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DR. WALKER.- "Bravo, Edward, when you return to England, you will have become so expert a connoisseur in the different branches of political as well as natural geography, that I shall expect you will be aiming at the important situation of chancellor of the exchequer. We will say nothing of the principal Russian towns, as we shall visit some of them; but of the rivers and canals we will take some notice. "The Beresina, will be famous in history from the retreat of Napoleon from Moscow.

"The Niester, rising in the Carpathian Mountains, forms the present boundary between Turkey and Russia, and, pas-` sing by Bender, falls into the Euxine at Akerman: its course is 600 miles.

"The Dnieper, the ancient Boristhenes, rises at Viesma in Russia, passes Smolensk, Rogatchov, Kiow, Catharinoslav, Alexandrowskaia, and falls into the Black Sea at Cherson, after a course of 1000 miles.

"The Don rises to the south of Moscow, and falls into the sea of Azof, after a course of 800 miles.

"The Wolga may be reckoned the prince of European rivers: it derives its source from several lakes between Moscow and Petersburg: it is navigable from Twer, and passes by Mologa, Kostroma, Nisney, Novogorod, Kasan, Simbirsk, Samara; whence to Tzaritzin, it is the boundary between Europe and Asia: it then runs south-east, and falls into the Caspian Sea at Astracan: its comparative course may be estimated at 700 miles. This noble river having no cataracts, and few shoals, is navigable even to Twer. The Dwina rises in Ustiaga; and falls into the Gulf of Archangel, after a course of about 500 miles.

"The inland navigation of Russia is very extensive. An intercourse is formed between the Caspian Sea and the Baltic, a distance of nearly 2,400 miles, by means of the canal of Vetni Volotchok, uniting the Twertza, which runs into the Wolga, with the Shlina, which communicates with the Baltic.

"The canal of Ladoga passes along the lake of that name, and extends from the river Volk to the Neva, a space of 67 miles, and communicates with the former canal. Another canal leads from Moscow to the river Don, forming a communication with the Euxine. Peter the Great intended to unite the Don and the Wolga, and thus to form an intercourse between the Caspian and Euxine Sea and the Baltic.

"And now as we are upon the subject, I will briefly mention the chief canals in the world,

"In Sweden an attempt has been made to unite Stockholm with Gottenburg, by the canal styled Kal Trolkattan, conducted along the river Gotha; but the attempt has failed. "The chief inland navigation of Denmark, is the canal of Kiel, which we have seen; it unites the Baltic and the river Eyder, which flows into the German Sea. Its length is about 21 miles; the breadth 100 feet at top, and 54 at bottom: the least depth about 10 feet, so as to admit vessels of 120 tons.

"A canal is made in the Prussian dominions to unite the Elbe with the Oder: its length is nearly 60 miles.

"Holland is intersected with innumerable canals, which, for number and size, may be compared to our public high. ways. By them a great inland trade is carried on with France and Germany. In summer they are constantly crowded with boats of pleasure or of traffic; and in winter, when they are frozen over, the inhabitants travel on them with skates, and perform long journies in a very short time.

"In France the canal of Briare, otherwise styled the canal of Burgundy, unites the Loire and the Seine. From Briare, upon the Loire, it passes by Montargis and falls into

the Seine near Fontainbleau.

"A canal from Orleans joins the last mentioned canal at Montargis.

"The canal of Picardy extends from the Somme to the Oise, beginning at St. Quintin.

"But the chief canal of France is the celebrated one of Languedoc, which forms a junction between the Mediterranean and the Bay of Biscay. This noble canal begins at Cette, in the Bay of Languedoc, and joins the Garonne, below Toulouse. The breadth, including the towing paths, is 144 feet, the depth six feet, and the length 180 miles.

"The canals of China have long excited the wonder of other nations. There is a large canal in every province, with branches to most of the towns and villages.

"The imperial canal runs north and south, beginning at Lin-sin-choo, where it joins the river Euho, and extends to Han-choo-foo, in an irregular line of about 500 miles,

"The river Kan-Kian facilitates the navigation of the southern provinces; and all kinds of merchandize entering Canton, can be conveyed directly to Pekin, a distance of 825 miles.

"In Hindostan, the river Ganges is uninterruptedly na

vigable for the distance of 500 miles from the sea; its medium breadth is three quarters of a mile, and the depth of its channel 30 feet.

"The Indus admits of an uninterrupted navigation from the Gulf of Cutch to Lahore, for vessels of 200 tons, a distance of nearly 800 miles.

"No country can boast of superior means for inland navigation than the United States. An extensive sea coast, with many large bays, on the east; Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron, forming one large sea, on the north; and the river Mississippi, into which the Ohio runs, on the west. The internal parts of the country are also intersected with the noblest rivers, many of which are navigable for some hundreds of miles; and very little assistance is wanting from canals to render this country the most convenient, for commerce and inland navigation, of any on the globe.

"By means of the Lake Nicaragua, whose length is 170 miles and which has a great outlet, the river of St. Juan, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, an easy passage might be made from the Atlantic into the Pacific, and in the most direct course that could be desired. Were any enterprising nation, instead of Spain, in possession of this part of America, this improvement would probably soon be made."

EDWARD." Are not the rivers of America longer than those of the Old World?"

DR. WALKER.—" Of this you shall yourself judge; for I have here a comparative view of the length of the principal rivers in the world, which I will shew you.

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AMERICAN RIVERS.

Mississippi, reckoning its length to the most remote branch of the Missouri..................... 14

Amazons....

Rio de la Plata............... 11

"By this standard you will perceive that the river of the Amazons is the longest river in the world, and that our boasted Thames is but a streamlet compared to the more majestic rivers described in this list."

EDWARD." Indeed it is as you say, but a streamlet compared to those stupendous rivers you have named; but it is of no small importance, nevertheless, and few excel it in beauty. The views of it at Henley-upon-Thames, and Richmond, present a matchless scene of pastoral beauty ; and as for imposing sights, none I am very sure excel that of the Thames at London Bridge. The quays crowded with merchant vessels from all parts of the world; their masts presenting the appearance of a leafless forest."

DR. WALKER." You shall travel, Edward, wherever you please, since you have so much of the amor patriæ in your composition as to look to England as the close and summit of all your hopes and wanderings, I shall not fear that like the fop described in the fable of the cameleon, you will deserve the title of "the travelled fool."

"Letters from England," said Colin, who at this moment opened the door; " and they are most welcome" replied the Doctor, as he unfolded a large packet, "there, Edward, is yours.'

"

When Edward had perused his epistle, he exclaimed, “I have lots of commissions, Sir, from my sisters."

"Not pardons from Rome, I suppose," said the Doctor. "No," replied his pupil; "but I am desired to collect all sorts of curiosities, and ship them off for England."

DR. WALKER." Suppose then you send them a frozen pig or an ox, one of those we saw in the market this morning, standing bolt upright, looking at a distance like a company of soldiers in red and white uniforms."

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EDWARD. Rather clumsily shaped for soldiers, Sir, not like our guards at home."

DR. WALKER.—" Why, no, certainly not; but we are such notorious gossips, that if we do not separate, the morn

ing will surprise us before we are aware of it; so good night: To-morrow we start for Petersburg.'

EDWARD." How far distant is Petersburg from Wyburg?"

DR. WALKER." Why, as near as I can guess, about one hundred and ten English miles."

SECTION II.

JOURNEY CONTINUED.-PETERSBURG, &c.

EARLY on the following day our travellers resumed their journey; and without meeting with any adventure, arrived on the evening of the next day, at the capital of the Russian empire. Upon entering this fine city, which but a century ago consisted of a few huts only, the traveller is struck with astonishment at the mighty genius of the extraordinary Peter, who caused the present city to spring from a morass, and transformed into men. his uncultivated subjects, who were little better than savages,

EDWARD." What a mind must Peter have had!"

DR. WALKER." Yes. Antiquity may boast of her Solon, her Lycurgus, her Romulus, and all her heroes; but none of them, in a political point of view, equalled the wonderful Peter. At his private vices, and even his political severity, we must not glance: that part of his character will not bear examination. Petersburg stands on an immense extent of ground: the houses are principally of wood, and it contains a profusion of churches, which are ornamented with copper domes gilt; these have a brilliant effect when the sun shines. The places of worship are exceedingly and gaudily adorned within; with grotesque paintings of the Virgin and child, which are mostly attired with gold or silver headdresses, stuck close to the wall, and in some cases the figures are cloathed with complete habits; but the present Emperor Alexander has wonderfully contributed to abolish many barbarous remains of their ancient customs; and Petersburg, from the improvements which are daily making, bids fair to rival the finest capitals of Europe. The streets in general are broad and spacious, and three of the principal ones

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