382 FUTURE INFLUENCE OF CANADA. 



important part of the traffic between the western country 

 and New York. 



I have ah'eady adverted to the excessive crowding of 

 the Erie Canal, and the delays to which merchandise is 

 occasionally in consequence subjected. But to descend 

 to Montreal and Sorel is easy, and can be done without 

 transhipment ; and, in consequence of this and other 

 advantages, it has been found that goods can by this 

 route — down the St Lawrence, then up the E-ichelieu to 

 Lake Cham plain, and thence by canal to the river 

 Hudson — be carried to New York as cheaply, and with 

 more certainty as to time, than by the hitherto exclusive 

 line of the Erie Canal. It may, therefore, be confidently 

 predicted, that a portion of the internal traffic of the 

 States will hereafter pass by the river Richelieu, and 

 enrich and increase the value of land in the district 

 through w^hich it passes. 



A shorter ship-canal has also been projected direct 

 from Caughnawaga — opposite to Montreal, but above 

 the rapids — direct to Lake Champlain. Should this be 

 executed, there can be no doubt that much of the traffic 

 between the western regions and the Atlantic borders 

 would pass, without changing bottoms, in this direction^ — 

 greatly adding, of course, to the income of the provincial 

 canals, and to the commercial establishments and inter- 

 course along the river. 



On the whole, therefore, it appears certain that the 

 river St Lawrence is destined ere long to become a most 

 important medium of intercourse between the various 

 sections of the New World, as well as between the Old 

 World and the New, and to give to the province of 

 Canada a far more extensive and commanding influence 

 over the commercial operations of North America than 

 any State east of Louisiana can ever aspire to.* 



* I am happy to learn tliat, so far as the present year 1850 is concerned, 

 the anticipations of the text have been fully confirmed. The revenue 



