96 A. D. 1785. 



fea through a trad of country much more extenfive than that inter- 

 fedled by the grand canal of Languedoc *, and alfo on a much grander 

 fcalc, having nine feet depth of water, with a rile of 3,000 feet, and a 

 length of 420 miles. Two thoufand foldiers and as many peafants are 

 employed as labourers upon this great national improvement, which, 

 even in countries the moft advanced in civilization and the progrefs of 

 ufeful fcience, might be reckoned a flupendous undertaking. In May 

 1 7R5 the bank offered to defray the whole expenfe of this great work ; 

 which, it was fuppofed may be finifhed in about thirty years (reckoning 

 from the commencement of it) provided Spain might enjoy peace fo 

 long ; a blelhng, not to be expecled in the prefent fyftem of Europe. 

 When it is perfeded, the productions of the various parts of that great, 

 and once flourifhing, country, which the impollibility of carriage at 

 prefent renders ufelefs in many places to the proprietors, will find their 

 proper value ; and the accefs to new markets will roufe the people to 

 induflrious exertion. 



In the beginning of the year 1785 the king of Spain eftabliflied the 

 Royal Philippine company. Their capital was about ^1,300,000 fter- 

 ling. They have the charge of difpatching the fhips for South America, 

 other fhips, alfo under their diredion, being appointed to carry on the 

 trade between Acapulco (on the weft coafl of America) and the Philip- 

 pine iflands, the inhabitants of which fubfcribed a tenth part of the 

 company's capital flock. The king of Spain alio, for the further en- 

 couragement of trade, opened the ports of the Philippine iflands to all 

 nations f. In general, Spain may be faid to have made confiderable 

 efforts to lliake off the torpor, which had for fome centuries funk that 

 fine country beneath its due place in the fcale of Europe. The empire 

 of fuperflition began to lofe ground : learning and the ufeful arts were 

 cultivated ; and a fpirit of liberality and improvement was generally 

 diffufedt. 



In the oppofite extremity of Europe the Ruffians were making large 

 flrides to emulate, in point of enterprife and improvement, the other 

 nations, who had got the flart of them in civilization. The emprefs 

 ordered an expedition by land for exploring the remote parts of her 

 dominions : and fhe lent another by fea from the River Anadir to coafl 



* The canal of Langvieiloc carries only fix feet fiance of the fpirit of fcientific refcavch prevalent 



of water ; its greateft height is 6oo feet ; and its at this time in Spain, that among the prize fiih- 



length about 220 miles. jeils propofcd by the Economical focitty of Madrid 



{• Notwithftandiiig all thefe apparent advantages, were the two following qiieilions. — What is the 

 if we may judge from the opinion of the Uberal and true fpirit of a legiflation favourable to the agri- 

 enlightened Peroufe, formed upon his obfervations culture, arts, indullry, and commerce, of a great 

 when he w.-\s at Manila, there is but little profpeft kingdom ? — and, What are the evils arifing from a 

 of any very extenfive or advantageous commerce perpetual entail of funded debt, and the bell treans 

 being carried on in that moft fertile and excellent to check and repair thofe evils without producing' 

 country. greater evils ? ^ 



4 It will not be imperJnent to remark, as an in- 4 



