THE EARTH. 201 



This power which man has obtained over the 

 ocean, was at first enjoyed in common ; and none 

 pretended to a right in that element where all 

 seemed intruders. The sea, therefore, was open 

 to all till the time of the emperor Justinian. His 

 successor Leo granted such as were in possession 

 of the shore, the sole right of fishing before their 

 respective territories. The Thracian Bosphorus 

 was the first that was thus appropriated ; and from 

 that time it has been the struggle of most of the 

 powers of Europe to obtain an exclusive right in 

 this element. The republic of Venice claims the 

 Adriatic. The Danes are in possession of the 

 Baltic. But the English have a more extensive 

 claim to the empire of all the seas encompassing 

 the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland ; 

 and although these have been long contested, 

 yet they are now considered as their indisputable 

 property. Every one knows that the great power 

 of the nation is exerted on this element ; and that 

 the instant England ceases to be superior upon 

 the ocean, its safety begins to be precarious. 



It is in some measure owing to our dependence 

 upon the sea, and to our commerce there, that we 

 are so well acquainted with its extent and figure. 

 The bays, gulfs, currents, and shallows of the 

 ocean, are much better known and examined than 

 the provinces and kingdoms of the earth itself. 

 The hopes of acquiring wealth by commerce, has 

 carried man to much greater lengths than the de- 

 sire of gaining information could have done. In 

 consequence of this, there is scarcely a strait or a 

 harbour, scarcely a rock or a quicksand, scarcely 



