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A general history of inland navigation, foreign and domestic : containing a complete account of the canals already executed in England, with considerations on those projected, to which are added, practical observations / by J. Phillips
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INLAND NAVIGATION.

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** When the extent of America is considered as boldly fronting theold world—blessed with every climate—capable of every production—-abounding with the best harbours and rivers on the globe, and alreadyoverspread with three millions of fouls, mostly descendants of English-men—inheriting all their ancient enthusiasm for liberty, and enter-prising almost to a fault-—what may be expected from such a people insuch a country?—The partial hand of nature has laid off America upona much larger scale than any other part of the world. Hills in Americaare mountains in Europe, brooks are rivers, and ponds are swelled intolakes. In short, the map of the world cannot exhibit a country unitingso many natural advantages, so pleasingly diversified, and that offers suchabundant and easy resources to agriculture and commerce.

“ In contemplating future America, the mind is lost in the din ofcities—in harbours and rivers clouded with fails—and in the immensityof her population. Admitting her present population to be three mil-lions, and calculating her progressive increase to continue doubling oncein twenty years, as has hitherto been the cafe, at the end of one hundredyears there will be ninety-six millions of fouls in United America; whichis two-thirds as many as there are at present in Europe: and when weconsider the probable acquisition of people by foreign emigrations, andthat the interior and unsettled parts of America are amply sufficient to pro-vide for this number, the presumption is strong that this estimation willnot differ materially from the event. Europe is already aware of therising importance of America, and begins to look forward with anxietyto her West India islands, which are the natural legacy of this continent,and will doubtless be claimed as such when America shall have arrivedat an age which will enable her to maintain her right.

“ The northern and southern states differ widely in their customs,climate, produce, and in the general face of the country. The middlestates preserve a medium in all these respects; they are neither so leveland hot as the south states, nor so hilly and cold as the north and eastern.

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