" I entertain vast ideas of the destinies of these United States. A giant in its infancy, to what point may we not aspire in our maturity," said a writer under the signature of HisTORICUS, in a late New-York paper.

When we survey our vast. extent of territory, nearly equalling that of Europe ; nearly equal to it in its difference of latitude ; fully equal to it in the variety of its climate and the exuberance of its soil; equal in perfection, and importantly exceeding it in the variety of its vegetable productions ; nor inferior to it in the animal and mineral kingdoms. That two-thirds of this territory remains yet a forest, holding out the prospects of wealth, and affording an easy and certain competency to all-when we view our natural resources unsurpassed by that of any other nation ; our citizens possessing an equal share of acquirements in the more useful branches of literature and the arts and sciences; and when we behold our inestimable improvements in the science of politics, having refined it down to its elementary principles, well may we exclaim with the writer, that we entertain vast ideas of the destinies of these United States.

But to what are we destined ?-Servilely to copy the splendid folly of all ancestry, or to borrow wisdom at their expense ?-Nations have often mistaken the true path to wealth and greatness, by pursuing the mere phantoms of glory. In early ages they were infatuated with the idea of erecting monuments of national grandeur. The impious project of a Babel; the renowned Pyramids; the magnificent Hanging Gardens ; the stupendous Colossus ;-ALL were but as so much splendid folly and prodigality.

The stupendous monument of England, is her navy. This reads something more than folly and prodigality. To its oppression oil human sweat and toil, it adds blood and carnage.

Mr. Pinkerton, after noticing twenty or thirty canals in England, adds the following instructive apothegm. " When we reflect. that all these laudable efforts of improvement and civilization have been executed within these forty years, there is room for a well-grounded hope that in the course of centuries the kingdom [of England] may be intersected, like another China, to the inconceivable advancement of agriculture, commerce and the national industry and prosperity. The sum already expended in these noble works has been computed at five millions five hundred thousand pounds sterling; but how much more usefully employed than in fruitless wars, which consume fifty millions in one year!" What a satire on wars, navies, and standing armies!

So far as nations before us have made the experiment, internal improvements have proved the certain and more speedy road to national greatness. China affords us the most instructive lessons on the subject. She extensively abounds in them. Her walls and her canals are alike useful. The one, to preserve her tranquillity; the other, to promote her wealth. She prides not herself in armies nor navies.

What would have been the present state of internal improvements in Europe, with her numerous and some of the largest streams in the eastern hemisphere, had she borrowed the example of China ? The toil, blood, and treasure which have been expended in futile wars for princely domination, would have canalled and gardened the whole of its territory!

Can the philosopher inform us why Europe is more sanguinary than Asia? Is it owing to its government or its climate? The common purpose of government is protection. But can it not be made to do more? Make it to act like an incorporate body in cultivating its resources, and thus to diffuse competency, comfort, and even wealth to its individual members.

To the cultivation of the arts of peace, we have to ask our government to adopt another principle : that of a nation's wealth best consists in the amount of the individual property of its subjects. This is best promoted by applying the surplus revenue of the state to internal improvements, roads, canals, &c.

Navigation offers the most cheap, familiar, and extensive intercourse with distant places. This, therefore, first deserves attention. The science of hydraulics is invaluable to the United States. Our territory, from one extremity to the other, is either intersected or interlocked with current waters or inland seas. Here is a vast field opened to American enterprise. To encounter the huge length and stern current of the Mississippi and its numerous branches-the torrent waters of the St. Lawrence-or the precipiced bed and impetuous stream of the Susquehannah-to improve the old beds, or give new channels to the smaller streams, and to convert our lakes into reservoirs for canals.

The late improvements in the steam-boat has surmounted the first of these difficulties. The others require much ingenuity and capital bestowed upon them for their completion. When effected, they will serve as labour-saving machines in facilitating the transport of produce to market. By lessening the expenses of transport, its value would be enhanced. By substituting water for land carriage, much of manual and animal labour would be reserved for the improvement of our forests and the culture of our fields.

In my next number I intend to point out that improvement which I conceive to be of the greatest importance of any which can be undertaken in the United States ; and for the proposition of which these numbers were principally written--A CANAL FROM THE FOOT OF LAKE ERIE INTO THE MOHAWK.

HERCULES.