HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE. 211

an alloy to the’value of the treasure, and an imbitterment of the draught of pride.It will be necessary to divide the time comprehended between the arrangementof peace, which took place in respect to the warring kingdoms of Britain, France,and Spain, in 1763, and the conclusion of the eighteenth century, into twoparts; the first section of which, will end with the year 17SO. Almost imme-diatelv subsequent to that aera, a revolution, which had for some time been form-ing in the public minds of those countries whose apparent apathy has just beenremarked, forms too remarkable an event not to require some comment, whichmay be made with more ease, perhaps, by adverting to the relative situationof all the maritime states of Europe, at that time, and causing the general narra-tive to start again from thence, as from a new basis.

The employments and conditions of every country in Europe at the commence-ment of the year 17C3, may be defined and stated with precision, in very few lines.The northern nations, comprehending Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, were con-tent with the sale of such commodities as those districts produced, to any consu-mers who thought proper to become their customers, affording no apparent prefe-rence to the inhabitants of one particular nation before those of another. Thev hadprofited very materially by the war, inasmuch as, during its continuance, the priceof the several articles which they had to dispose of became, from the naturalconsequence of increased consumption, very considerably augmented. As totheir commerce in any other branch, it was trivial in the extreme. The esta-blishment of distant colonies was a political speculation, which neither Russianor Sweden had ever ventured to enter into; that of Denmark was so ex-tremely contracted, that the idea of a naval force being necessary to its de-fence, would have been ridiculous in the extreme. Both the Swedes andDanes had, indeed, manifested some inclination to maintain such a quan-tum of commercial intercourse with India, as should be sufficient to thesupply of their wants ; and the latter had gained a fettlement there ; but,if the grossness of the allusion be admissible into the gravity of historv,it bore stronger resemblance to the condition of a parish pauper pravingrelief and a resting-place for his feet, than it did to the national diomitv of an

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illustrious people.' Russia was indifferent and careless as to this extension orprobable wealth and consequence, by maritime commercial speculation. Na-ture had furnished her with the means of supplying her wants, overland, fromt tiiua ; and, while these were in any degree satisfied, she appeared regardless

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