canals have been cited, as an encouragement to the undertaking; such as the Caledonian canal, connecting the Forth and Clyde; and the great ship canal of Holland. There can be no harm in stimulating ourselves to enterprise, by contemplating these successful exertions of other countries; and with our present confidence in the skill and investigating activity of the corps, to which is entrusted these preliminary surveys, we feel no apprehensions of being induced to commence any work, the practicability of which, founded upon actual examination, and not upon foreign examples, has been fully ascertained. While the Florida neck may possess a soil very favorable for excavation, and embrace large reservoirs of water, either already lengthened out into natural canals, or in the shape of lagoons, seemingly ready to pour their waters into such artificial channels as may be constructed near them; and is so level as scarcely to impose the necessity of a deep cutting throughout the whole distance; yet, perhaps, this very levelness, which holds out such promise to superficial observation, may be found, upon scientific and severe investigation, to present obstacles not easy to be surmounted. The Caledonian canal terminates in bold and deep estuaries, and is fed through its course by copious streams, which are lifted up, by the inequalities of the country, above the level of the canal; and are easily conducted into it. While the Helder canal, from the nature of the country,

'Where the broad ocean leans against the land,'

is amply supplied with water by the tides, which pass through its outer locks, as if regaining a part of their old dominion. The Florida canal may find a favorable embouchure on the Gulf side, in Vacassa bay, or elsewhere; but the Atlantic coast does not hold out such flattering promises.

Early in March the attention of Congress was called to the Dismal Swamp canal, which, although almost coeval with the federal government, has not heretofore attracted much notice. This canal, as it now stands, is twentytwo miles and a half in length, thirtyeight feet wide on the surface, and five feet and a half deep. It connects Hampton roads, by Elizabeth river at one end, and Pasquotank river at the other, with Albemarle and Pamplico sounds, which stretch along nearly the whole front of North Carolina, and receive many of her most important rivers. As soon as the great chain of internal navigation engaged the attention of the general government, this canal was deter

mined to be an indispensable link; and, accordingly, when application was made to Congress to empower the general government to subscribe for stock in the company, to an amount sufficient to enable it to lengthen the canal, and give it a more perfect connexion with the Southern sounds, a bill was presented (which finally passed), granting the requisite authority. The present depth of the canal must probably be increased, to fulfil the purposes of the grant; at least so much as to render it suitable for receiving the craft common to the Southern sounds. The Dismal Swamp, through which this canal is cut, was formerly regarded as one of those Serbonian bogs, those impenetrable fastnesses of nature, which seemed to defy the encroaching power of man. But the hardy enterprise of Virginia has laid open its dark recesses, and has long been drawing from its inexhaustible stores the most valuable materials for commerce.*

It would be somewhat premature at this time to take further notice of the many surveys authorized by the last Congress. They are merely in an incipient state, and may afford subjects for more extended and interesting remarks hereafter.

Although not particularly led to it by the documents before us, we could, not excuse ourselves if we were to overlook, in connexion with this subject, the Ohio canal, which is intended to unite, by the Scioto and Cayahoga rivers, the Ohio river with Lake Erie. This great project, like its parent enterprise, the New York canal, is the exclusive work of the state through which it runs. Ohio, whose existence can scarcely be said to reach back into the last century, now feels such confidence in her resources, as to undertake this great work, which, by connecting the noble river which washes her southern border, with the broad lake which spreads along the whole extent of her northern boundary, will offer to her inhabitants the option of seeking a market, with equal facility, through the St Lawrence, the New York canal, or the Mississippi. This transverse communication will make this great privilege, which is now but partially enjoyed, almost common and interchangeable. It was begun, with much interesting ceremony, on the fourth of July, 1825, and is already in rapid progress. It has two summit levels, is to be three hundred and six miles and a half long, forty feet wide, and four feet deep, with an ascent of six hundred

For other particulars respecting the Dismal Swamp canal, see North American Review, Vol. XII. p. 30.

and thirtyeight feet, and a descent of five hundred and fortyseven feet; the estimate of the cost, $2,800,000.* Too much credit cannot be given to this young, but wealthy and enterprising state, whose forecast sees nothing appalling in a debt, which stands vested in substantial and permanent improvements; such as, upon every probable calculation, will in time repay itself, and leave the privileges created by it, to be used almost as cheaply as the common bounties of the earth.

The last work of internal improvement which we shall notice, is, the national road, from the city of Washington to New Orleans, a report upon which was presented to Congress in April, 1826. The communication from the seat of government with all the states north and east, and along the Atlantic states south, being through the old states, all populous and highly cultivated, is sufficiently free and unobstructed to serve all national, as well as local purposes. But the western states were long separated from the eastern by the Allegany ridge; over which, however, there now runs a great road, constructed by the general government. Until within a few years, it extended only to Wheeling, merely facilitating the passage of the mountains; but, agreeably to a compact with the Northwestern states, it is now in progress through Ohio, and will doubtless be carried, in due time, through Indiana and Illinois to the Mississippi. There was still another avenue, to lead from the seat of government directly to New Orleans, which having its course, for a great portion of the distance, through districts of comparatively sparse population, or entirely unsettled, but connecting a most important extremity of the Union with the common centre, had long demanded the aid of the general government. Accordingly, when the primary objects of the act of the thirtieth of April, 1824 were to be determined by the Executive, it appears, by the letter of Mr Calhoun, before cited, that this great southwestern communication was among the most prominent. No language of our own could urge the utility and necessity of this national road, with the force they assume in Mr Calhoun's letter already quoted. Indeed, there appears to be no question, as to

* For the above facts relating to this canal we are indebted to a manuscript account of the canals in the United States by an intelligent gentleman, who has been intimately connected with many of the works of internal improvement, and whose account, in a more enlarged state, we should gladly see presented to the public.

the propriety and urgency of the measure; and the difficulty seems to be only in the selection of the route.

By the Report of the Board of Engineers, we observe that three routes have been investigated, and are set forth with all their advantages and disadvantages, positive and relative, leaving Congress to determine which route is entitled to the preference. The eastern route passes through the capitals of the southern Atlantic states, crossing the main rivers, that flow from the Alleganies through those states, below their falls, and where the sloop navigation terminates. The probable length of this route is 1136 miles. The middle route crosses the same rivers as the eastern route, but above their falls, at what may be called the head of boat navigation, following the foot of the Alleganies as far as they extend. The probable length of this route is 1106 miles. The western route crosses the Blue Ridge, and proceeds towards the sources of the Shenandoah, intersecting the head branches of the James, Roanoke, and Great Kenhawa rivers, and afterwards striking the Tennessee and Hewassee. The probable length of this route is 1140 miles. The Report says, 'the middle route and the western route are about equally provided with materials,' having much the advantage of the eastern route in this respect. The western route requires fewer bridges and less length of causeway than the other two routes, but will be graduated with more expense. We should infer, however, from the report, that the aggregate expense of construction will be the least upon the western route. The following summary presents the principal conclusions to which the Board was led; namely,

'Commerce. The eastern route will enjoy the exclusive advantage of facilitating the commercial correspondence between our inland importing and exporting marts. The middle and western will contribute more than the eastern, to the development of internal commerce and industry.'

• Accommodation of population.

The eastern and middle routes will accommodate directly more states than the western; but, taking into view, and by anticipation, the increase of population, perhaps the three routes ought to be placed upon the same footing.'

• Political considerations. The eastern route has the advantage to pass by the seats of government of the southern states; the western, to cross the chain of mountains which separates the western from the southern states.'

'War. Through the western route, greater and more efficient assistance will be afforded, in times of emergency, to the states and naval establishments upon the Gulf, than through the other routes.'

Transportation of the mail. As to time, we are inclined to believe that the middle route has the advantage over the others; as to expense, it will be less upon the middle, and especially upon the western, than upon the eastern; as to horses, the service of the mail will be better and more cheaply secured upon the middle route, and especially upon the western, than upon the eastern,'

We have thus endeavored to present a rapid sketch of the more prominent projects for internal improvement, which have engaged the attention of the general government during the last few years. Some steps have been taken, with respect to all of them. Those to which the aid of the general government has been extended in the way of subscriptions, were mostly already in a state of advancement; and this aid has been granted with the understanding, that it is sufficient to complete them. In the other cases, preliminary surveys only have been authorized, which are either finished, or will be soon. All these surveys have been made, or are making, under the superintendence of persons officially responsible to the nation, of acknowledged skill and experience, and having valuable reputations to maintain; and we believe that public confidence may safely repose. on their correctness. They will enable the competent authorities to determine, with the most satisfactory precision, the practicability and probable cost of each work, and to commence it with every reasonable assurance of success.

With respect to the general sentiment of the nation, we are inclined to think it is in harmony with the liberal and national spirit in which these projects have originated; and we moreover believe, that they all will ultimately be accomplished, and without disturbing the chartered rights of any state, or embarrassing the resources of the country. The age is advancing in improvements, and the United States, with their moral and intellectual attainments, cannot lag behind it. The impulse is irresistible, and must be yielded to. A nation, which regulates its own government, granting or withdrawing power according to its own free will, cannot quietly sit down under restraints, which impair its strength, comforts, and dignity.