Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-03
Internal Hanprovemend.---No. M.
For THE E.N'QUIRER.

After having thus as hope pointed out some of The
principal advantages of Internal improvement in relation
10 wealth and CIVILIZATION will proceed by brcf
review OF the history of the past to show that the heoy
above elucidated corresponds with the fact, that wealth
and civilization have generally been found commence
soonest and advace with most rapdity where nayieabe
streams and artificial improvements have offered the
creates facilities to commerce, and 10 the
individuals into societies.
The nations around the Mediterranean sea seem 70
have been among the first who made any progress in
| wealth and civilization
The Mediterranean forms the greatest inland sea in to
known world. Ii has tides and consequently no
waves except those caused by wind this circumstance
together with the multitude of its islands, frequent
proximity oil It's opposite shores, and the numerous linden
taions from bays and rivers extremely favourable 10
the infant navigation of the world.
In surveying the ancient nations lying around this great
met our attention is at arrested by the interesting
history oil Egypt; and in looking the scany annals
which remain to us OF this nation, farther and
farther back into antiquity, until all authentic records
faii, and we find to asonshment that this nation
wealthy and civilized even before her authentic his
tory commences. Ii appears that she was among the first
II not the first OF the nations of the Globe to practice the
necessary arts OF agriculture and manufactures,
osh regular government, and cultivate the sciences "In
the Patiarchal ages when Scripture history represents
the Messopoaman plain the of the future empires
oil babylon and Assyria, as little than wide and
open common, Egypt appears regularly organized and
forming great and powerful kingdom; and when Greece
was under the tumultuary sway of multitude of petty
Chlctans Homer already celebrates the gates of
Ihebes, andthe mighty host which in warkc array is
sued from them TO battle. The first approacb IN ainho
bette writing by berogyphc cmbcms-tbe first great
works IN sculpture, painting and archecure-thc first
advances in mathematics astronomy and philosophy
orally commenced in this most interesting country What
circumstance them let us enquire, operated avoTably
mere, IN me accumulation OF wealth, and the dcvelope
mcnt OF mind' 1t the river Nile running through
tha whole length OF Egypt, aided by canals
Wch offered such facilities 20 commerce. and fixed wealth
and empire in this comparatively small territory Upper
Egypt no where extends more than few miles from Inc
Nile; and in lower Egypt the river broken into many
channels and by artificial communication norton OF the
Nile was carried TO every city, VILLAGE, and even farm
house oil the country, inviting 10 easy and safe com
n NJ niQfa The ~.
along lis whole length, the Arabian gulf or the
Red Sea, along which the Egyptian mariner was invited
even down TO the straits of Babenande and the In
dian Oceant These were the which gave Egypt
an early start and rapidly sped her in the of
Improvement
The wealth and power Of Pheuicia and Carthage were
likewise owing to commerce. consequent their favour
able positions along the Mediterranean Sea.
The grandeur Of Babylon was founded too upon her
position in ASIA on the river Euphates, which, like the
Nile annually overows its banks and offers the same IA
ccs to inland navigation and commerce. the Nile did
in Egypt But the duration of empire here was not equal
TO that of EgyP for the latter country long defended
from the inroads of foreign nations, by the deserts and
seas with which 1t Is surrounded, whereas the former
more exposed 10 the barbarlans and the ncigbourng
TONS who were ready like harpes to flock in on the
abodes OF civilization and disspate and quander The ac-
cumulaed wealth.
n will extend or views still farther to the eastward
and contemplate the great countries India and Eastern
ASA we shall find they lay claim 10 antiquity almost
as remote as that OF Egypt and from the time they have
first been made known TO the western world TO the present
they have been Natures great houses for population
Inc great MYERS IN those extensive regions.
have been the of their internal commerceof their
wealth aud population-Accorjng1y you will find The
regions bordering on the rivers the weaihies and the
most nOa0ci such as the regions lying about the Tndue the
great river running along the western limits Of India
those bordering on the Gangcs and Burampootcr in Hin
dosan and Benga-and those on The Hoa,iho and Kian
ku Of Eastern China Two ofe longest and LARGEST rivera in
the known world And thus may trace the early wealth
and crowded population Of the great plains Of indostan
See FAIRLY Library No 49, oh. o.
fIhc Ehiogln ivfd and entv m o,no ,yoe.
in wealth md civilization.