No. 199.] 337 



by the progress making in more accurate astronomy — in instruments 

 for distant observations, and in skill to calculate them — ift knowing 

 better the influences of magnetism, and other substances on the nee- 

 dle — in learning more carefully the causes and courses of winds, 

 storms, and currents, and in protecting vessels more fully from light- 

 ning and the havoc of infectious disease. Charts as well as surveys, 

 can be more improved, life-boats forced more generally into use, and 

 accidents in steamboats be more cautiously guarded against. The 

 vessel itself, already so perfect in beauty and strength, from rude 

 plank, tied together with hide thongs, as now near Bhering's Straits — 

 and from the unwieldly Chinese junk, but little better than a raft, and 

 little safer than the distended goat skin of the Euphrates, or the bul- 

 rushes of the Nile, or the birchen canoe of the Indian, can still more 

 be improved here by timbers better selected and seasoned- -by forms 

 better suited to ensure speed and strength, and by cordage and sails 

 better fitted to withstand the strongest gales. We must look also, to 

 the increased use of iron, in navigation, no less than all the arts, as 

 one sure means to attain greater strength, as well as economy — en- 

 couraged by what has been already effected in commerce by the iron 

 beam and knee — the iron pillar — the iron cable — the iron anchor — the 

 iron rail and iron locomotion. Every new article of much trade can 

 also, in time, be made to contribute largely to the prosperity of both 

 domestic and foreign commerce. 



Thus, cotton and coal, and lead and gold, furnishing no freights 

 here a century ago, are becoming the most valuable, as well in the 

 coasting as the carrying trade ; and the first three are already here 

 mines of wealth to the commercial world, no less than to the arts. 

 By increased rapidity of communication, through means of new forms 

 to vessels — new routes or tracks — new knowledge of winds and cur- 

 rents — no less than by the new powers of steam and the magnetic 

 telegraph — speeding so marvelously the intercourse between inhabi- 

 tants of separate as well as the same countries — we shall yearly bring 

 the whole earth into a narrow compass — almost annihilating distance 

 — making nearer and better neighbors of most of mankind — and ena- 

 ble all to improve by all, with a rapidity scarcely yet dreamed of. 



[Assembly, No. 199.] 22 



