42 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



rived from them are very problematical. To look 

 at the medals which have been ftruck in our own 

 country, on occafion of the canal of Briare, would 

 we not be induced to think that the Strait of Gib- 

 raltar was henceforth to become fuperfluous to the 

 navigation of France ? Granting it to have been of 

 fome little utility to the interior commerce of the 

 country, has the mifchief done to the plains 

 through which it pafles been taken into the ac- 

 count, as a counterbalance ? So many brooks and 

 fprings diverted from their courfe, and collefted 

 from every quarter, to be gulped up in one great 

 navigable canal, muft have ceafed to water a very 

 confiderable extent of land. And can that be con- 

 fidered as a great commercial benefit, which is in- 

 jurious to agriculture ? Canals are adapted only 

 to marlTiy places. 



This is the third method of contributing to the 

 reftoration of the falubrity of the air. The at- 

 tempts made in France to dry the marQies, have 

 always cod us a great many men, and frequently, 

 for that very reafon, have been left incomplete. I 

 can difcover no other caufe for this but the preci- 

 pitancy with which fuch works are undertaken, 

 and the multiplicity of the objects which they are 

 intended to embrace. The Engineer prefents his 

 plan, the Undertaker gives in his eflimate, the 

 Minifter approves, the Prince fi,nds the money, the 



Intendant 



