102 On the Natural Boundaries of Empires. 



of favouring commerce, becomes an annoyance to both par- 

 ties. It is a bad military line in time of war. A state is 

 powerful, in proportion as she possesses the whole extent of 

 the basin, from which the water flows, to supply her rivers. 

 Thus the State of New York, has great national strength, 

 because she possesses the sovereignty of the river Hudson, 

 and nearly the whole country on both shores, without any 

 interference. 



The State of Connecticut in a similar way possesses the 

 course of her principal river, for a considerable distance. 



The Delaware is not of so much importance, to New Jer- 

 sey or Pennsylvania, as it would be if the undisputed proper- 

 ty of either. In support of this position and of the gener- 

 al fact assumed, I may adduce the opinion of Professor 

 Renwick of Columbia College, New York. 



" The Hudson divides New Jersey from the State of New 

 York on one side, and the Delaware separates it from Penn- 

 sylvania on the other. 



" However definite these may be as territorial limits, they 

 operate, by their facilities of navigation, rather as bonds 

 of union, than as divisions of the inhabitants in their vicinity, 

 from those of the two adjoining states. 



" Hence the citizens of East and West Jersey, have differ- 

 ent feelings and views upon almost every question of public 

 interest, nor does it appear possible to unite them in exertion." 



The Rhine was a mihtary boundary against the ancient 

 Germans, but could not have been against a civilized power. 



The Tay was not so good a barrier against the ancient 

 Scots, as the Roman wall. 



The Nile never formed a boundary, even in the intestine 

 wars which sometimes destroyed Egypt. Hostile armies some- 

 times encamped on the opposite shores, but the contest was 

 always continued, until one was defeated. When two pow- 

 ers, of nearly equal strength, have been in Egypt at the 

 same time, the line of demarcation has generally been ac- 

 cross the Nile, one possessing upper, the other lower Egypt. 



The late contest between Brazil, and the inhabitants of 

 Buenos Ayres, arose from an erroneous opinion on the part 

 of the former, that the river La Plata was the true boun- 

 dary. 



SEAS AND OCEANS. 



Some nations appear to dread the water, and to them, the 

 ocean is a boundary which they never attempt to pass. 



