A, D, 1785. 97 



along the unknown fhores of her own vafl: empire. A canal was made 

 between the Twertz, a branch of the Wolga, and the Mifta, which, by 

 the help of the great lakes, opens a paflage to the Neva, and thereby 

 completes an inland navigation of 1,434 miles (chiefly indeed upon 

 rivers and lakes) between the Cafpian and the Baltic feas. 



In Denmark a very capital, though a fhort, canal which was begun in 

 the year 1777, was opened for ufe in the month of May this year, and 

 made free to all nations, on paying the proper lock dues, for fix years. 

 It is only about twenty miles in length, though it goes quite acrofs the 

 peninfula of Yutland, and fea veflels drawing not above ten feet of water 

 may pafs through it from the Ocean to the Baltic fea. It coft about 

 ;^20o,ooo llerling, and, though the greateft height of the ground is only 

 about twenty-five feet, it is a very grand national work. 



Even in Turkey the light of fcience began to fhine out. A printing 

 prefs, the vehicle of all knowlege, was eftabliflied ; and a hiftory of the 

 Turkifli empire was publifhed. The French Encyclopedic was tranf- 

 lated by authority of the government, in order to be printed with all the 

 illuflrative plates. And the priefts in vain oppofed the illumination of 

 the empire, as a dangerous encroachment upon the antient eftabliflied 

 ufages. 



Early in the fummer of the year 1785 the Eaft-India company of 

 Oftend and Triefte, a favourite objedof the emperor's attention, became 

 bankrupt for twenty millions of French livres ; and the principal diredor 

 abfconded. Thus the whole project of becoming great in the Eaft- 

 India trade fell to the ground. The German trade on the Danube and 

 the Black fea, the freedom of which had been extorted from the Turk 

 in the day of his diflrefs, was not much more fuccefsful than the India 

 trade. It ought not to be forgotten, that the emperor, whofe adive 

 mind was continually conceiving new plans of improvement, or at leaft 

 alteration, after having laid fuch heavy duties on Britifli raanufidures 

 as almoft amounted to a prohibition, proceeded in December to com- 

 mand a total prohibition of the importation of Britifli raanufadures in 

 every part of his dominions. 



A new gold mine was difcovered this year in the province of New 

 Andalufia in South America. 



The following account was publiftied this year as the average of the 

 imports of the principal articles from the French iflands in the Weft- 

 Indies. 



Sugar, 130,000 cafks, valued at - - 90,000,000 livres 



Coffee 60,000,000 pounds - - - 45,000,000 



Indigo 2,000,000 pounds - - - 1 8,000,00a 



Cacoa 1,500,000 pounds - - - 1,000,000 



Cotton 3,000,000 pounds - - 6,000,000 



160,000,000 



The duties on thefe commodities, including thofe paid on the fugar 

 Vol. IV. N 



