16 NAVAL SCIENCES. 



only 14 cities, but in the 14th century the number had increased to 77. 

 After the Hanseatic league had exerted a favorable influence for a full cen- 

 tury, its supremacy was shaken and its privileged trade with foreign coun- 

 tries destroyed by the increase of trade in the interior of Germany, and the 

 growing power and industry of the States, in which it had its last deposi- 

 tories. Finally, even its name disappeared from history, and at this time 

 the title of Hanseatic cities is borne only by Hamburgh, Liibeck, and 

 Bremen. 



The commercial confederation of the Hanse had the natural consequence 

 of improving the navigation of Germany. In the eleventh century a fleet 

 sailed from Cologne to England ; in 1247, 300 ships were equipped for the 

 crusades at Cologne ; and Liibeck at the close of the thirteenth century 

 was the mistress of the Northern seas. Her fleet fought the battle of 

 Travemunde with the Danish King Waldemar II. in 1235, which termi- 

 nated in the total defeat of the Danes. The Hanse towns conquered 

 Copenhagen four times, and in the year 1248 despatched their fleet of 280 

 ships, with 12,800 men, against King Erich VII. of Denmark. During the 

 period from 1563 to 1570 they sent 19 ships to the aid of Frederick II. of 

 Denmark against Erich XIV. of Sweden. 



3. Navigation of Modern Times. 



We shall describe the characteristics of modern navigation in the tech- 

 nical portion of this work. At present, before closing our historical survey, 

 we will give a brief view of the navies of different powers and their condi- 

 tion within the last few years. 



The Russian Navy, according to recent official returns, consists of 56 

 ships of the line, with from 74 to 120 guns each; 48 frigates, with from 40 

 to 60 guns, and a proportional number of corvettes, cutters, and steamers. 



The Swedish Navy is composed of 21 ships of the line, of which only 

 ten are in commission ; 8 frigates, 8 corvettes and cutters, 2 steamers, and 

 247 gunboats. The last form the guard-fleet for the harbors. Norway has 

 only a coasting-fleet of 117 gunboats. 



The Naval Force of Great Britain, according to an official document 

 presented to the United States in 1846, by Mr. Bancroft, the Secretary of 

 the Navy, consisted of vessels in commission, as follows : 17 ships of the 

 line, with 1570 guns; 32 frigates, with 1146 guns; 71 sloops, brigs, and 

 bombs, with 856 guns ; 33 schooners, cutters, tenders, and ketches, with 

 66 guns ; 6 steam frigates, with 60 guns ; 54 steam sloops, with 270 guns ; 

 21 steam packets, with 42 guns ; 9 other steamers, with 18 guns ; 5 trans- 

 port and troop ships, with 70 guns ; 84 receiving ships, coast-guards, and other 

 non-effective vessels, with 485 guns, making a total of 332 vessels and 4538 

 guns. At that time 100 vessels of war were on the stocks, intended for 

 3161 guns ; and 204 vessels were in ordinary, with 9933 guns. During 

 the Continental war, the seamen in the British service amounted to 140,000 ; 

 there were 20,000 to 30,000 marines ; 160 ships of the line, and 150 frigates , 

 668 



