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THE ARMY AND NAVY. 167the state, to build and fit out fleets was entirely a publicconcern. Yet to judge correctly of the condition and progress of naval science among the Greeks, we must not forget,that the scene of action for their squadrons was, and continued to be, limited to the .ZEgean and Ionian Seas, Theexpedition of Athens isagainst Syracuse, the most distantwhich was ever undertaken by any Grecian fleet of themother country ;with what success is known. Even theBlack Sea, though open to their vessels of commerce, washardly visited by their galleys of war, because no occasionever requiredit. The seas which they navigated were fullof islands ;it was never difficult to find landing-places andharbours ;and the .naval expeditions were not much morethan passages bysea. Further ; Greece, especially the mostcultivated eastern part of it,did not abound in wood ;and"though some of the western or inland districts 1 were betterprovided with it, the rivers, which were hardly more thanmountain streams, afforded little opportunity for the transportation of timber. The cities, therefore, which builtfleets, were obligedto seek their timber at a distance;we know of Athens, that itimported what it needed fromThrace. 2 The expense was therefore necessarily great none;but the richest cities were able to bear them ;and hence itis easy to see, that limitations were produced, which makethe exertions of several states for their navy, appear to us ina very extraordinary light. Finally the ; manning of thefleets was attended with peculiardifficulties. Two kinds ofmen, mariners and soldiers, were employed. The latter werecitizens, and belonged to the militia ;but according to theearlier regulations, the citizens were not obliged to do service on board of the ships. Slaves were used in part,especially for the oars and in; part foreigners were hired."5'Such is the description given byIsocrates. Formerly,says he, 3 " in the better times of Athens, foreigners andslaves were used for the management of the vessels but;service in arms. Now the case is recitizens performedversed ;those of the city are compelled to serve as mariners, 4while the soldiers consist of mercenaries."The manning of1As Aearnania and Arcadia.2Thucyd. iv. 108,* Isocrat de Pace, Op. p. 169., See Scheffer de MBit Naut. ii. 3.4Especially tfee Inqailim.