EIVER NAVIGATION. 



delta of the Mississippi, indented and serrated in every part with 

 natural harbours and sheltered hays, fringed with islands, forming 

 sounds, throwing out capes and promontories, which inclose arms 

 of the sea, in which the waters are free from the roll of the ocean, 

 and which, for all the purposes of internal navigation, have the 

 character of rivers and lakes. The lines of communication, 

 formed by the vast and numerous rivers, are completed in the 

 interior by chains of lakes, presenting the most extensive bodies 

 of fresh water in the known world. 



8. Whatever may be the dispute maintained among the his- 

 torians of art as to the conflicting claims for the invention of steam 

 navigation, it is an incontestable fact that the first steam-boat 

 practically exhibited for any useful purpose, was placed on the 

 Hudson to ply between New York and Albany in the beginning of 

 the year 1808. From that time to the present, this river has been 

 the theatre of the most remarkable series of experiments on loco- 

 motion on water ever recorded in the history of man. 



The Hudson rises near Lake Champlain, the easternmost of the 

 great chain of lakes or inland seas which extend from east to west 

 across the northern boundary of the United States. The river 

 follows nearly a straight course southwards for two hundredtand 

 fifty miles, and empties itself into the sea at New York. The 

 influence of the tide is felt as far as Albany, above which the 

 stream begins to contract. Although this river, in magnitude and 

 extent, is by no means equal to several others which intersect the 

 States, it is nevertheless rendered an object of great interest by 

 reason of the importance and extent of its trade. The produce of 

 the state of New York, and that of the banks of the lakes Ontario 

 and Erie, are transported by it to the city ; and one of the most 

 extensive and populous districts of the United States is supplied 

 with the necessary imports by its waters. A large fleet of vessels 

 is constantly engaged in its navigation; nor is the tardy but 

 picturesque sailing vessel as yet excluded by the more rapid 

 steamer. The current of the Hudson is said to average nearly 

 three miles an hour ; but as the ebb and flow of the tide are felt 

 as far as Albany, the passage of the steamers between that place 

 and New York may be regarded as equally affected by currents in 

 both directions. The passage, therefore, whether in ascending or 

 descending the river, is made in the same time. 



This river is navigable by steamers of a large class as far as 

 Albany, nearly one hundred and fifty miles above New York. 



Attempts have been made, but hitherto without much success, 

 to push the navigation a few miles higher, as far as the important 

 town of Troy. The impediments arising however from the 

 shallowness of the river appear to be so serious, that Albany has 



21 



