Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-03-25

to be regretted.
There is now some slight hope that a
canal win yet be Gu, from Lake Michi-
gan 10 the Illinois river. The bill intro
duced by Mr.. Thomas, does not indeed
furnish conclusive proof of a liberal dis
position. on the part even of the Senate;
and, Of course, cannot be considered in
dicative, in any degree, Of the feelings of
the House; nevertheless, we are inclined
to believe that the subject receives much
consideration from both Houses. The
message of the President drew the atteuA
ton OF Congress to the general subject
OF internal Improvement SO forcibly, aud
pointed out the benefits TO result from
them with such clcarness, that we have
no doubt the friends of the measure arc
increased, both in number and in zeal.
Coming before Congress as a part
and very important part, ,oo-of this
general 81 stem at time when the minds
Of members are favorably impressed to-
wards it, we think the Illinois Canal
stands fair chance Of eliciting an ex-
preston of substantial favor from the
General Go, eminent, at the present ses-
sion. Whether the whole donation pro-
posed by the bill, reported by MIR. Tho
mas, will be made, or not, is, perhaps,
somewhat uncertain. We learn that The
importance of communication between
the sea-board and the Upper Mississippi
and Missouri through the Lakes, by
means of The proposed Canal, CONNECTED
with that Of New-York, is daily becom-
ing more apparent to statesmen; and that,
consequently they are more willing than
formerly 10 contribute towards its COM
pletion by an appropriation Of part Of the
public domain. 1t may bc--and we ar
IDENTITY hope i. is so--that members Of
Congress have become satisfied, not on
ly that the Canal would, in national
point Of view, justify the measure, in re-
spect to the armament Of frontier posts
in case Of war but lha, the appropria-
ton would enhance the residue so much,
that it would be of greater productive
value than the whole, in its present con-
diiion.
On the whole, we are inc lined to hope
that something will be done by Congress,
commensurate with the magnitude ofthe
object; and entirely agree with the Illi-
nois Intelligenccr, tina, the donation con-
lemplayed by the bill would be no more
than reasonable and proper.
Yaluable school book.-We have no,
lately seen school book which appear
ed to Us SO well adapted to the purpose
o! conveying Ike rudiments of geograph-
ical knowledge, as /" AVoodbridge's Geo.
graphy and Atlas"-recentIy introduced
into the school al this place. The " Geo
graphy" is small volume, containing
very brief, and were it alone, very impe-
feet, notices Of the several countries ct
the world; and questions which are to &c
answered by reference to the "Atlas."
Ii is this which gives the work, in our
opinion, its great value. Yerbal descrir-
tons afford, a, best, but indistinc, notions
of the form and relative situation OF
countries. But when the eye is the me-
dunn Of communication, the learner &C
quires definite ideas, which are impressed
With due force on his memory. We
think class OF tyros would find it de-
lightful exercise 10 trace OH the maps,
the courses Of rivers, the boundaries OF
states and empires, or the situation ofci-
ties and that great emulation might DO
excited by q judicious teacher, the OBJ
ject Of which would be to give the rea-
diest and clearest answers TO the ques.
tons proposed. There is no quackery-
no patent machinery in the work. II