HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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and the customs established in that quarter of the world, which have at times beenadopted with success even by Europeans. The northern states of Sweden and Den-mark appear also to have possessed a knowlege and skill in the science of construct-ing warlike vessels far from contemptible, though their situation, and other cir-cumstances, prevented their acquiring any considerable power. P. Camerarius,counsellor to the free state of Noremberg, or Nuremburg, in his book called the"Walking Library, which was translated into English by John Molle, in the year1621, asserts, That in the long war which took place between the kings ofDenmark and Sweden, as he himself had heard it attested by a person of credi-bility, who was in the action; all the fleet of Demark attacked one ship belongingto Sweden, the largest, as is reported, that had ever been seen at sea, and fromthence called Megala, deriving its name (says our author) from a celebrated giantonce so named. This vessel was, as it appears, well manned with a chosencrew, and fitted with a very sufficient quantity of ammunition, as well asordnance. It defended itself, of course, most valiantly, and would neithersurrender, nor were all the shot fired by the enemy, who acted most spiritedly,able to sink it. At length, some combustibles, most probably either powderflasks, or grenades, being thrown on board, they, according to the terms used inthe translation, “ lighted in the room where the powder lay, by which meansthis great vessel fell a fire, and was lost in the sea, with all that was in her.”The concluding event was natural, and to be expected * ; and the same author,proceeding with his account, states, “ that this vessel was very like to a strongcitadel, for it was so high built, and made of such exceeding pieces of timber,

* It proves of what very ancient date the custom is of using combustibles in naval actions. Manyof the frigates and ships of war taken, particularly from the Spaniards, during the former wars, have hada considerable number of powder flasks on board. They were glass vessels, broad at one end,and narrow at the other, so that their necks being joined together, they in shape resembled an hourglass. Round the junction a piece of match was twisted. One vessel was filled with brimstone inpowder, the other contained a small quantity of gunpowder. The match being lighted,, and the fragileinstrument thrown 011 the deck of the opponent, was of course broken by the fall, and the fire of thematch communicating to the powder, as well as the sulphur, an explosion more terrifying than dangerous, a suffocating stench, added to the apprehension of fire, was occasioned by the operation. Thepowder-room on board many Spanish vessels has been, till veiy lately, so ill constructed, and so incau-tiously secured from accident, that in case of any serious action, it was next to a miracle if, notwith-standing every care and precaution that could be used, they did not experience the same lamentable fatewith the Swede. So much for the modern improvements, made by many foreign countries, in theminutia of Marine Architecture.

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