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due from all individual dissent encountering the opinions of revered authority. The resolutions of both houses opened a field of inquiry so comprehensive in its compass, and so abundant in its details, that it has been, notwithstanding the lapse of time since the resolution of the Senate, as yet but very inadequately explored. It was not deemed justifiable to defer longer the answer to the calls of both houses, even if their conclusion from it should be the propriety rather of further inquiry than of immediate action. In freely avowing the hope that the exalted purpose, first conceived by France, may be improved, perfected, and ultimately adopted by the United States, and by all other nations, equal freedom has been indulged in pointing out the errors and imperfections of that system, which have attended its origin, progress, and present condition. The same liberty has been taken with the theory and history of the English system, with the further attempt to shew that the latter was, in its origin, a system of beauty, of symmetry, and of usefulness, little inferior to that of modern France.

The two parts of the plan submitted are presented distinctly from each other, to the end that either of them, should it separately obtain the concurrence of Congress, may be separately carried into execution. In relation to weights and measures throughout the Union, we possess already so near an approximation to uniformity of law, that little more is required of Congress for fixing the standard than to provide for the uniformity of fact, by procuring and distributing to the executives of the states and territories positive national standards conformable to the law. If there be one conclusion more clear than another, deducible from all the history of mankind, it is the danger of hasty and inconsiderate legislation upon weights and measures. From this conviction, the result of all inquiry is, that, while all the existing systems of metrology are very imperfect, and susceptible of improvements involving in no small degree the virtue and happiness of future ages; while the impression of this truth is profoundly and almost universally felt by the wise and the powerful of the most enlightened nations of the globe; while the spirit of improvement is operating with an ardor, perseverance, and zeal, honorable to the human character, it is yet certain, that, for the successful termination of all these labors, and the final accomplishment of the glorious object, permanent and universal uniformity, legislation is not alone competent. A concurrence of will is indispensable to give efficacy to the precepts of power. All trifling and partial attempts of change in our existing system, it is hoped, will be steadily discountenanced and rejected by Congress; not only as unworthy of the high and solemn importance of the subject, but as impracticable to the purpose of uniformity, and as inevitably tending to the reverse,

to increased diversity, to inextricable confusion. Uniformity of weights and measures, permanent, universal uniformity, adapted to the nature of things, to the physical organization and to the moral improvement of man, would be a blessing of such transcendent magnitude, that, if there existed upon earth a combination of power and will, adequate to accomplish the result by the energy of a single act, the being who should exercise it would be among the greatest of benefactors of the human race. But this stage of human perfectibility is yet far remote. The glory of the first attempt belongs to France. France first surveyed the subject of weights and measures in all its extent and all its compass. France first beheld it as involving the interests, the comforts, and the morals, of all nations and of all after ages. In forming her system, she acted as the representative of the whole human race, present and to come. She has established it by law within her own territories; and she has offered it as a benefaction to the acceptance of all other nations. That it is worthy of their acceptance, is believed to be beyond a question. But opinion is the queen of the world; and the final prevalence of this system beyond the boundaries of France's power must await the time when the example of its benefits, long and practically enjoyed, shall acquire that ascendency over the opinions of other nations, which gives motion to the springs and direction to the wheels of power. pp. 133-135.

Patterson,

ART. XII.-1. Public documents relating to the New York canals, which are to connect the western and northern lakes with the Atlantic ocean; with an introduction. Printed under the direction of the New York corresponding association for the promotion of internal improvements. New York, Svo, pp. 536, 1821.

2. History of the rise, progress, and existing condition of the western canals in the state of New York, from September 1788 to the completion of the middle section of the Grand Canal, in 1819; together with the rise, progress, and existing state of modern agricultural societies on the Berkshire system, from 1807 to the establishment of the Board of Agriculture in the state of New York, January 10, 1820. By Elkanah Watson. Albany, 8vo, pp. 210. 1820. 3. A vindication of the claim of Elkanah Watson Esq. to the merit of projecting the lake canal policy, as created by the canal act of March 1792. And also a vindication of the

claim of the late Gen. Schuyler to the merit of drawing that act, and procuring its passage through the legislature. By Robert Troup Esq. Geneva, N. Y. 8vo, pp. 61. 1821.

In every state, which is blessed with a liberal and enlightened government, domestic improvements become an object of solicitude, the moment that protection from foreign violence is assured, the personal rights of the citizen protected, and the education of his children guarantied. When these essential points have been gained, the energies of government ought to be directed in improving the cultivation of the soil, in establishing useful manufactures, and extending commerce, internal as well as foreign. The progress of the United States from their infancy to the present time might, perhaps, afford some elucidation of this course. It is not, however, our intention to mark the change which our soil has assumed, since the period of our independence, to advert to our thriving factories, to notice the invention of machines, which have done infinite honor to the mechanical genius of our countrymen, or to point out the general progress of industry and enterprise amongst us. We intend merely to direct the attention of our readers, in pursuance of the allusions to the general subject of internal improvement in a previous number of our review, to the canals mentioned in the title of this article.

It would be a useless attempt to set forth at this day the advantages of canals. They are proved by the experience of every people who possess them, and demonstrated equally by the dingy workshops of Birmingham, and the civic palaces of Amsterdam. Canals destroy monopolies, by bringing remote places into competition; they give an immediate value to articles, which, from their weight or bulk, were before worthless; they unite distant places together by a reciprocal interest and an exchange of commodities; they animate industry, increase population, and thus minister abundantly to the power and happiness of every state. It is in this view, that the duke of Bridgewater may claim the proud honor of having been one of the most munificent benefactors of his country. His first canal of only seven miles was executed so late as the years 1758-9. It induced others to follow the example; and an artificial navigation of three thousand miles now not only contributes most powerfully to the maritime and commercial

* North American Review, vol. xi. p. 49 et seq.

superiority of England, but afforded its effectual support to a contest, which she waged against all Europe at an unparalleled expense. How much does not the glory of such improvements outshine the lustre of military fame. The canal of Languedoc will consecrate the name of Andreossy,* when the fields of Rocroi and Nordlingen are forgotten.

The United States have not been insensible to the value of an easy and rapid inter-communication between the different parts of the union. In a country of limited extent, and especially in one like Great Britain, which is washed on all sides by the ocean, the value of canals is comparatively small; good roads and water courses serve as a substitute. But in a country of great territorial dimensions, their importance is increased in proportion to their length. The immense inland. navigation of Russia is a striking example; for without it, she would be obliged to resort to a most expensive and circuitous foreign commerce.† In the United States, therefore, such a system must be of infinite advantage; and it is fortunate that they afford facilities for bringing it into operation, perhaps superior to those possessed by any state in Europe. In that admirable Report on Public Roads and Canals,' which was made in 1807, in pursuance of a resolution of the senate, by Mr Gallatin, then secretary of the treasury, some of these facilites are stated. By cutting ninety eight miles at different points, an inland transportation is secured along the whole coast from Maine to the extremity of Georgia, protected from the dangers of the ocean, and the attacks of the enemy. The lakes, those great inland seas, afford us opportunities for interior communication enjoyed by no other nation. They wash an extent of frontier second only to our sea-coast. But when we cast our eyes upon the map, and in connexion with these lakes trace the course of the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Ohio, the Susquehanna, the Hudson, and their tributary streams, what a glorious field of operation presents itself. The imagination can scarcely do justice to the grandeur and importance of those

We are aware that Riquet is generally considered the author of the canal of Languedoc; but we believe that the merit of that work is due to François Andreossy. He communicated the original project to Riquet, who made use of it at court, and, having secured the work, employed the talent of Andreossy in its execution. See this question discussed in the Histoire du canal du midi, par François Andreossy, général de division, &c. chapitre VII.

+ See a General History of Inland Navigation, by J. Phillips; sect. 3. London, 1803.

enterprises which shall unite the waters of the lakes with the waters of the ocean, and convert that immense and fertile country, from the head waters of the Missouri to lake Erie, into the abodes of myriads of freemen, who will owe their existence, as well as their high place in civilization and the arts, to the mighty plans of internal improvement now projected. Grand as these projects are, the inherent resources of the country are more than sufficient to realize them. For it will be recollected, that the extensive improvements between the great geographical divisions' of the United States, contemplated in that able and luminous report, already alluded to, amounted only to $16,600,000; a sum which very little exceeds the receipts into the treasury at Washington, for the last three quarters of the present year.

To shew that these views are just, we return to a consideration of those works, which constitute the subject of this article. The first volume before us contains the public documents relating to the commencement and prosecution of the Champlain and great western canals, in the state of New York. They consist of the seven reports of the canal commissioners from 1810 to 1821 inclusive, and a variety of legislative papers, the application to the general government for assistance, and the report thereon, the report of the commissioners of the canal fund, and a very valuable correspondence on the subject of canals in general, and their construction. The appendix contains two very interesting letters from Gov. Brown of Ohio, and W. Steele Esq. of Cincinnati, on the projected canal from the Ohio to lake Erie; and two large and valuable maps of the route of the New York canals accompany the work. The whole is preceded by an excellent and animating preface by Mr Charles G. Haines. It appears that the collection of the papers was made by that gentleman, in pursuance of a resolution of the New York corresponding association for the promotion of internal improvements;' and we think that the public are much indebted, not only to that society, but to Mr Haines, for having thus united in a compact form whatever is most valuable and authentic concerning that great enterprise, in which the country now feels so lively an interest, and which will hereafter be a matter of still greater curiosity. Posterity will look with wonder at the gigantic efforts of a state, which, with a population of 900,000, commenced, and, we trust we may soon say, finished, four hundred and twenty four miles of New Series, No. 9.

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