Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-12

So Y =
RICHMOND, DECEMBER 10.
The follow lug a,iicle is sent to the press Dy
Gentleman, who resides in Sonth CaIouiia-
we are indebted To toe same pen for further
communications, which will appear iinme diaie-
ly:
FOR THE ENQuIRER....No.
Vrs'in'a--Her resources and aJiHty tn Sc
ca'e the Western Trade e Richmond and
Petersburg.
II is tn be hoped that the ideas of an individ.
VA! paSsin. through a'csuntrv; aud especially
those Of one accustomed to reflect with more
man ordinary atieation on the sources of ma
uonal wealth and puwer, as those sources are
founded in the Legitimate practice ofthe p0l.t.
ical economists of The 18th century, viii be
deemed neither intrusive or IRE, Giant at the
present interesting moment.
IL disinterestedneSs will give them claim
to liberal and candid attention. il " i'll be Weld
ed. The writer has not, nor rs he likely to
have, the slightest interest, direct or Indirect
in the community, the well be,g and correct
apprehension of whose means OF internal W, al,l,
aud prosperity. have called forth his attention
and induce q h,m to commits. these ideas TO paper
They were forsled in recent soionrninent
amidst the wales created by tie slupeudous
mountains oi the Rme Ridge & the Alie.hany
uhose inishy scenes Ia Natures siari,ing made;
Whea ii1st, in full masuihcence pfime,
She poured her Wonders Iavishly Sublime.
IN The contemplation OF such scenes, il was
Impossible net 10 observe the facilities thai
were hountliuIiy afforded to render them as
much the sources of rational wealth ~ fi,p 4
are OF delightful reflection, The contemplation
was made doubiy gratifying by the conviction,
Thai such spirit OF iIRvrO vement had arisen,
aS shouid render Them available for every prj-
vate aud public service whether they were
only those tending 10 the comfort, the soIace
or Inc convenience of the Individual; or, 10
the supply of the nationaiscotters, with their
legitimate objects of receipt in tie more ex.
tensivs cultivation of The necessaiies aud luxu-
ries of life.
IL is needless TO say, that the spirit of i'm.
provemeut TO which an aIlusion is here made.
Is the wish so generally expressed for the more
comp'eteperiection OF the channels of conInu-
nlcation and. the rendering the more distant
parts OF this immense continent still nearer TO
each Other. HI short, TO copy the sublime poli.
cy OF Rome, The results OF which are SO admi
rably described by Gibbon: Their partial
" distinctions were obliterated, and they in
seilslbiy cosiesced into ome great nation mi
" TED by manners, language aud civil iusiitu-
IONS, ana equal 10 the weight of powerful
" empire"
Indeed, in this as in all communities, it will
be found that next Ito the genial influence
" oil Tie seasons upon which the regular supply
OF our wants. and great proportion of our
comforts depend there is perhaps 10 cir.
" cunistance more interesting 10 man in
" civilized stat. than the perfection of tn
= means of internal coInmnnicationp Here,
as IN all other communities. HEY will be found
h'ghiS productive OF II not inperatiyey ReceS-
sdIy TO, private comfort and public veal.
Had the truth of This axiom been acknOwl.
edged--it could not have been denied had
Virginia gwen due attention TO The in( o Tlnation
furnished 10 Lord HiiisDoro' la i71O--had she
paii Inc respect due 10 the advice OF WASH
lngton in I7S4---!Iad she seconded Tic views OF
those HieD who, at an early period OF the iude-
pendence OF these states clearly foresaw tie
rising strength aud pr 0digiOus capabilities of
Firsina-had ac,s consequent 10 such an ad-
wee ana Opinions, been performed, and the
ONO and Mississippi beeu dpuroxuudteti bN
means ofroads, Kentucky would not have been
cedeu, and Virginia, instead of having iier pop.
ulatinn exhausted and her land negiected.
wenid like New York have the satisfaction at
lnlS t'me Oh Deholding al augmentation instead
of a dimiiuiien of her influence in the great
councils Of the nation.
III may be said thar 10 Tecur to the past Is
unnecessary, Such IL recurrence would not
have been bad except to Keep alive the atten
tion TO The fact, OF how great loss has been
sustained.
islasd has" said Mr. King, come out
" OF the most portentouS war that Europe has
ever suffered. not Only nnbrokeu, but with
- Increased power. Her agricultural manu
Iaclures dnu commerce were cherished,
=" were without Interruption, aud augmented
while those of ueigLbOring nations were
suspended, interrupted or destroyed"
10 whom Is due the merit of tins singular
circumstance The super fetal observer would
ascribe ito the Intelligence OF a Pitt The vaIcr
oil "A Nelson, or The coisumnate skill and policy
Of "a Wellington.
The more attentive spectator, and one who
dives more deeply into the motives to and
means of human action, will with an enlehten-
ed aud distinguished member Of the Virginia
Agricultural Society, ascrbe no small portion
OF II to Dnke OF Brdgewater or Bedford,
Coke or Sinclair.
For however hercuean may have been her
efforts externally, she is indebted for the i'm
pioNements that have taken place Internally to
tue means adopted by such men aud their truly
IIiustriOns associates in fact, 1t was the spirit
OF agricultural improv eincnt originating III Tive
efforts at Frabcis, Duke of Bedford, that far.
nisiied her with the power OF prevailing in
the recently pOrtentOHs" conflict
Among these Internal Improvements, those
OF internal communication have been tie more
seduiOus objects of attention.
Fortunately Tile community has reason 10
congratulate Itself OF similar spirit existing
IN Virginia. The. Board OF Public Works, so
wiSel, established aud so admirably conducted,
has gwen ~ ample aud hOnOi able earnest Of
TIE real eXistenre Of this spirit of Improvement.
~ the recent vote Of $50 900 for tlIe opening Of
the Roanoke aud the Dismal 5waRp Canal. II
II decided proof of lls disposition 10 avail itself
0t the inclination aud medGs OF is constituents
TO carry beneficial improvements iriO eject.
May they be correspondent With the public
ABILITY.
But, however great The pleasure dotived
from these arants, IL cannot, consistently wiii
thewFiicrS cOnyictiOn o, lite routine Of improye
meni, inperailvely necessary 10 thcir success,
be concealed that IT is more viewed ~ valuable
for having given birth to spirit If improve.
neni rather than for the egectsinore immc date
~ spTinsm from Themselves. Perhaps. il is
more Than possible that the same sum expend.
ed Oh road OF canal into James rAppomatox
river, would have had an infinitely more benefi
cal eject This, II is believed. time will de-
lnonstrate. Bot at all eceais il has reused
spirit OF improvement. The s,eerers are
awake. TIE wdtchiulncss OF those to whom
pubic interest and private emOiument az in
tCfestcd, - evident IN the admirable spirit Of
rivalry between dihereHt brancf e. OF the same
cummnnity--ail tending to the public veal.
mere we may recur TO the example OF Great
Erf,afu Ia lit.y f.aurfrt Yoalx a. .fe au.onr