Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-29
THE MISSISSIPPI AND THE NILE.

The Greeks gave the name Of the Dsis space in
eluded within the mouths Of the Ns on account Of s
shape, resembling the letter D. Tbs space embraced n.
that portion Of Egypt, from tho site Of sncen, Memphis
OF modern Cairo to the Mediterranean Sea- IL was The
great sluvsl fsruson Of the Nile. Il CONSTITUTES III
ANGLE nearly equsr the aides Of which average abou,
eighty miles The whole great valley Of the Nile 10 sbou
nine hundred miles long, add average about sx mies
broad Within this narrow space all ihst Rrea
In the world was conferred the kingdom Of Egypt
the fountain Of civilizsen-the mistress Of tho civilized
world. We read Of the glores OF Thebes and Memphis
with incredibly Their hundred braIen gates and the .I
~ thousand armed men which could issue from
them, though they facts related By grave from
Herodotus downward, seriously tar our powc Of belief
But when we remember that the chosen people Of Heaven
were but race of uneducsd when Egypt was
powerful, snlighiened kingdom-when We gaze upon The
heavened, eternal pyramids and explore the vast eI-
cavsted temples the builders Of which not Known
and the date OF which cannot be 6xed must scknow
ledge that this little rver, this valley, have shown
to mankind. what could do. To Egypt We trace an
cvilraon from tho Egyptians confess that we
have derived most Of the Of life. Her early history
veiled IN oescuny, but her monuments stand aud will for.
ever. the admiration and the wonder Of mankind.
The valley Of the Nile. and that OF the Mississippi have
often been compared, but in their fertility wherein do
they resemble each otherl The one 10 long narrow sp
OF land, skred by sandy deserts depending for IL. year
y capacity TO supply human upon the rise Of the
rver the other extends Ia length moro than fourteen
hundred miles, and in breadth from the Aeghanes to the
Rocky Mountains, and embraces soil Of inherent and per
peiusl ferity the one waiered by single river with.
out branches tributaries the other possesses more than
eight thousand miles Of nsvigabs IL the people
who heretofore inhabited the valley Of the Nile could do
muehconsruet works s,upendous exercise upon
all succeeding time influence remarkable who can
say what shall be the destiny of the citizens OF this great
valley Of the ather OF wser" what not in their pow
err who can imagine the strength which they will WELD
the glorics they will achieve
When the great killer Alexander had conquered the
world, he DESTROYS Of leaving postey some record
OF his fame The shattered walls the ruined temples and
the falling columns Of the cities which he had destroyed
shortly disappear. He had the world in which 10 80
ec its site aud he chose the delta Of the Nile The city
Of Alexandris a testimony of his power and
his sagacy. Connected by canal with the Western open
ing Of the Nile commanded the whole commerce OF tho
valleys its galeys covered the Mediterranean, and thou
sand caravans; rsversing the deserts Of Asia and Aircs
poured tho untold wealth of those extensive regions
For years the first city OF the world; and after ages
Of wars, domestic revolutions, and foreign plunder
said that At its final conquest by the Lieutenant OF the Ca
hPh Omar il contained population Of 100000.
If such Alexandra, the capital Of Egypt the empo-
rum Of the valley OF the Ne what may New Orleans.
the natural outlet of great valley become We arc
not dependent upon caravans, avering deserts we are
not bounded by the limits OF the Mediterranean
We have for sole support 5000 square miles Of
territory; not ground down by yrannical govern
men how far then, surpass the proud city of
Egypt in her Pamiest days What the Atlantic and Pae-
sc the Mediterranean. what the Mississippi is to the
Nle what steamships banked galeys must hi.
emporium be to Alexandra. The prospect before US i,
indeed bright and cheering. The full accomplishment Of
the most sangune hopes depends only upon ourselves
Nature has done every thing that is necessary only re-
mains for man to do his share and New Orleans wi be the
political and commercial emporium Of half the world-N
o. Delta.