apparently deftined to cut o ff all communication between countries,
through the exertion and ingenuity o f man, is converted into
a vaft and unbounded medium o f their intercourfe. I do not recoiled!
any thing that exhibits io fenfible and flriking a triumph
o f art over nature, except perhaps the afcent o f the balloon into
the atmofphere: though this indeed is to be ranked among dif-
coveries rather than inventions; and has not by any means given
birth to fuch a variety o f ingenious contrivances as have been displayed
in the application o f the polarity o f the magnet, and o f lunar
obfervations ; in the exteniion o f canals by the perforation of
hills ; in the erection o f bridges, waterlocks, and lluices; and in
the conftrudlion, equipage, and navigation o f fhips.
T h e firfl ideas, or the firft elements as it were, o f navigation,
are prefented to man in his primitive, rude, and fimple flate.
Without entering into the queflion, whether man is or was originally
an amphibious animal, as has been maintained by one or
two whimfical writers, we find that the uncivilized tribes are the
moft expert fwimmers and divers. They live much in the water
and on the water in quell o f filhes, in rivers, lakes, and inlets o f
the lea. A tree or log, torn from the margin o f fome wood by
the violence o f a torrent or a llorm, and floating near them on
the furface o f the water, prefents itfelf as a kind o f relling place,
where the exertions o f the limbs and arms may be fufpended. If
trees or beams can bear up a man in the water, it occurs at once
that they will alio bear up other things. They are immediately
ufed for this purpofe. T he firft boats accordingly, as we find
from
from the hiflory o f all favages, are trees excavated either by iron,
02^ previoully to the ufe of iron, by the operation o f fire. As the
elements o f navigation are fimple and obvious, and as this is an
art intimately connected with the purfuits o f men in all llages o f
fociety, both in war and peace, fo we find that the extenfion and
improvement o f navigation has at all times been a favourite objeit
with the greatefl princes and the moil flourilhing and adventurous
republics. Thus we know that Charlemagne formed a defign o f
uniting by means o f a canal the Rhine and Danube; and Peter
the firfl o f Ruffia projected a ju n ition between the Don and
Wolga, the execution o f w hich was a favourite topic with Catharine
II. though fhe had not the good fortune to fee it accomplifhed.
It is referved only for fuch a fucceffor as may equal that princefs
in extent o f conception and fpirit o f enterprife.
The greater part o f flates and princes adl moflly from tranfient
interefls, which they generally puriue with cabal and intrigue,
varying their defigns and expedients according to times and cir-
cumflances, and therefore feldom producing a great effect. In
proportion as they are lofty in their ambition and comprehenfive
in their views, they overlook prefent difficulties and prefent ad-,
vantages, in the profpect o f permanent power and future glory.
Thus the Romans, undoubtedly the greatefl people with whom
we are at all acquainted, being extenlive in their plans, were fleady
in their conduit. L ik e the laws o f nature, they a died inceffantly
in all feafons and all circumflances. The Roman works, aque-
dudls, roads, walls, amphitheatres, and other flrudtures, were fo
tranfcendantly