122 



UNITED STATES. 



Paris, to belong to the genus Terebratulc^s or oGcan 

 shells, " which live uniformly in the great depths of 

 the ocean, and never on its shores," 



LAKES. 



It may in truth be said, that no part of the world 

 is so well watered with springs, rivulets, rivers and 

 lakes, as the territory of the United States. By 

 means of these various streams and 'collections of 

 water, the whole country is checkered into islands 

 and peninsulas. The United States, and indeed all 

 parts of North America, seem to have been formed 

 by nature for the most intimate union. The faci- 

 lities of navigation render the communication be- 

 tween the ports of Georgia and New Hampshire far 

 more expeditious and practicable, than between 

 those of Provence and Picardy in France ; Cornwall 

 and Caithness in Great Britain ; or Gallicia and Ca- 

 talonia in Spain. The canals opening between Sus- 

 quehannah and Delaware, between Pasquetank and 

 Elizabeth rivers, in Virginia, and between the 

 Schuylkill and Susquehannah, will open a communi- 

 cation from the Carolinas to the western counties of 

 Pennsylvania and New York. The improvement 

 of the Potowmack, will give a passage from the 

 southern states to the western parts of Virginia, Ma- 

 ryland, Pennsylvania, and even the lakes. From 

 jQetroit to Alexandria on the Potowmack, six hun- 

 dred and seven miles, are but two carrying places, 



