REVIEWS. 261 



REVIEWS. 



CANADIAN CANALS*. 



Notwithstanding the slight encouragement given by the Province 

 generally to works of Canadian authorship, it is gratifying to record 

 the issue, within the last few years, of several Canadian works of 

 undoubted and acknowledged merit. Amongst these, Mr. Kingsford's 

 recent book on our Canals, published at so opportune a moment, may 

 fairly claim its place. Impartially and honestly written, filled with 

 facts and data laboriously collected and carefully put together, and 

 containing many well-timed suggestions for future action, based on 

 past errors and present exigencies, it cannot fail, we think, to win 

 for itself a wide and favorable reception. Apart, moreover, from its 

 special merits, it is the only book to which we can turn for any 

 connected information respecting this branch of the internal economy 

 of the country. 



The subject of our canal policy is one of such paramount import- 

 ance in the present state of our commercial and political relations 

 with the mother country and the United States, whilst, at the 

 same time, so little attention has been bestowed upon it by general 

 readers, that we propose, in this notice, to offer a brief analysis of 

 its principal facts and, bearings, as set forth in the very lucid 

 exposition contained in Mr. Kingsford's work. 



Undoubtedly, the most salient feature in the geography of Can- 

 ada is the immense extent of the St. Lawrence River, with its 

 connected series of lakes, all forming part of one vast system 

 of inland navigation, without its parallel in any other part of the 

 world. Were it not for a few natural obstacles — comprising, chiefly, 

 the flats of St. Clair, the Ealls and other obstructions of the Niag-' 

 ara River, and the shallows and rapids of various parts of the St. 

 Lawrence proper — the entire line of the more habitable frontier of 

 the Province would be practically one unbroken seaboard. Ships of 

 heavy tonnage, in place of being arrested at Quebec and Montreal, 

 might continue their western course for another thousand miles ; 

 and, returning to the shores of Europe, carry back a direct freight, 



* The Canadian Canals : their History and Cost ; with an Inquiry into the Policy neces- 

 sary to advance the well-being of the Province. By Wiiliam Kinqsboed, Civil Engineer. 

 Toronto : EoUo & Adam. 1865. 12mo. pp. 191. 



