we acquire an early partiality for rome, by reading the classics, and the history of the ancient republic. other parts of italy also interest us more on account of their having been the residence of the old romans, than from the regard we pay to what has been transacted there during the last fourteen or fifteen centuries.
venice claims no importance from ancient history, and boasts no connection with the roman republic; it sprung from the ruins of that empire; and whatever its annals offer worthy of the attention of mankind, is independent of the prejudice we feel in favour of the roman name.
[70]
the independence of venice was not built on usurpation, nor cemented with blood; it was founded on the first law of human nature, and the undoubted rights of man.
about the middle of the fifth century, when europe formed one continued scene of violence and bloodshed; a hatred of tyranny, a love of liberty, and a dread of the cruelty of barbarians, prompted the veneti, a people inhabiting a small district of italy, a few of the inhabitants of padua, and some peasants who lived on the fertile banks of the po, to seek an asylum from the fury of atilla, amongst the little islands and marshes at the bottom of the adriatic gulph.
before this time some fishermen had built small houses, or huts, on one of these islands, called rialto. the city of padua, with a view to draw commercial advantages from this establishment, encouraged some[71] of her inhabitants to settle there, and sent every year three or four citizens to act as magistrates. when attila had taken and destroyed aquileia, great numbers from all the neighbouring countries fled to rialto; whose size being augmented by new houses, took the name of venice, from the district from which the greater number of the earliest refugees had fled. on the death of attila, many returned to their former habitations; but those who preferred freedom and security to all other advantages, remained at venice. such was the beginning of this celebrated republic. some nice distinguishers pretend, that this was the beginning of their freedom, but not of their independency; for they assert, that the venetians were dependent on padua, as their mother city. it is certain that the paduans claimed such a prerogative over this infant state, and attempted to subject her to some commercial restrictions; these[72] were rejected by the venetians, as arbitrary and vexatious. disputes arose very dangerous to both; but they ended in venice entirely throwing off the jurisdiction of padua. it is curious, and not unworthy of serious attention in the present age, to see the parent now totally subjected to the child, whom she wished to retain in too rigorous a dependence.
the irruption of the lombards into italy, while it spread havoc and destruction over the adjacent country, was the cause of a great accession of strength to venice, by the numbers of new refugees who fled to it with all the wealth they could carry, and became subjects of this state.
the lombards themselves, while they established their kingdom in the northern parts of italy, and subdued all the ancient district of the veneti, thought proper to[73] leave this little state unmolested, imagining that an attempt against it would be attended with more trouble than profit; and while they carried on more important conquests, they found it convenient to be on a good footing with venice, whose numerous squadrons of small vessels could render the most essential services to their armies. accordingly leagues and treaties were formed occasionally between the two states; the lombards in all probability imagining, that it would be in their power, at any time, to make themselves masters of this inconsiderable republic. but when that people had fully established their new kingdom, and were free from the expence of other wars, they then found venice so much increased in strength, that, however much they might have wished to comprehend it within their dominions, it appeared no longer consistent with sound policy to make the attempt. they therefore chose rather to confirm their ancient alliance by fresh treaties.
[74]
when charlemagne overturned the kingdom of the lombards, and, after having sent their king didier prisoner to france, was crowned emperor at rome, by leo the third, the venetian state cultivated the favour of that conqueror with so much address, that, instead of attempting any thing against their independence, he confirmed the treaty they had made with the lombards; by which, among other things, the limits, or boundaries, between the two states, were ascertained.
in the wars with the eastern empire, and in those of later date between france and the house of austria, venice always endeavoured to avoid the resentment of either of the contending parties; secretly, however, assisting that which was at the greatest distance from her own dominions, and, of consequence, the least formidable to her. those great powers, on their parts, were so eager to humble, or destroy, each other,[75] that the rising vigour of venice was permitted to grow, for ages, almost unobserved. like the fame of marcellus, it might have been said of that republic,
crescit occulto velut arbor ?vo.
and when, at length, she began to excite the jealousy of the great states of europe, she had acquired strength and revenues sufficient to resist not only one, but great combinations of those powers leagued for her destruction.
this republic, in its various periods of increase, of meridian splendor, and of declension, has already existed for a longer time than any other of which history makes mention. the venetians themselves assert, that this duration is owing to the excellent materials of which their government has been composed, by which they imagine it has long since been brought to the highest degree of perfection.
[76]
as i have bestowed some time since we came hither in considering the venetian history and government, i shall, in my next, take a general view of those boasted materials, that we may be able to judge whether or not this high eulogium is well founded.
