Star.
London, England, 1829-12-30 00:00:00

CANAL OF THE PYRENEES.

The promoten of the great iindertaklng wbkb is to afford a
safe navigation for ships. MOD die Western Ocean to the Mediter-
ranean. by mem of the Clad of the Pyrenees, ban published in
the foreign Joan la, es Morin amount of Koran and dangers
ausaings the prima fin. by the Straits of Gibraltar.

SUS USW oF can% ASO TVS COMAS OF SUS IPTSESISS.
" This olicial document states, that every year upwards of
42,000 vessels great and small, engaged in the commerce of Fence
and England, pass the &nits of Gibraltar. Some come from the
Western Ocean to the Mediterranean, and others leave the Medi-
terranean to enter the Ocean. In addition to the above number,
2,700 ships are employed coasting in both seas. We may also add
to the commercial movements in the two seas, the write of Russia,
Sweden, Denmark, the Hams Towns, Prussia, the Netherlands,
Austria, and the several Powers of Italy.
" The measures taken by the Government of the Viceroy of
Egypt ; die independence of Greece ; the opening of the Duda-
wiles to die ships of all nations; free trade With the Black Sea.
and the comequences of the late Treaty between Turkey and Ru-
da ; canon fall to multiply the commercial relations of notions.
rendering mote frequent and more active, the passage of the Strait
of Gibraltar.
" This navigation Is unfottunately surrounded by dangers,
which occur more particularly, sailing out of the Mediterranean.—
From Cape St. Vincent. In Europe, and the Caps of Azamora, in
Africa. up to the pillars of Hercules, vessels are constantly in a
state of peril.
" The storm of duelist and 112 d of November last, which we
described in the Coutitutionsef of the 14th instant, covered with
wrecks all the coast near the Strait. Twenty-one vessels parted
front their anchors, many others lost their masts, and of all the
ships in the bay of Gibraltar nut one escaped damage. Without
the Bay the injury was not less extensive. Several Spanish ships
were wrecked at the mouth of the river Majorca.
" A French brig was lost near the fort of St. Beebe. Many
Sardinian Portuguese, English, and other vessels, shared the same
fate. Wine disasters occur almost every year. In the night of
the 18th or 19th of Jan. 1826, forty-sin Preach ships stationed in
the bay of Cadiz, to wait foe a wind to the Mediterranean, were
assailed by a most furious tempest. In which a galliot mak, and
twenty-two vessels, which drove on the strand of the Decadent,
Cakesuela. and Pennies, lost all their cargoes. Out of Airmen
ships at Algeciras, only one escaped shipwreck, and they cal-
culated no less than Mt hundred and sixty lost in the bay of
Gibraltar.
" In the month of December. 1822, frequent gales of wind
spread terror and alarm upon all the coasts of the terrible Sieve of
Wiz. The 6th. about saves at mien, the barometer hang; sunk
considerably, the wind shifted to the west, sod Mew all night with
the greatest violence. Fourteen vends and a great number of
barques were driven on' hore in the bay of 'Calais, or the bay of
Gibraltar, where several ships drifted and struck, and others upset,
without the possibility of affording the oafermeste sultrers the
least assi-tance. The wool was covered with Wen, teihrinned
with cold and dying with hunger and fatigue. minfortunes
frequently occur in the inlet. between Massa atirtirenbagena.
". At all times the Sieve of Cadis has been considered by nevi-
snore the most dangerous sea in Europe, for. when the storm
ceases, contrary winds, Current', and calms. redeem its navigation
ruin and &vain The wind favourable to skips coming front
the We,tera Ocean is contrary tu those waking to leave the ile-
diternotall'
Oiling two centuries, at various periods, France has endeavoured
to open to commerce a shorter acd safer way to the Mediterranean.
That desire invited the immenal iligust with the ides of the
canal of Languedoc ' • the same desire made M. Galaben extend
the course of dnthatcanal from Toulouse to &plane, and turn It into
those departments *birth felt the want o, such means of common'
cation, lot order that they might transport all the rich othierak of
the Pyrenees.
It may be asked Why a project admitted by Government to
be practicable, and of utility, not only to France but all &dope,
should ban remained up to this time unaccompliebed ? The an-
swer to that que-tion is not honourable to our mations! character.
In Resisted such a canal would have been completed long since ;
in France they are now making inquiry when the undertaking will
commence!!'' .