Imports from Africa into Liverpool, per Same of Succondee Settle

thousands of years.---No matter: other

AMERICAN CANAL NAVIGATION. outlets would suit us better. Prodigi

FORESIGHT is a quality which some Philosophers have supposed to be bestowed no less on certain classes of animals than on man himself, fond as he may be of his self bestowed title," the Lord of the Creation." The Bee and the Ant among insects, certainly combine much wisdom, and forecast, with their industry: the Beaver among animals is distinguished by sagacity: and in Birds this instinct is notorious. But, after all, long foresight, is the peculiar companion of Reason and Intellect. As far as to-morrow---as far as the seasons of the year---to the utmost, as far as the life of the individual extends, animals display wonderful, and, we may add, delightful foresight:---whereas man looks forward to generation after generation, to century after century, and provides to-day, for events to take place when ages have rolled over the heads of his successors, and memory has irrecoverably dropped all recollection of the primary projectors.

A few of the inventions of man, by bearing the name of their inventor, preserve it from oblivion. Copernicus and Newton, Mercator and Hadley, are immortal names: Sir Hugh Myddleton, will be distinguished, so long as the New River contributes to the salubrity of London; and "the Duke of Bridgewater's Canal," will transmit his grace's name to posterity, with merited admiration.

The labours of Sir Hugh Myddleton and the Duke of Bridgewater, were each in their time and place triumphs of art: the latter were triumphs of art over nature. The refusals of nature, were not suffered to remain refusals; and the opposition of nature was converted from opposition to assistance.--Nevertheless, these glories of British Skill shrink to nothing when compared with the gigantic projects to which these few lines serve as an introduction.

Nature has placed in the interior of America vast seas, and has provided them with outlets through which their waters have been discharged during

ous rivers draining thousands of miles of country, have been appointed by nature to run Southward :---True; but WE want them to run Westward. It is

the long foresight of the city of New York, which perceives that if it could center in itself, the trade that passes through the Canadas, it would add a mine of wealth to its present commerce. It is this long foresight which discerns from an incalcuable distance, that a great city (say New Orleans) at the mouth of the Mississippi, is destined to enjoy the trade brought down by the stream of that immense river, together with that furnished by the numerous rivers whose waters flow into the main discharge from the Northern mountains to the Southern gulf.

The Canadas are, as yet, foreign to America; Mr. Madison's war failed of conquering them but the Canadas though capable of defence against open force, are not proof against insidious rivalship.

Much of their trade, from which they derive their value, may be diverted into other tracks; though we hope there is no great danger of that possibility being realized. The persons (Indians) who furnish that trade, have the character of being fickle. The circumstances attendant on the trade, itself, are certainly trying they invite no milksop: they smile not on the effe minate: they are known to be, in part, composed of hardships; and throughout to be a series of privations. Well, if the city of New York can give a new direction to this arduous enterprize, if it can induce the Indians themselves, to take these hazards and troubles, while the reward,-who can blame Who can the city of New York ? blame it for rendering the value of the Canadas as trifling as possible to their Parent State,-a country distant thou sands of miles, across a vast, and dangerous ocean.

itself

reaps

But, supposing even that this design should fail, the attraction of that trade which would otherwise go down the Mississippi, to the waters of the Hudson, is a glorious conception. It cannot be said to ruin the city of New Or

leans, for the city of New Orleans, is a science, calculation, reasoning, abound: mere shadow, as yet. And besides, the when intellect is not repressed by the situation of that city is in the wrong necessities of providing for the passing place; it cannot, it ought not, to be- day as it rolls over, but the means of come an American metropolis. It is too study, the objects of study, the facilities far south. The northern provinces would afforded by study, are well known and deride its presumption. The river is all abundant, are in 'repute, and even poshoals. The situation is unhealthy: pular; when the worst educated person bogs and marshes, a burning sun, aif educated at all-stands on higher humid soil: it will be the grave of thousands-whereas,-New York every thing that is agreeable New York!

But we must not omit to notice the spirit of these applicants as adventurers and proprietors. Scarcely has peace shed her balmy blessings around, when this not-trifling undertaking meets the attention of the Legislature. The parties to it are not deterred by the expense; that they propose to meet manfully by voluntary subscription. They allow it to cost twenty thousand dollars per mile, or six millions of dollars in the whole they even double this; and look twelve millions of dollars calmly in the face, with all the immobility of

:

ground than the most illustrious Chief
of a savage nation. America has a
good right to avail herself of these ad-
vantages, and any other: to make the
most of her own territory, waters,
mountains, mines, and local situations.
The great error of America is not (has
not been) the disposition to improve to
the utmost her present and actual pos-
sessions; but,-a grasping, insatiate
desire after more—more. "Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbour's goods," says
the Commandment; but America loses
sight of the Commandment; or like a
famous edition known to the curious,
omits the word "NOT." The politi
cians of Europe are completely of opi-
nion, that this temper will prove the
ruin of America. Whether they, in
their long foresight contemplate, as ine-
vitable, events to which the governing
powers of the new world are blind, is
more than we can say. America will
bring about these events, herself; and
when they have actually taken place,
the men of that generation will, with
true John Bull wisdom, turn and look at
each other, with uplifted hands and du-
bious expression of countenance-
"Bless us!-who would have thought
it?"

countenance of a British Chairman, promoting subscriptions for a new project. They calculate the time, "it will be the work perhaps of ten or fifteen years." The expression includes more than meets the ear: the term is not limited by this "perhaps." They adopt political reasons also: they expect to raise the value of land they regret the expense on articles sent to the Lakes during the late war, by transportation. They state the comparative cost, at which foreigners can deliver their merchandise " on our borders." They do more: this water communication is to bind the eastWe give this Memorial entire. Be ern and the western states in a "com-side being a proposal of magnitude, the mon, ever acting, and powerful interest." work contains geographical particulars There is something in all this, so of the localities, proper to be recorded. characteristic of the descendants of John The original is accompanied by maps, Bull,-such a family likeness, that if apparently some of the most correct, we would be offended at it, we cannot; that have been produced by American the conception of the whole plan dis- Geography. Whether these accompany plays an acquaintance with much that every copy, we know not; as they are has been done, and shews a readiness loose, and separate from that with which we have been favoured. and promptitude in "progressing" in undertakings of magnitude.

America is no specimen of an original State, emerging from barbarity to civilization. It is a confederation of states, formed at a period when learning, arts,

Can we possibly close this address without reminding those, to whom the British interests are committed, along the course of that navigation, formed to their hands by nature, to which this

MEMORIAL

ΟΙ

THE CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK,

IN FAVOUR OF

It

expensive and laborious canal proposes country, has always been considered the to be a rival? They have no long canal first duty and the most noble employment to cut Nature has cut the channel of of government. If it be important that the inhabitants of the same country should deportation for them. They have no be bound together by a community of inintriguing allurements to study and prac-terests, and a reciprocation of benefits; tice to attract new dealers: honesty is that agriculture should find a sale for its their policy, their best policy. If a productions; manufactures a vent for their small assistance here or there, to re-fabrics; and commerce a market for its move impediments, or to favour the commodities; it is your incumbent duty, trader, may be useful, when labouring to open, facilitate, and improve internal to obviate these, they will recollect the navigation. The pre-eminent advantages much greater difficulties of their rivals. of canals have been established by the unThey unite They will think what it becomes them erring test of experience. to do and will do that with spirit to- in the transportation of commodities. cheapness, celerity, certainty, and safety, day, which, if left till to-morrow, may is calculated that the expense of transportbe too late; or perhaps, it may then ing on a canal, amounts to one cent a ton prove unprofitable, merely because the per mile, or one dollar a ton for one huntime was not seized with avidity, at dred miles; while the usual cost by land which it might have been executed with conveyance, is one dollar and sixty cents a certainty of uncommon advantage and per hundred weight, or thirty-two dollars a ton for the same distance. The celerity profit. and certainty of this mode of transportation are evident. A loaded boat can be towed by one or two horses at the rate of thirty miles a day. Hence, the seller or buyer can calculate with sufficient preci-' sion on his sales or purchases, the period of their arrival, the amount of their avails, and the extent of their value. A vessel on a canal is independent of winds, tides, and currents, and is not exposed to the delays attending conveyances by land: and with regard to safety, there can be no THE Memorial of the subscribers in fa-modities are exposed when transported by competition. The injuries to which comvour of a Canal Navigation between the land, and the dangers to which they are great western lakes and the tide-waters of liable when conveyed by natural waters, the Hudson, most respectfully represents : That they approach the Legislature latter way, comparatively speaking, no are rarely experienced on canals. In the with a solicitude proportioned to the imwaste is incurred, no risk is encountered, portance of this great undertaking, and and no insurance is required. Hence it with a confidence founded on the enlight follows, that canals operate upon the geened public spirit of the constituted autho-neral interests of society, in the same way rities. If, in presenting the various cousiderations which have induced them to make this appeal, they should occupy more time than is usual on common оссаsions, they must stand justified by the importance of the object. Connected as it is with the essential interests of our country, and calculated in its commencement to reflect honour on the state, and in its completion, to exalt it to, an elevation of unparalleled prosperity; your memorialists are fully persuaded, that centuries may pass away before a subject is again presented so worthy of all your attention, aud so deserving of all your patronage and

A CANAL NAVIGATION
Between the Great Western Lakes, and the
Tide-Waters of the Hudson.

To the Legislature of the State of New-York,

that machines for saving labour do in manufactures; they enable the farmer, the mechanic, and the merchant, to convey their commodities to market, and to receive a return at least thirty times cheaper than by roads. As to all the purposes of beneficial communication, they diminish the distance between places, and therefore encourage the cultivation of the most extensive and remote parts of the country. They create new sources of internal trade, and augment the old channels, for the more cheap the transportation, the more expanded will be its operation, and the greater the mass of the products of the country for sale, the greater will be the commerThe improvement of the means of inter-cial exchange of returning merchandise, course between different parts of the same and the greater the encouragement to

support.

manufacturers, by the increased economy | aggregate extent, some of the most celeand comfort of living, together with the cheapness and abundance of raw materials; and Canals are consequently advantageous to towns, and villages, by destroying the monopoly of the adjacent country, and advantageous to the whole country; for though some rival commodities may be introduced into the old markets, yet many new markets will be opened by increasing population, enlarging old and erecting new towns, augmenting individual and aggregate wealth, and extending foreign com

merce.

brated seas of the old world. Atlantic America, on account of the priority of its settlement, its vicinity to the ocean, and its favourable position for commerce, has many advantages. The western country, however, has a decided superiority in the fertility of its soil, the benignity of its climate, and the extent of its territory. To connect these great sections by inland navigation, to unite our Mediterranean seas with the ocean, is evidently an object of the first importance to the general prosperity. Nature has effected this in some the lakes, and discharges itself into the measure; the St. Lawrence emanates from ocean in a foreign territory. Some of the streams which flow into the Mississippi, round the chain of mountains. Some of originate near the great Lakes, and pass the waters of this state which pass into Lake Ontario approach the Mohawk; but affords a tide navigation for vessels of 80 our Hudson has decided advantages. It New-York, and this peculiarity distintons to Albany and Troy, 160 miles above guishes it from all the other bays and ri vers in the United States, viz.

The prosperity of ancient Egypt, and China, may in a great degree be attributed to their inland navigation. With little foreign commerce, the former of those countries, by these means attained, and the latter possesses, a population and opulence in proportion to their extent, unequalled in any other. And England and Holland, the most commercial nations of modern times, deprived of their canals, would lose the most prolific sources of their prosperity and greatness. Inland navigation is in fact to the same community what exterior navigation is to the great family of mankind. As the ocean connects the nations the Granite Ridge, or within thirty miles The tide in no other ascends higher than of the earth, by the ties of commerce, and of the Blue Ridge, or eastern chain of 'the benefits of communication, so do lakes, mountains. In the Hudson it breaks rivers, and canals operate upon the inha- through the Blue Ridge, and ascends above bitauts of the same country and it has the eastern termination of the Catskill, or been well observed, that "were we to make the supposition of two states, the great western chaiu; and there are no inone having all its cities, towns, and vil-nication between it and the great western terposing mountains to prevent a commu lages upon navigable rivers and canals, lakes. and having an easy communication with each other; the other possessing the common conveyance of land carriage, and supposing both states to be equal as to soil, climate, and industry; commodities and manufactures in the former state might be furnished thirty per cent cheaper than in the latter; or in other words, the first state would be a third richer, and more affluent

than the other."

The importance of the Hudson river to observed in the immense wealth which is the old settled parts of the state, may be ing villages and cities on its banks, and daily borne on its waters, in the flourishin the opulence and prosperity of all motely or immediately. It may also be the country connected with it, either rereadily conceived, if we only suppose that by some awful physical calamity, some overwhelming convulsion of Nature, this great river was exhausted of its waters: where then would be the abundance of our markets, the prosperity of our farmers, the wealth of our merchants? Our villages would become deserted; our flourishing cities would be converted into masses of mouldering ruins, and this state would be precipitated into poverty and insignificance. If a river or natural canal,

The general arguments in favour of inland navigation, apply with peculiar force to the United States, and most emphatically to this state. A geographical view of the country, will at once demonstrate the unexampled prosperity that will arise from our cultivating the advantages which Nature has dispensed with so liberal a hand. A great chain of mountain passes through the United States, and divides them into eastern and western America.navigable about 170 miles, has been proIn various places, rivers break through those mountains, and are finally discharged into the ocean. To the west, there is a ellection of inland lakes exceeding in its

ductive of such signal benefits, what blessings might not be expected, if it were extended 300 miles through the most fertile country in the universe, and united with