Various other projects of canals of junction were formed under the government of Bonaparte, but although some expense was incurred, nothing effectual was ac complished.
France.
Adjacent to Holland and the Low Countries, is the great kingdom of France. This extensive and singularly fine country, notwithstanding the example of Holland, Ste. on the north, and Italy on the south, in regard of artifi cial canals, did not early adopt this valuable improve ment. This neglect might arise from its being in pos session of various great rivers, as the Rhone anel Ga ronne in the south, and the Loire and Seine in the north, which, with the Rhine, and Scheldt, afford water-con veyance far into the conntry. Much.must also be attri buted to the character of the people, such as their being more disposed to grasp at apparently magnificent pro jects by great and hasty efforts, than steadily pursuing those more solid advantages which are accomplished by slow and imperceptible degrees. We accordingly find that tnost of the French canals, instead of being the re sult of the increasing industry of the people, have gene rally been the projects of ambitious princes, Charlemagne is said to have attempted to open a communication be tween the Rhine and the Danube, but he relinquished the undertaking; indeed, previous to the invention or the lock, it was not likely to be effected. Before the middle of the 16th century, Francis I. had foi mcd schemes of inland navigation, particularly that of Languedoc, but no practical measures were then taken. This favourite project was revived under Henry IV. and his minister Sully, and they actually begun the canal of Btiare, be tween the Loire and the Seine, although this last was only completed by Cardinal Richlieu under Louis XIII.
In the latter end of the 17th century, under the ambi tious Louis XIV. the canal of Languedoc WaS accom plished, and an instructive example furnished Fiance, and thc rest of Europe, as to the means of obtaining im proved inland navigation, over compatatively elevated and unfavourable ground. The most important of the circum stances which led, at this time, to thc immediate accotn plisnment of this great work were, 1st, Its being taken up by an ingenious Italian, named Francois Andrcossy, well acquainted with locks, (sluices with double gates,) which, for more than 200 yeats, had been successfully employed in his native country-; 2dly, His having obtained the con fidence of an able and enterprising intendant of the rich province of Languedoc, (Paul Riquet,) who was intimate ly acquainted with the celebrated minister of Louis XIV.
(Colbert ;) and 3dly and lastly, This minister immedi ately perceiving, in this scheme, not only permanent ad vantages to the country, but a flattering object to his am bitious master. From Riquet having transacted all the business with the minister ; having been sole contractor for the works ; and his family, until the late Revolution, having enjoyed the revenue arising from the trade upon this navigation, the whole credit ks, for more than a century, been exclusively attributed to him. Of late, however, General Andreossy has, in a very able treatise, vindicated thc claim of his relation to the original design, and the plans of the several great works also, to the ho nour of superintending their execution, and, in truth, of having faithfully and perseveringly performed the office of engineer in chief, from the commencement of the operations to the opening of this extensive navigation.
Besides this very considerable line of communication in Languedoc, France has various others, which are equally extensive, and perhaps still more important. T h e rivers Loire and Seine have been connected by the canals of Briare, Orleans, and Loing. The Loire is con nected with the Soane by the canal of the Centre. Tlte Seine is also (to the southward) about to be opened to the rivers Soane and Rhine by the canal of Burgundy ; while, to the north of Paris, it has been connected by the rivers Oise and Somme, and the canals of Picardy with the river Scheldt.
From this general sketch we shall proceed to give a cursory view of the inland navigation of each particular district, commencing at the southern extremity, thence passing along the eastern districts to the northern, from thence traverse the central parts, and lastly, notice those situated to the westward.