Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-03

and China 10 the waters which descended from the Tar
tartan mountains and from the lofty pecpices and eternag
SHOWS Of the great chain Of the Hinmaieh as we have
before traced the wealth and civilization Of Egypt and
Babylon TO the Nile and the Euphratcs.
Most of those Asiaic countries have also conbutcty
greatly to their prosperity by systems Of artificial
extensive than any in the world. Throughout that i'm
mensc empire, there is scarcely a town or village which
has not the advantage either of of the sea,
canal, means OF communication The canal which runs
from Canton to Pekn is said be s25 miles in length IL
is by of her canals alone, China enabled to
enforce and pcrpctuate her exclusive policy of avoiding
all connexon with foreign countries except so far as She
may suppose they contribute, in peculiar manner to her
wealth and advantage
IL we look rise OF nations since the downfall Of hc
Roman Empire and the consequent spread of bararsu
over the Roman world shall find similar produc-
ed by similar cause The States and Cities of italy, on
the Guph OF Genoa the banks of the Arno, and tie
valley of the Po and the Aaic sea- were the first TO $50
10 wealth ana Importance In Genoa Pisa, Florcnce We
nice and Amah, the arts and commerce first reviv
cd
Leaving the Mediterranean and looking along the At
anc coast OF Europe, shall find that the same cause
which had formerly promoted the commerce of the Medi
crranean, gave rise in the northern parts of Europe TO
small degree OF traffic the sea of the baltic
The Inhabitants on the southern OF Scandnayia
and the northern parts oil Germany being sstacd i'm
that nhospitable climate TO fish Tor their subsistence he
came carly acquainted with navigation. From the conye-
nience OF their situation, numbers of people drawn
by degrees to reside in their neghborhood, and trading
were formed upon the coast or in the mouths of the
adjoining rivers They cngroed for several centuries the
trade OF the northern ports of Europe, the Italians had
land, in the Baltic, has given a name TO a commercials
CODE supposed by TO be the basis of the present ma
rhine law OF Europe. -. =.
The great mprov which so carly took place on t,
Baltic merits attention the more, because the soil was
sterile, and the climate nhospitable; consequently, the
progress in wealth and civilization, be attributed TO
commerce alone, arising from the superior facilities of
yigaiion.
Tire country situated about the mouths of the Rhine ,nI
the M@se, which, like the Dctas of the Nile were so IA
vorablc to inland navigation wealth and civil
zaion, and along with it, the country of the Netherlands
f,c;
section by canals and roads, gave early period to
commerce and manufactures.
Ii we turn TO country, shall find the same
great law OF improvement to hold good The pantao,s
and settlements on the continent followed with but few
rivers and II is only within the period of about years
past that population capital and enterprise have pcnc
'racd into the depths OF the western wilderness.
But il may perhaps be sad that some of the countries
above mcntioncd not in lourishing situation now
as formerly therefore, their positions vanaccous for
commerce have ceased to produce that prosperity which
nave described as flowing from them. How them
may be asked, is this apparent anomaly be explained
To give complete explanation of this, would require
longer dsquisi'ion into the causes of the overthrow
continued prostraon of of the ancient empires than
the limits which have prescribed myself in this Essay
Will allow. | cannot therefore, enter into an invcsga-
uon oil this kind although of the curious and
interesting connected with the philosophy of history But,
with regard TO of the States above mentioned which
were conspicuously prominent for wealth and c
yization, and have subsequently sunk in the lapse Of
une, to an inferior grade the scale of nations we can
easily explain the change, and show that it has been
iccted by the operation OF which beautifully illus
trate the subject under consideration
Towards the end OF the 10th and beginning the 17t.
century two great events occurred 10 produce remarka-
bic revolution upon the state of trade in general and
of Europe in particular st The invention of the Ma ri
ners Compass and 2ndly the Discovery of America, and
the opening oil the passage to the East Indies by the Cape
OF Good Hope.
LIST The Mariners Company changed the whole sys-
tenn OF navigation. Before its invention seaman guild
ed alone by the Stars could not forth upon the
broad expanse OF the occanhis track always sight
of the of his country or over some narrow sea or
|
he polarity of the magnet opened the mariner more
brilliant career-broke down all the barriers which had
arrested his progress the conduct
ed him in safety the widest seas TO distant cnes In
! the language OF the Roman Bard
{" Non tanscnda rates trarsilunt vada.p
Mhen then, this discovery bad been properly ascor.
tanned and reduced TO practice, those who inhabited the
coast oil BARROW sea, had no longer that superiority with
respect to commerce, which they formerly possesed
Whatever advantages they might have in small coastn
navigation these overbalanced by inconv enences
OF their situation whenever they had occasion 10 sail he
You'd those adjacent capes promontories bv which
they were limited and circumscrbcd The harbors which
then became favorable to commerce yyerc s,ch 40
had been less so iormerythose which were farest re-
moved from sroighs dangerous shores and by their
distance from opposite lands admitted the TO
every quarter OF the globe
i I'd Inc discovery of America and the opening of a
passage TO The Eastlndes by the Cape OF Good Hone Which
may be regarded consequence of the preceding i'm
poVemeni In navigation, contributed still farther change
the course OF European trade. By these discoveries
set oil new and magnificent objects of was pre-
sehted ana Europe began TO entertain prospect of
forming settlements in distant countries; of trading with
nations III various climates producing proportional vare-
" oil commodities The merchants of Italy and of the
northern parts OF Germany naturally left behind i'm
the prosecution of these magnificent views Their ua-
uon hemmed in by the OF the Baltic or of the Med
erranean was particularly unfvorabe for that new spc
cies of trade.
vi all European nations Great Britain was i'm cond;-
uon 10 reap the most Immediate profit from these impor
an changes In the state Of commerce. The distance of
britain rom the continent, and her situation as an island
afforded her superiority TO other countries in the
huhDero such arbors as have free communication will,
all parts OF the world. Her insular situation was adyan-
ageous likewise TO inland trade from the numerous bavs
ana rivers which by ntcrsectng the country in different
Places extended the benefit of water carriage 10 the
greater part of the inhabitants.
Inc prosperity OF the countries which have been inst
mentioned, is TO be acrbed the facilities offered TO com
mercc from the inland and external navigation and not to
the superior fertility of the SOIL On the other hand il wo
look TO the opposite side of the picture and contemplate
those regions which have been the aboes of
oil Darbas and OF poverty through all ages of the world
VIC shall ind them generally located al distance from
navSable wafer enjoying facilities for commerce. and
consequently uniavoFabe the formation OF large socie
ues and TO the production of that intercourse between man
ana man, which IS sure TO lead on TO Improvement
In looking the three first discovered continents If
inc globe, we find the preceding remark most srkingly
eNempIhcd IN Africa; forming extensive continent
tuated almost in The centre of the globe and presenting
hersef conpicuousy, il just the highway be-
tween the eXremies of The globe To perform the vast
circuit oil her Shores and 10 her stormy capes have
Deen the objects OF the ambition Of the greatest arnerr
since the fortunate discovery of the polarity of the magnet
llrst cntlccd the and