relating to the Vale of the Mississippr. 59 
ment, called by the French name of levee, was rarely. required and 
only in very low places. Since that period, from year to year, the 
river has continued to rise higher and higher, which has obliged 
the inhabitants of Lower Louisiana to prolong and reinforce their 
levees,” &c.... 
The: :Minsiontens now is adams enlarging, as progress is alle 
in clearing and cultivating the lands, whose waters run into this 
river. Within the last twenty-five years, its general width has 
sensibly increased, and its overflows are more frequent. ‘There is 
no a reasons for the belief that it is becoming more shallow ; but 
that the contrary is true, is we think demonstrated by the ri that 
there is an evident diminution in the number of what are denominated 
snags, and sawyers or planted trees.* It may be observed also, that 
the current is less furious at particular points, as near the — 
of a bend, where the water always presses hardest. We thin 
these changes indicative of an increased depth of water in the river, 
rather than of a tendency to become more shallow as many have 
supposed. The natural outlets through the Delta, that forms the 
mouths of the river cannot increase, but must _ : in number 
as the depositions from the water accumulate ; consequently a ug 
the impediments at the mouth may not damsieiahs they cannot increase, 
before the Delta is pushed upon Cuba. We should also recollect, 
the weight of this stream, which surpasses, perhaps, any other in the 
world, and when assisted by the Gulf stream, it will always a its 
mouths and bar of at least the same depth as at present. 
PROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
When the surface of the great country, whose waters pour into 
the Mississippi, shall be compacted by time, with the aid of a more 
scant spontaneous ve and of a more extended cultivation, 
the quantity of water which will then be borne through the channel 
of the river, will be incomparably greater than at present. Heavy 
and repeated rains, which might now bring the water, only within five 
feet of the level of the banks, will then produce such an overflow, 
as will inundate the vales and destroy the crops. 
‘In the year 1805, the writer stood upon the banks of the Missou- 
ri, and with astonishment beheld its diminutive stream. And even 
inconsiderable as it was, it appeared to be half filled with sand bars. 
- * Local names given to trees that ase _ into the river, and become so fixed 
that the currents do not remove them 
