418 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I67O, 



The Conjunction of the tivo Seas, the Ocean and the Mediterranean, by 

 a Channel, cut out through Languedoc in France, hy the Authority 

 of Louis XIV, and the Contrivance and Management of Monsieur 

 RjQUET. iV" 56, p. 1123. 



It has been always agreed upon, that the conjunction or communication of 

 the seas has been thought possible ; and that many ways, even within the 

 bounds of France, without any dependence on or participation with the neigh- 

 bouring countries. The thing has also been often proposed under the reigns of 

 Henry IV, and Louis XIII. But whether it be that it has ever been judged 

 too difficult or too expensive, or that those great princes were engaged in more 

 urgent affairs, or that their ministers would not apply themselves to it in good 

 earnest ; so it is, that it has been hitherto rejected. 



Monsieur Riquet, who long since had considered the project, having opened 

 it to the Minister Colbert, was happy enough to make him relish it, by show- 

 ing him the advantages which then might accrue to the kingdom, by facilitating 

 commerce, and by declaring to him the difficulties to be grappled with in this 

 work, with the means of surmounting the same. This great Minister soon ac- 

 quainted his Majesty therewith, who gladly hearkened to him, put the thing in 

 deliberation, and having resolved on it, gave a general commission to M. 

 Riquet, esteemed the most capable person for executing such a design. 



This difficulty being overcome, and M. Riquet having satisfied the objections 

 made by several sorts of people against this enterprise, it was necessary, before • 

 the actual undertaking of the work, to resolve upon the choice that was to be 

 made of the two ways by which the channel was to be carried from the river 

 Garonne to the Aude. Some persons interested would have it carried all along 

 to the plains, reaching from Caercassone to Tholouse. Others would have it 

 run into the river Fresqueil, from thence into the plain of Revel, and thence 

 into the river Agout, and so into the Garonne. M. Riquet followed neither of 

 those two ways, but formed thence a third, which was to make use of what was 

 best in these two ways, by taking from the former what it had of good conveni- 

 ent country from the point of separation to Tholouse; and from the latter, what 

 advantage the bed of Fresqueil would afford him ; yet so that, whereas some 

 pretended to make this channel of communication pass into the very channels 

 of the little rivers Lers, Fresqueil, Aude; Monsieur Riquet makes his channel 

 pass, as much as he can, in the adjacent plains, leaving the ancient channels of 

 those rivers to serve for receiving and carrying away the great and frequent in- 

 undations of waters, and thereby securing the new channel from the danger of 

 being inconvenienced'by them. 



