of the United States. 297 



pectation of a favourable result can be entertained, unless 

 more fixed principles and more enlightened views be brought 

 into its direction. 



The state of Pennsylvania was settled at a later period than 

 the other middle states. The original population brought 

 with them the useful arts in a state of greater advancement 

 than the settlers of New England, or the Dutch planters of 

 New York. The soil, also, >vas more fertile, and the climate 

 milder. All these circumstances, together with the religious 

 chara9ter of the Quakers, if they impeded the birth of enter- 

 prise, and that restless spirit of locomotion, that has extended 

 the New England race so widely, yet led to the construction of 

 public works of more stability and expense. The buildings, 

 the roads, the bridges of Pennsylvania, have a character of so- 

 lidity and permanence, rarely to be met in other parts of the 

 Union. Penn, the first proprietor of Pennsylvania, was also 

 possessed of the most liberal and extended views, while the 

 rapid and unlocked for progress of the other colonies, autho- 

 rized him to indulge in anticipations that had never entered 

 into the minds of those who preceded him in the adminstration 

 of the more ancient colonies. The plan of the city of Phila- 

 delphia was capable of execution only, in the case of the 

 Schuylkill being rendered navigable ; and the delay that has 

 attended the execution of this original project of the first pro- 

 prietor, has caused the extension of the city to take place in 

 directions not anticipated by him. It is only since the com- 

 pletion of that navigation, that the foresight of this remarkable 

 man has been justified by the formation of a second port on 

 the Schuylkill, extending its arms to meet the main city on the 

 Delaware. Various projects of inland navigation were formed 

 in Pennsylvania, long before the other states turned their at- 

 tention to the subject ; but, committed to private companies, 

 with deficient capital, none were completed, and many, after 

 being nearly finished, w^ere abandoned. The success of the 

 New York canal gave a new impulse, and fresh capital was 

 found to be embarked in these languishing enterprises. The 

 state itself has recently entered, on its own account, into the 

 construction of new canals, or become a partner in those au- 

 thorized to be constructed by private companies. By recent 



