The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-21 00:00:00

SHIP CANAL.

" Pray who is that Gentleman with a white head ?—That is the
person who used formerly to be called the Calculating Boy. Oh,
oh ! says Topham, damme puzzle him. I say, old one,—
if one pound of cheese cost two pounds of soap, what will a
cartload of paving-stones come to ? Did he tell you ?-1' ea ;
3a. and ed. What an astonishing boy !" Vide Mathews' Trip
to America.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

This is indeed a new era, Mr. Editor : TELFORD refuted by a
Mathematician and Almanack-maker of Langport. Why we all
recollect that when the Boat Canal was in contemplation, these
Langport Gentlemen were as violent in their opposition as they ap.
pear now ;_equally hostile to what they were pleased to call the
`• insignificance" of that, as they now are to the splendid magnifi-
cence of the present. This cannot succeed, because it is too large ;
that would not answer, betattise it was too small. How difficult
some gentlemen are to please ! I am happy, however, to see that
the opponents of this great work have at length " screwed their
courage to the sticking.place," and come before the pubic in a
tangible shape. I doubt not the fallacies contained in the state-
ment sent forth will soon be exposed by an abler pen than mine.
The calculation as to the value of the land upon the line, and espe-
cially the quantity to be purchased, is so grossly exaggerated that
the veriest Tyro may refute it.
To my mind, a sufficient answer to the whole statement, and
abundant encouragement to the projectors of and subscribers to this
majestic undertaking, is afforded by the alarm produced in the
quarter from which this production emanated. It seems to say,
I feel the Canal will succeed, and if it does, " Othellu*s occupa-
tion's gone." The old cry, too, of the destruction of the nursery
for seamen, is again set up. Why what mad fools the projectors
of the ('anal for dividing the Isthmus of Darien must be! (although
it has occupied the attention and received the sane ion of every
maritime state in Europe for the last century); surely this must
destroy a splendid nursery for seamen, who, but fur this silly and
pernicious project. may be rocked and cradled in the everlasting
storms that surround Cape Horn. I know and firmly believe, that
it is to theunshaken courage and steady loyalty of this brave race of
men I owe it that I have now the happiness of wielding a free pen
and addressing a free prep ; but really, Sir, some Gentlemen seem
to think that a British sailor can only be reared by being cradled
in the lap of Vesuvius, and fed with lava from Etna. Has it never
occurred to these Gentlemen, that this Canal will add (I had almost
said a sea line, hut) a water line of nearly ninety miles to the em-
pire; and that along its banks a brave and hardy peasantry will be
daily and hourly trained, so as to render them at all times efficient
to the naval strength and protection of the empire ? In fact, Sir, I
euntider this Canal a nursery for seamen. 1 rulmit the respectability
of the Landowners who met at Chard ; I know there were Gentle-
men present whose mimes and characters would confer dignity on
any assemble, and I cannot but lament to see them adding the
weight of their names and influence to a mean and selfish
opposition. If they cannot distinguish, the good sense of the
country can and will distinguish, the Monopolist from the Land.
holder, and draw au iiderence not very favourable to the indepen-
dence of the latter. Whether this undertaking may or may not pay
the subscribers, is not a matter for my consideration ; with that I
have nothing to do ; I see amongst then gentlemen whose clear
heads and sound understandings require little infitenation from me,
or front any one. They have made their own calculations, and are
ready to stake their money on the result—may Heaven prosper the
goal cause ! 1 ant nut a subscriber. I look.at it only as an Eng-
lishman—l view it as one of those mighty undertakings which exalt
my country above all the nations of the earth-1 contemplate it as
a work that shall tell to future ages the grandeur, the wealth, and
the power of this mighty empire. Great as she stands in arms—
proud as l am, and may sell be, that the heroes of Trafalgar and
Waterloo are my countrytnen--still, Sir, I cannot forget that it is
the peaceful arts that confer real splendour on a country, and eter-
nice her name. The aqueducts of Rome amid the temples of Athens
will be viewed with wonder and delight, when the victories achieved
by the hands that reared them are buried in oblivion; and in some
distant age, long, very long may it be, a now nameless people,
*tending on the margin of this noble work, may my—beheld the
splendid remains of Imperial Britabv—patrouesa of arts—arbitrees
of bmiuns—soyertign mistress of the,sess
A LANDHOLDER.
Chard, lath Match, DM.