PREFACE.

IX

there seems no reason for supposing artificial inland navigationsto be in this respect at all more injurious. When the history ofinland navigations, and the spirit of industry and commerce cometo be better understood, and popular prejudices decline, these ob-jections to canal navigations will be no longer urged.

There are countries, in particular China and Holland, that havesystematically encouraged canals and inland navigations at thepublic expencc, neither of them wanting wealth, population, oremployment. France has not been deficient in public undertak-ings of a similar nature. In England the zeal of individuals hashad a public sanction; but the undertakings have been conductedat their private expencc. We build palaces for our public offices,and lavilh immense sums in warlike preparations, more fre-quently actuated by caprice and passion, than guided by our trueinterests; but we do not sufficiently cultivate those projects whichwould tend to cherish industry, to produce wealth, and increasereal national strength. A time may come when the general sys-tem of all governments may be directed more to the encourage-ment of such public undertakings as may promote populationand the prosperity of the country, than to the despicable intrigues,and destructive ambition of courts.

A highway, a bridge, or a canal, may in most cafes be madeand maintained by a small toll upon carriages which make use ofthem; a harbour, by a moderate port-duty upon the tonnage ofshipping which load and unload in it. When the carriages which.

pass;