adds strength, with encreasing effect, de- | under his dominion is the thoroughfare. rived equally from the force of conviction, and from the unlimitable power of habit.

A Sovereign, whose states are situated about half way in the course of a river, is able to interrupt the communication between the countries above and below his own; by suspending their intercourse, he distresses them both. But against such arbitrary acts, it is the duty of neighbouring Sovereigns to provide; and that effectually, by solemn stipulations.

It was not enough, then, that the Statesmen lately assembled to deliberate on the welfare of Europe, should resolve on the termination of war; nor that they should institute masses of political power, combining into one the abilities and the interests of many; nor that they should If ever there was an occasion that deendeavour, by obtaining the most dignified protection for such associations, to manded the regulation and settlement of ensure their stability; all these were but mutual interests, it was that which lately introductory and feeble principles, how-occurred, after the great and universal ever desirable it might be to call them into exercise, without the addition of a more powerful motive, by which the whole might be braced into one, and every day in succession augment the inAuence of that common bond, for which each in its place, and each in its turn, must depend on the invigorating power

of commerce.

derangement of the European Continent.
The professed maxims of ordinary
times had been totally annulled; not by
compact, but by force. That force sub-
dued, the question arose, whether to re-
new the ancient regulations, or so much
of them only as experience had sanc-
tioned, or whether a more advantageous
system might not be devised and ap-
plied, in behalf of commerce.
We may
be pardoned, if we suppose this com-
merce to begin at our own island, and
therefore place first the facilities afforded
to the transit of British commodities..

Commerce is a practical thing: the philosopher in his closet knows little of the mode of conducting it. He conceives, indeed, the nature of the transit of goods by land and by water; but the waggoner, who buckles a pair of horses to the shafts, or the boatman, whose brawny arm forces the re-acting pole against the banks of a river, or dips the elastic oar into the stream, does more towards forwarding commerce, than the man absorbed in contemplation and study. Inland commerce differs from that carried on by the ocean; and the local characters of rivers, or of roads, give peculiar features to means of transit,nel of communication. Such a port is against which resistance or complaint is

useless.

Britain must send all her merchandise intended for Continental consumption to Continental ports. If subject to foreign power, the political eninity or friendship of that power exposes British property to the consequences of political fluctuations. A station under her own protection, has no such disadvantage : and a Port at the mouth of a river offers a valuable opportunity of circulating goods, so far as that river forms a chan

Embden: directly opposite the most commercial coast of our Island, and Where water carriage can be had, within a few days sail of our metropogoods may be transported in bulk; lis. It is worth our while, to consider weight is of comparatively small consi-the mutual stipulations made on this deration. This naturally directs attention subject, in the thirtieth Article of the to the Rivers of country; and, in the General Treaty of Peace.

case before us, to those of the Continent
especially. But, the slightest inspec-
tion of a map demonstrates, that the
principal rivers of Europe run through
different sovereignties, and that
any So-
vereign who possesses establishments on
both banks of a river, possesses a power
to impede, or oppress, or even to pro-
hibit, the traffic, of which the stream

PORT OF EMBDEN.

His Majesty the King of Prussia, and his Britannic Majesty, King of Hanover, animated with the desire of entirely equalis.

ing the advantages of the commerce of the Ems and of the Port of Embden, and of rendering them common to their respective subjects, have agreed on this head to what follows :

1. The Hanoverian Government engages | obstructed an entrance into the heart of to cause to be executed, at its expence, in Germany: at the same time the King of the years 1815 and 1816, the works which Prussia has consulted the convenience a Commission, composed partly of Artists, of his subjects; and thus the cessions and to be immediately appointed by Prussia and Hanover, shall deem necessary to on both sides are equal. render navigable that part of the river of Ems which extends from the Prussian frontier to its mouth, and to keep it, after the execution of such works, always in the same state in which those works shall have placed it for the benefit of navigation.

2. The Prussian subjects shall be allowed to import and export, by the port of Embden, all kinds of provisions, productions and goods, whether natural or artificial, and to keep in the town of Embden, warehouses, wherein to place the said goods for two years, dating from their ar rival in the town, without their being subject to any other inspection than that to which those of the Hanoverian subjects are liable.

INLAND NAVIGATION.

But, it cannot be denied that after the liberty of the open sea, and of a port, is secured, the Rivers become the natural channels of inland traffic. To regulate these, then, is of little less importance than to place the facilities of a port of landing on the basis of honourable accommodation. These have not been overlooked, as the following articles

prove.

ARTICLE CVIII.

ARTICLE CIX.

or crossed by the same navigable river, The Powers whose states are separated 3. The Prussian vessels and merchants all that regards its navigation. For this engage to regulate, by common consent, of the same nation, shall not pay for navigation, for exportation or importation of who shall assemble, at latest witl.in six purpose they will name Commissioners, merchandize, or for warehousing, any months after the termination of the Con other tolls or duties than those charged gress, and who shall adopt, as the bases upon the Hanoverian subjects. These tolls of their proceedings, the principles estaand duties shall be regulated by agree-blished by the following articles. ment between Prussia and Hanover, and no alteration shall be introduced into the Tarif hereafter, but by mutual consent. The navigation of the rivers, along their The privileges and liberties just specified whole course, referred to in the preceding extend equally to those Hanoverian sub- Article, from the point where each of them jects who navigate that part of the river becomes navigable, to its mouth, shall be Ems which remains to the King of Prussia. eutirely free, and shall not, in respect to 4. Prussian subjects shall not be comcommerce, be prohibited to any one; it pellable to employ the merchants of Emb- being understood that the regulations, esden for the trade they carry on with that tablished with regard to the police of this port; they shall be at liberty to dis- navigation, shall be respected; as they pose of their commodities either to the in-will be framed alike for all, and as favourhabitants of the town or to foreigners, able as possible to the commerce of all without paying any other duties than those nations. to which the Hanoverian subjects are subjected, and which cannot be raised but by mutual consent.

His Majesty the King of Prussia, on His part, engages to grant to Hanoverian subjects the free navigation of the canal of the Stecknitz, so as not to exact from them any other duties than those which shall be paid by the inhabitants of the Duchy of Lauenburg. His Prussian Majesty engages, besides, to insure these advantages to Hanoverian subjects, should He hereafter cede the Duchy of Lauenburg to another Sovereign.

ARTICLE CX.

The system that shall be established both for the collection of the duties and for the maintenance of the police, shall be, as nearly as possible, the same along the whole course of the river; and shall also extend, unless particular circumstances prevent it, to those of its branches and junctions, which, in their navigable course, separate or traverse different states.

ARTICLE CXI.

The duties on navigation shall be regulated in an uniform and settled manner, Thus the King of Great Britain, as and with as little reference as possible to King of Hanover, has liberated the pas-in order that a minute examination of the the different quality of the merchandize, sage of the Ems from the interference of a foreign power, and obtained un

cargo may be rendered unnecessary, except with a view to prevent fraud and eva

the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814, His Most Christian Majesty consents so to place the line of custom-houses, that the road which leads from Geneva into Switzerland by Versoy, shall, at all times, be free, and that neither the post nor travellers, nor the transport of Merchandize, shall be interrupted by any examination of the officers of the customs, nor subjected to any duty.

kind of duty on shipping, proportioned to the burthen or tonnage of the vessel, or its lading. Commissioners shall be named on both sides to regulate the duty, which shall be at a moderate rate, and be solely applied to maintaining the rivers and canals in question, in a navigable state. This duty, once approved of by the two Courts, shall be changed only by common consent. The same rule shall be observed with regard to the Boards which shall regulate the collection of the said duty.. If, however, either of the two Contract-in any manner, be obstructed. ing Powers should, at his own expense, establish a new canal, the subjects of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias shall never be subjected to higher duties on navigation than those of his His Ma-blished, in the same manner as it has been jesty the Emperor of Austria.

In this respect each party shall be considered on a perfect equality,

ARTICLE XXVIII.

The two High Contracting Parties, with the view of giving greater scope to the commercial relations, especially between Brody and Odessa, and vice versa, have agreed to grant the most perfect liberty in favour of the transit of merchandize, throughout all parts of ancient Poland The duties to be collected on this account shall be as moderate as possible, and such as are levied on the merchants, or subjects of the most favoured nations.

In like manner, it is stipulated between Sardinia and Austria, that

It is equally understood, that the pas sage of Swiss troops on this road shall not,

His Majesty the King of Sardinia also agrees, that the communication between the canton of Geneva and the Valiais, by the road of the Simplon, shall be esta

agreed to by France, between Geneva and the canton of Vaud, by the route of Versoy. A free communication shall also be at all times granted for the Genevese troops, jurisdiction of Jussy, and such facilities between the territory of Geneva and the shall be allowed as may be necessary for proceeding by the Lake to the road of the Simplon.

all duties of transit shall be granted for all On the other hand, an exemption from merchandize and goods which, coming from the states of His Majesty the King of Sardinia and the free port of Genoa, shall traverse the road called the Simplon in its whole extent, through the Vallais and the state of Geneva. This exemption shall, however, be confined to the transit, and shall extend neither to the tolls established for the maintenance of the road, nor to duties levied on merchandize or goods intended to be sold or consumed in the interior. The same reservation shall apply to the communication granted to the Swiss The Thalweg, as we understand it, is between the Vallais and the canton of Genot the middle of the river, equidistant for this purpose take such measures as, by neva; and the different Governments, shall from its banks; but, the deepest chancommon agreement, they shall judge nenel of the river, affording the best pas-cessary, either for taxation or for preventsage to craft. ing contraband trade in their territories, respectively.

In those places where the Thalweg of the Po forms the frontier, it is agreed, that the changes which the course of the river may undergo shall not, in future, in any way affect the property of the islands therein contained.

After Rivers, Roads are certainly the greatest facility to commerce; and these require to be regulated on judicious principles, as well for trade, as to avoid the semblance of political offence. We instance that between Sardinia and Geneva.

FREEDOM OF ROADS.

In order to ensure the commercial and, military communications of the town of Geneva with the canton of Vaud, and the rest of Switzerland; and with a view to fulfil, in that respect, the 4th Article of

We proceed now to the concerns of individuals, to those of Corporations, and of Religious Establishments ;-Establishments which, when judiciously administered, are well worthy of Monarchs'

care.

ARTICLE XX.

His Majesty the King of Prussia promises to direct that proper care be taken relative to whatever may affect the property and interests of the respective subjects, upon the most liberal principles.