Why Rome is No Longer a Naval Power
And no doubt the question does naturally arise here
as to why they find it impossible in our days to man so many
ships, or take the sea with such large fleets, though masters of
the world, and possessing a superiority over others many times
as great as before. The explanation of this difficulty will be
clearly understood when we come to the description of their
civil constitution. I look upon this description as a most
important part of my work, and one demanding close attention
on the part of my readers. For the subject is calculated to
afford pleasure in the contemplation, and is up to this time
so to speak absolutely unknown, thanks to historians, some of
whom have been ignorant, while others have given so confused
an account of it as to be practically useless. For the present
it suffices to say that, as far as the late war was concerned, the
two nations were closely matched in the character of the
designs they entertained, as well as in the lofty courage they
showed in prosecuting them: and this is especially true of
the eager ambition displayed on either side to secure the
supremacy. But in the individual gallantry of their men the
Romans had decidedly the advantage; while we must credit
the Carthaginians with the best general of the day both for
genius and daring. I mean Hamilcar Barcas, own father of
Rome's future enemy Hannibal.
