of every seaman, that there was not a chart of the extensive shores of New-England, upon which he could rest the safety of his ship, We rejoice that the remark has hardly gone from us, before the grounds of this complaint are in adpart removed, by the present mirable chart of one of the most difficult tracts of our coast. But our joy is a little damped by the reflexion, that a work of this kind does not appear under the sanction of government, as part of a general survey of our extensive territory. It is certainly among the wonders of this wonderful age, that a government, whose stability is believed to rest on the diffusion of knowledge; whose wealth may be said to spring almost wholly from commerce; whose strength and security in a great measure depend upon its sea-faring citizens; we say, it is a little extraordinary, that a government of this nature should be so insensible to the claims of a large proportion of its citizens, and so indifferent to its own' honour, as to suffer enterprizing individuals to snatch from it the only kind of applause which it should be ambitious to obtain; we mean that applause which is the sure consequence of promoting useful national works; among which maps and charts, with a commercial people, hold the first rank. But we repress complaint, and enter upon our subject. The chart before us, as has been observed in the title, comprehends four of the harbours of Mas sachusetts, of which the port of Salem is the most important. The number of vessels belonging to that port, many of which being employed in the East India trade are of a large burthen, and the nu merous shoals and rocks in its harbour, rendered a correct chart of it peculiarly necessary. But the ار necessity of this publication, and the great care with which it has been made, will best appear by the following extracts from the "Directions" which accompany the chart. The only chart (says Mr. Bowditch) of the entrance of the harbours.of Salem, Marblehead, Beverly, and Manchester, is that published from the survey taken by HOLLAND and his assistants, just before the American revolutionary war. That period was par ticularly unfavourable for obtaining an accurate survey of the sea-coast, as the Americans were generally opposed to its being done at that time, fearing that it would give the British the great ad vantage of being able safely to enter with their armed ships into any of our harbours. In consequence of this, Holland received but little assistance from our pilots, in exploring the sunken ledges and shoals off our harbours; and as it was almost impossible to discover them without such assistance, they were generally omitted by him. This deficiency renders those charts in a great degree useless, though they are accurate as respects the bearings and distances of the islands and the coast. From the time of Holland's survey, till the year 1794, nothing was done towards obtaining a more accurate chart, In that year a general survey of the state was ordered by the legislature; but it is to be regretted that this survey was not directed to be made in a manner calculated to ensure accuracy in the execution of it. Instead of appointing one or more competent persons to make the whole survey, and providing the best instruments for the purpose, the SVTvey was entrusted to the several towns; in consequence of which, the responsibility, which an object of such magnitude demanded, was divided among so many different surveyors (not to mention other sources of errour, as the variety of instruments, &c.) that the Budable intentions of the legislature were very imperfectly carried into execution; and the map, formed from from these different and discordant surveys, was such as was to have been expected. town of Salem was undertaken by the late Capt. John Gibaut, whom Mr. B. assisted; but the time allowed for completing it was so short, that few of the ledges and shoals were satisfactorily explored; so that the survey proved almost useless for nautical purposes. He then says that in 1804 and 1805, he undertook, with the assistance of Mr. George Burchmore and Mr. William Ropes 3d, to complete the survey of Capt. Gibaut; but upon examination, it was found so imperfect, that it became necessary to make a new chart, from observations taken with more precision" and To do this (says he) an excellent theodolite, made by Adams, furnished with a telescope and cross wires, was procured to measure the angles and a good chain to measure the distances. With these instruments, the bearings and distances of the shore from Gale's point in Manchester, to Phillip' point in Lynn (the two extremities of this survey) were carefully ascertained; and the necessary observations were taken for fixing with accuracy the situ ation of the islands. Soundings were taken throughout the whole extent of the survey, particularly round the dangerous ledges and shoals, several of which were explored, that were hardly known by our best pilots, as Archer's Rock, Chappel's Ledge, Martin's rocks, the Rising States Ledge, John's Ledge, Misery Ledge, Pilgrim Ledge, House Ledge, and others; most of which were so little known, that names had not been given to them; and during the whole time employed on the survey, which was above eighty days, from two to five persons were hired to assist in sounding and measuring. From these observations the new chart was plotted off, and an accurate engraving of it made, &c. He further informs us, that "the leading marks for avoiding the ledges were not taken from the chart, but were determined by sailing and sounding round them; so that on this account the direc tions are less liable to be erroneous." They, who are best acquainted with practical surveying, will best know how to estimate the labour of a survey conducted with the care which appears to have been used in the present case, and, of course, will be most ready to ac knowledge the value of Mr. B's chart. Three months, it seems, were employed by Mr. Bowditch, with his assistants, Messrs. Burchmore and Ropes, in the actual la bour of surveying, (during which time from two to five persons were hired to assist in sounding and measuring) exclusive of the days, nay months, which must doubtless have been employed on shore in adjusting the various admeasure ments, and plotting off the whole chart. Nothing but an ardent love of science, united with an ardent love of country, we should think, could carry an unaided individual through so laborious and expensive an undertaking. In a work of such uncommon merit as the present we have thought it a duty which we owe to the science of our country, to be more than usually particular in our examination; and in forming our opinion of the great accuracy of this work, we have not rested solely on the presumption arising from the extraordinary degree of labour bestowed upon it, (which from Mr. B's character, we have no doubt is faithfully detailed in the extracts above quoted) but we have done all that could be done by persons not minutely acquaint ed with the several harbours laid down in it; we have employed considerable time, and with great satisfaction, in examining it by the side of Holland's chart of the coast, which is the best extant. Upon comparing the two, we have been astonished at the deficiencies of Holland's, in the very part which was most important to mariners the ledges, shoals and soundings, many of which were wholly omitted. Among the omissions, we observe the very long tract of foul ground in the vicinity of Baker's island. The shoal ground, called the Middle Ground, which the "Directions" inform us is a mile in length, and in which we see soundings marked of no more than five feet, does not appear in Holland's chart. Nor do we there find any of the numerous and dangerous ledges between Coney island and Peach's point, and between the Great Misery and West Beach.Bowditch's Ledge, Misery Ledge, Gale's Ledge, the Whale's Back, and others are not laid down in it. Satan, or Black Rock, which is laid down by B. as an island is omitted by Holland. We venture to say all these are deficiencies in Holland's chart, because we do not find them there, and we do find them in Mr. Bowditch's; and we presume this gentleman has not laid down any shoal that does not exist; it is more likely that there may be some inconsiderable ones which even his great assiduity has not discovered; though, when we consider how very minute Mr. B. has been in the work before us, we cannot believe there is a single omission of importance to navigators. He informs us indeed in the "Directions," that he explored several shoals and ledges" that were hardly known to our best pi. lots," and many "which were so little known, that names had not been given to them." These are some of the principal advantages, in our opinion, which this beautiful chart has over the best hitherto published; and they are advantages, which, we feel confident, will ensure to the able author an ample indemnity for the time and expense he has bestowed upon it, and will reflect credit upon the science of our country. It is proper for us in works of this kind to speak particularly of the execution of the engraver's part; and it is with great satisfaction we can assure the publick, that it has been finely engraved by Messrs. Hooker and Fairman, at Salem, and, we presume, under the inspection of Mr. Bowditch; for he informs us in the "Directions," that the engraving is correct: It is printed on English superfine imperial wove paper. It would give us pleasure also, if we could with truth say that the "Directions" were printed in a style suitable to the elegance of the Chart. The type is good, though rather too small; in the paper, however, we perceive a little of the odour of what has heretofore been called Salem economy, but what, in this instance, must be denomined Newburyport economy, for there, it seems, the "Directions" were printed. We cannot entertain the suspicion, (if we may judge from the liberality which appears in the paper and engraving of the chart) that Mr. Bowditch is chargeable with the parsimony apparent in the "Directions." We ought to observe also, that excellent as the engraving of the chart is, the skill of Messrs. Hooker and Fairman doubtless appears to less advantage than it would in a map, which af fords a greater field for a display of their art. This chart is constructed on a scale of about three inches to a mile. Such is the admirable work, which Mr. Bowditch offers to his countrymen, and particularly to the sea-faring portion of his fellow citizens; and it will doubtless be received with the same marked preference which his other nautical publications have found in the community. For our part, we hope the applause which the work deserves, and will assuredly find, will not be the only consequence of its publication. The imperfection of our present maps and charts is well known to those who have it in their power, and, if we may judge from their well intended efforts, are solicitous, to remove this discredit from our country...we mean the legislature of this state. They well know that we have many unexplored harbours, especially in the eastern parts of our coast, a thorough knowledge of some one of which might, by saving only a single ship, be the means of preserving many lives, and perhaps secure property enough to pay the expense of a general survey; at least, it would lessen the hazards to which our vessels are exposed upon the coast during inclement and stormy seasons. We should think indeed, if the legislature should not order such a survey, that some of our liberal underwriters, who are certainly deeply interested, would gladly contribute to the expense of it. But we do hope, that the present publication, by showing us how much can be effected by the ability and enterprize of an unassisted individual, will stimulate those who can command the resources of the state, we mean of Old Massachusetts, (for we sincerely hope that she will have the honour of leading the way among her sister states, as one of her natives has done among his fellow citizens) to order a correct survey to be made of our whole coast, and even of the whole state, under the direction of one In considering the right of neu-, trals to interfere in the colonial commerce of belligerents, he examines the subject under two ase pects, 1, as to the direct intercourse between the mother country and her colony; 2dly, as to the indirect intercourse, by an intermediate voyage to a port of the neutral. The denial of direct intercourse, he contends, is an antient principle, not only enforced during the war of 1756, but universally deemed a part of the Law of Nations ; and he proves that Mr. Jefferson in his Notes, and Mr. Madison in his commentaries on the commercial resolutions of 1794, warmly advocated that principle, which they now inconsistently denominate of the effects of her naval superiority, an interpolation, , 3dly. As to the leave her at the e mercy of the monstrous indirect trade, he obseryes, that and wide-spreading power of France, what cannot lawfully, be done di, which now resists it, expose our libera and by breaking down the only moud, rectly,,cannot lawfully be done in 4 ties to be swept away by the devouring directly, and that we are engaged food which has desolated all Europe, in an unlawful commerce when we because, should the United States, takbecome the carriers of colonial ing advantage of the relactance of the British cabinet to increase their ene. produce to the belligerent mother mies, coerce them into a present adcountry inission of this claim, the benefits, if We transcribe the following any, would be but, temporary, and, extract as containing a specimen would soon be followed, under other of the author's manner, and a sum circumstances, by a violent struggle on their part, to rescind the grant, or a mary of his inferences. mean relinquishment of it on ours"; be. He observes, cause, a reasonable modification of this That the whole ground of claim, as claim, securing to us a fair indirect trade, sumed by our Executive, is so broad, with the enemy, the free admission of so inconsistent with the rights of others, colonial products into the United States, and so unsupported by law and prece- and the free export thereof from the dent, as to promise no other alternative United States to other countries, and at but a disastrous war or disgraceful con the same time to Great-Britain her bel. cession that the publick assumption of higerent rights, under such regulations grounds beyond what we know to be as might be reciprocally stipulated, just, and what we ultimately mean ot would have been easily obtained by neinsist on, is dishonest and impolitick, gociation, and would have prevented all and ought to be disavowed and discoun- that ill-blood and acrimony, which will tenanced by every good citizen—that now certainly obstruct, perhaps defeat even granting we might, on the present it. occasion, extort from England an ad- The reputed anthor of this mission of such extensive claims, it pamphlet is William Smith of would be in the end injurious to our- South Carolina, an eloquent and selves ; because it would divert our mercantile citizens from the pursuit of his country, and who is one of honourable gentleman, who adorns a commerce generally beneficial to the nation, to one partially so to a few indi. those of whom Bolingbroke says, viduals, by inducing many commercial that « if they retire from the men to leave the staple productions of world,their splendonraccompanies our own country rotting in our stores, them, and enlightens even the obin order to transport the more valuable staples of foreign colonies, thus sacrifi- scurity of their retreat." cing our agricultural and general commercial interests to the enriching of a small class of men--we mean the carry ART. 47. ing merchants :-Because the establish. The Christian Monitor : 'a religious. ment of the doctrine 'contended for periodical work. By a society would, the United States being at war with Great-Britain, deprive the former for promoting christian knowof the most powerful weapons against ledge, piety, and charity." No. I. the latter, by enabling her to turn over Second Edition. to neutral powers her whole colonial commerce, the chief object of our ven. Several errours in the first edigeance; because, this trade is injurious tion are here corrected ; slight alto the general commercial interest, by terations in the arrangement of the perpetually bringing us into alarming subjects are made ; its style, which collision with Engfand, a country with in some instances was barsli, is whom it is our interest to maintain the strictest commercial harmony; because softened ; and some of its less acthe enforcement of this claim, at this ccptable articles wholly omitted : crisis, would, by depriving Great Britain so that the tract is now perhaps as |