30 INTERNAL COMMUNICATION.

in their general economy, they may have beensaid to remain stationary. Their nature almostprohibits the application of mechanical powerto advantage, in the conveyance of goods uponthem ; and they have not, therefore, partakenof the benefits which other arts have derivedfrom mechanical science.

The reverse of this is the case with Rail-roads ; their nature admits of the almost unre-stricted application of mechanical power uponthem, and their utility has been correspond-ingly increased. No wonder, then, that canals,which at one time were unquestionably supe-rior to Rail-roads in general economy, by re-maining in a state of quiescence should, at someperiod or other, be surpassed by the latter,which has been daily and progressively im-proving, and perhaps that time is arrived.The human mind is generally averse and slow inadapting itself to the changes of circumstances,and though from this cause the competition inconsequence might not. have been so speedilybrought into action, had not the present pros-perity of the country induced capitalists toseek out every source of speculation, affordingthe least prospect of success. The naturalcourse of events would, however, soon havedeveloped the real situation of the two modes,in their respective relations to each other, and

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