The two fleets met on the coast of Sardinia, and thecontest was, if possible, still more dreadful than the former had been, but endedmuch more advantageously to the Venetians. Rusino ordered his ships to grapplewith the enemy, and caused them to be chained to each other in such a manner,that conquest or death must ensue, it being impossible for either party to escape.Thus a kind of land battle was fought upon the sea, in which there was noroom for disputing the victory, the whole Genoese fleet having been eithertaken or destroyed, except the ship of Grimaldi. The case of the vanquishedappearing desperate, they immediately strove to strengthen their shatteredcause by alliances, a conduct which was immediately followed by their vic-torious foes - y and such was the confidence with which their successes had in-spired them, that they dismissed the ambassadors of Visconti, duke of Milan,who came to propose a negociation, with the answer, that the Venetians wereaccustomed to end their disputes by the sword, and not by treaty. No farthermemorable occurrence, in respect to the naval affairs of Venice, took placetill after the year 1350 : when Pisani, having been dispatched with a squadronconsisting of fourteen gallies in quest of a Genoese armament, which appearedoff the coast of Dalmatia, not only succeeded in driving them from thence,but being reinforced by twenty more gallies, attacked Doria himself, who

had