Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-10-29

From the London Weekly Espress;l

The NIClSSIl UDES Ot COMNENSE.
Nothing more strongly illustrates the instability Of
human pursuits, than the vcissiudes of commerce.
TIE Phnnicians, the Tyrians, the Car,hagenians,
the Egyptians, have fallen in succession from the
summit Of commercial greatness into absolute insig
" hcancr, and with the exception of Egypt, are al
now utterly extinct The once formidable Hansea-
iic gue-Vence-Genoa-all successiveiy con-
trolling The commerce OF Europe, are degene rated
into dependent states, and commerce now holds her
seat in island ut the wesiein extremity Of Europe
That aBy one Stale should again acquire that Com
merciai Monopoly, OF which history furnishes repea-
ted instances were Inconsistent with the cnlg hlemed
progress Of Society local position, natural ces
aud superior industry and activity, may long preserve
sscendency, but il must hencefor,h be expected that
all civilized nations wall participate in The benefits
resulting from The interchange Of commodities.
The establishment Of commerce has ordinarily re-
suited from a combination of the industry and enter
prise OF individuals whose views and interests are
best consulted by protection onIy-free from inter.
ference by their government. A." Let us alone, was
the sensible reply Of the French merchants, TO whom
Colbert tender ed the unasked aid Of his government
and il has long been received axiom, that the TOO
active interference OF any government is prejudica
To commerce. In oppos,tion TO this principle, Ma
hommed Aly-next TO Napoleon, one Of the most
extraordinary men oil The present age-has under.
taken the restoration OF Egyptian Commerce through
his personal insTumen'aii,y merchant IL il
saDecessaTy 10 detail the events by which, from
very obscure siation lie has acquired the dignity and
power vi Pacha OF Egypt over which il may suffice
TO say, he resigns with undlspued sway and al
though not openly avowing Independence, yet in ef-
The surprising fertility ofEgyp,, is perhaps more
universally recognized than that o! any other portion
Of the Globe For more than 5000 years, the lands
inundated by the annual overflow of the Nile ave
continued 10 produce the usual crops without n nv
artificial restoration, by manure or oiberwise-rhe
natural irrigation OF the Nile still serving 10 mainlsn
poyerishnient, or dim,nution OF fertility
Such are the sou and climate, that Egypt ia aI;k
fertile IN productions oil The torrd, and the temncr-
ate zones. Wheat, barley, maize, mle,, rec, and
,,,lu nj aVar
futAAx, silk, and coiton--lhe vine, the olive and
lie sugar cane--~sre all of Indigenous growth i'm
Egypt and susceptible OF culture to the highest per
fecion. YET, from this oppressive and defective ma.
Of the Tu. ksh government, Egypt has for cen
been depressed 10 the very lowest point ia The
scale OF Naiions.
East Indies, a; the commencement Of the RevoIu-
uonary war, induced the Directory to contemplate
the annexation Of Egypt, asa Colony of France
- project which had been meIIuaied I,v s,,c
c>ssiye Ministers, from the time of Louis the XIV
~ whose reign was first suggested. Placed 10 a
central pCsiiIon--'he communications between ATri-
ca, Europe, and Asia, are more speedy and conven-
lent ihan any other point Of The Globs. In Egyp,
France would not only have UNIDENTIFIED herself TO,
tie loss of 81. Domingo and the Maurus hut
field for intrigue with tue AsIaic Powers would have
beqa opened, which might have rendered her oceu-
patton OF Egypt The severest blo@ that could have
bcea Inflicted on GIesi Britain.
But the attempt IN restore Egypt TO what il once
wss-lse graDary of surrounding naiions--was re-
served for other hands whether success he destin-
ed for M3hommed Ay, time alone can show Epyn,
nnquestionaby enjoys tranquility; the traveller who
explores the supendous remains on the banks Of the
Nile is now IN periev security announcement ,s
gives 10 articles OF every description the army 10
raised and disciplined after the European manner
manufactures are esiablished-canals resloretI-
mines opeued--and every measure taken thar The
gics Of perlec, despoism put in motion sud.
denly, produce that effect which is the usual re-
suit Of gradual Improvement. Every article Of pro-
duce aud manufacture is directly under the ner-
sona order aud inspection OF The Pacha, that a poo
pie, amounting 10 between two and three millions
may be said TO he ia his Immediate employ. The
bar the mouth Of The Nile, near Rosetta, renders
the navigation Alexandra mpracGcabe in bois-
ferrous weather, an Inconvenience which WAS parti-
cuarly felt IN 1917, when vessels aocked 10 Egypt
for grain or 800 sail waiting vi Alexandria, the
majority departed With one half \ csrgo, aud the
others 10 bailast. To remedy this incOnyeaiencr,
Wahommed Ally resolved 10 cuia canal from the
hre, AT FosTah, To Alexandria. The laborers OF
Lower Egypt were forthwith summarized, aud march,
ed lawn by horrinds, under their respective chiefs
e. ,he line Of the iniended caaai. 10 every chief
was i'ioned spec So portion Of labor. H. length
tie nal Of VI ihmOIdiah, as IL has been named
exends as milfs--the breadth is ninety, and fhc
depth from - IN ~ feet The Number Of men en-
pioyod was 80 Co., and the excavation is assrr-
ted 20 have been completed 10 six weoLs l--Masoo
~ was ~ some parts subsequently added, bn, The
Whole csnAi Bavigable the 7ih OF - eccr, bcr
l3ly-he year IN winch the work was undertak en-
u has brsp observed Of The Pyramids, that those
snpendOUs monuments could have been reared onIy
10y me power Oi unl'nined despoiism add lie execti-
uon pf The canal Of Mahniouiiah very st,kinrlv H.
lusirstes that opn'on The preparation Tor the work
bore quite MILITARY character one aionhs nav
was advanced 10 provide b,soun and Other provision
The iabOrcTs we're then marched down IN regular
corps--Wo'edafely began he wofk--and, ~ The end
Of SIX weeks, after having eScavaed more than mir
teen millions Of cubicsl yard Of earh were marched
hack again. Tie intellect and the power which
could plan and accomplish such work, are NOT 20
he despssd, even by more refined aaJ powerful na.
flows
II viii, perhaps, be thought remarkable, lha,.