This ought to be sufficient to satisfy any one of the pernicious effects of the division of the water of a river into separate branches, or outlets, In the first place, the two channels occupy one thousand feet more breadth, and present so much the more resistance to the water, which, on that account, and because their volume, in each channel, is less than when united, and the depth decreased, suffer a corresponding loss in velocity. This shows, conclusively, that the whole volume of water in the river is much better able to deepen its channel, or keep it clear, than when it is divided into branches; and that, if it cannot do either in the former case, it is far less likely to do it in the latter. In order to render more clear the principles laid down in these views, I will give a table containing, in feet, the length of the Mississippi, from the Gulf to the bayou La Fourche, bayou Plaquemine, bayou Manchac and the Atchafalaya, with the fall, mean breadth, mean depth, mean velocity, velocity at the bottom, and its discharge in cubic feet. In the table will also be found the above mentioned outlets, with the length in feet from the commencement of their mouths, with their fall, mean breadth, mean depth, mean velocity, velocity at the bottom, and also their discharge in cubic feet. The length of the river to the different points named, as well as that of the outlets, is taken from Latourette's map of Louisiana. The cross-sections of the river and outlets are assumed. I also assume an outlet from New Orleans to lake Pontchartrain, and subject to the same calculations: Mean depth in feet. 800,000 66 66 do. to 66 do. Plaquemine, 210 04 do. to 66 do. to the Atchafalaya, 300" ...1,584,000 30 Bayou Manchac, from the Gulf to the Mississippi, 50 miles,........ MISSISSIPPI RIVER. From the Gulf to Bayou La Fourche, 180 miles,... 950,400 18 2,000 100 66 do. Manchac, 220 LATERAL BRANCHES. Bayou La Fourche, from the Gulf to the Mississippi, 100 miles,.... Bayou Plaquemine, from the Gulf to the Mississippi, 60 miles,. ...1,108,800 21 2,000 100 4 1 800,000 800,000 800,000 Atchafalaya, from the Gulf to the Mississippi, 110 Outlet, from the Lake to the Mississippi, above From the above table, it must be evident, at a glance, that, though the mean velocity of the water in the Mississippi may differ but little from that of the water in the outlets, yet, that the velocity at the bottom of the latter is much greater than that of the former, and that a much stronger scouring power is at work, gradually clearing out and deepening their channels, which must render them capable of discharg ing, every year, a larger quantity of water from the main channel, which, of course, must continue to diminish its volume, decrease its velocity, increase its deposits, elevate its bed and augment the danger of overflows. The assumed outlet from the Mississippi, above New Orleans, into lake Pontchartrain, shows, conclusively, the danger attendant upon outlets. An outlet made in the place assumed would have so great a fall, in proportion to the length of its course, that the result would necessarily be a velocity that would soon open for itself a channel, deep enough and large enough to divert the entire volume of water in the Mississippi, from its present channel, into the lake Pontchartrain. Let us assume the breadth of the Mississippi, opposite New Orleans, to be two thousand feet, the mean depth one hundred feet, and the fall, at high water, fourteen feet, in the length of 100 miles, or five hundred and twenty-eight thousand feet, and we have the mean velocity 4.73 feet per second, and the discharge nine hundred and forty-six thousand cubic feet per second. Assuming that the Mississippi and Atchafalaya have each of them a breadth of two thousand feet, a mean velocity of 4.73 feet per second and a length of five hundred and twenty-eight thousand feet-but that the mean depth of the Mississippi is one hundred feet, while that of the Atchafalaya is only sixty feet-the required fall for the former will be fourteen feet, and for the latter 22.5 feet. From this it is evident that a greater depth of channel in the Mississippi would enable it to discharge its water with less fall, even though the velocity were the same; and also, that, at present, the former affords a better vent than the latter for the immense volume of water that flows through its valley, and, consequently, that much the largest portion of it passes through its channel on its way to the Gulf. How long this preference may continue, depends upon the means that may be used to prevent the former from gradually filling up its bed, while the latter is deepening and enlarging its channel. If, in addition to what we have already stated, it be assumed that the levees contribute to the elevation of the bed of the river, and consequent decrease of its ability to discharge its water, no dependence can be placed on the continuance of the present condition of the river. It is, therefore, advisable, that measures should be adopted, and that speedily, to improve the course of the river by lowering its bed and reducing the vertical rise of the surface of its water. In expressing these views I have only to regret that I am not in possession of the necessary levels, and geometrical and hydrometrical measurements, that would enable me to write more definitely on this exceedingly important subject. From the foregoing remarks, and those which I have previously made on the improvement of the Mississippi river, the following conclusion may be drawn: 1st. That shoals, bars and islands, circuitous and expanded channels, have each and all of them the effect of checking the velocity of the water, preventing its free discharge, increasing the deposits, elevating the bed of the river, adding to the vertical rise of its surface, and increasing the danger of overflow; and, also, that outlets, by diminishing the volume of its water, tend to the very same end. 2d. That, by making the channel, as far as practical, straight, uniform and of a normal breadth, and by confining the entire volume of water within the main channel, shutting up all outlets not absolutely necessary to be left open, the water will be discharged more freely, the velocity will be made more uniform, shoals and bars will be swept away, the bed of the river lowered, the vertical rise of the surface reduced, and overflows, if not entirely prevented, rendered less frequent and less destructive. 3d. That, by regulating the quantity of water to be discharged by the Mississippi and the outlets above named, the tendency of the former to elevate its bed, and of the latter to deepen and enlarge their channels, may be so counteracted as to prevent permanent mischief to the present main channel and the interests connected with its continu ance. 4th. That, in order to place within the reach of those who may be selected to direct the works that may be undertaken for the improvement of the Mississippi, all the information necessary to enable them to direct to the best advantage, correct hydrometrical measurements, levels and observations, should be taken to determine the normal breadth of the river, the proper distance of the levees from each side of the channel, the cross-sectional area of the stream in the main channel, and the outlets for mean and high water, the velocity of the water at every important point in the main channel and outlets from the Gulf up, as far as may be deemed necessary, &c., &c. The above views, such as they are, I offer to the consideration of those who are most interested in inquiring whether they are correct or not. They are not mere idle speculations, adopted without reflection, and supported only by hasty and superficial examinations. They are in accordance with the principles laid down by the best writers on hydraulics. I have ventured to lay them before the public, because I have long felt satisfied that no system based upon principles different from those embraced in them, can ever permanently improve the condition of the Mississippi, and that to these views those most interested in the improvement of that river must come at last, if they desire to continue the present channel and preserve themselves from ruin. MOBILE, May 5, 1850. ART. IX-LITERATURE OF SPAIN.* EARLY HISTORY OF SPAIN; THE SPANISH LANGUAGE; THE EARLY BALLADS; ROMANCES OF CHIVALRY; THE PARTIDAS; THE INQUISITION; CERVANTES AND DON QUIXOTE; LOPE DE VEGA AND CALDERON; DECLINE OF SPANISH LETTERS.-Br THE EDITOR. Ir is with emotions of melancholy we are accustomed to regard the decline of Spain, and her glories faded into dust, from the high rank in the politics of Europe accorded, at one time, to her by universal consent. The victim of arbitrary and despotic power-the theater of court intrigues and revolutions-with a wealthy, dominant, but unscrupulous, hierarchy fattening upon the substance of the land, and repressing and crushing out the vital energies of the people by a system of intolerence the most perfect, and a total suppression of all light and knowledge; broken up, by almost impassable physical divisions, into provinces distinct in character, institutions and customs; without commerce or manufactures; with agriculture degraded to the lowest condition, and the landed interests monopolized by princes and nobles of Church and State; industry denied its accustomed motives, security and reward: such is Spain; and we naturally contrast her position with what it was when Charles V had extended his dominions too widely for the sun ever to set upon them—or when, at a still earlier period, her monarch parceled out the world by treaty, and reserved to himself, of its empire and its treasures, by far the greater and the wealthier part. The admonition is a solemn one, which it becomes us all to heed in the day of our pride, our arrogance and our power! To imagine that the literature of a nation will not be influenced and determined by its political and social condition, would be in violation of all the teachings of experience. The history of Spain, in every period, confirms the judgment; and we gather, with a fidelity and truthfulness which is never once at fault, from the earliest ballads of the country-the chronicles, the books of chivalry, romanceros and dra * History of Spanish Literature, by George Ticknor. 3 vols. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1849. Glimpses of Spain, or Notes of an Unfinished Tour in 1847, by S. T. Wallis. Harper & Brothers. 1849. ma-all the incidents and evidences of progress or decline of the Spanish people, through their romantic struggles, defeats and triumphs, from the earliest Moorish invasion to the present times. We were in almost entire ignorance of the variety, richness and extent, of the literature of Spain, before the publication of the comprehensive work of Mr. Ticknor, referred to at the head of our article. The world is indebted to this gentleman for one of the most elaborate and faithful exhibitions of the literary progress and decay of a nation, at all times attracting a romantic interest, which has appeared in any language; and the scholar will not know which to admire most, the elegance of its arrangement and classic beauty of style, or the profound and enthusiastic researches, conducted amidst the buried, obscure and almost forgotten, records of the remote past. The work of Ticknor, we need not say, is a credit to American literature, and, like those of Prescott and Irving, marks an epoch in its history. It has been the labor almost of a life-as the author tells us he began, as early as 1818, the collection of materials for it, in a visit to Spain, and has added to them ever since, until he has gathered the most magnificent collection of Spanish literary works to be found in America. The volumes on our table possess a degree of interest and attraction, not to be surpassed by any that have been published in the present century, and open upon us a world as novel as that which the genius of Columbus made bare to the adventurers of Castile and Aragon. No country in Europe has passed through a greater number of changes and revolutions than Spain. Its earliest records run back in antiquity to the Iberians, a fierce and warlike people who overspread the peninsula, and whose descendants are supposed to be the Biscayans, from many peculiarities in their institutions and manners of the present day. This people were overpowered by the Celts, who were among the earliest of those hordes that poured down upon Europe from Asia; but at what period the event occurred is involved in obscurity. The contest was long and terrible; and, when the races, at last, were extinguished in each other, their names were preserved in the appropriate appellation, derived from the two, Celtiberian. The reputation of the country for the precious metals attracted, soon after, the Phenicians, from across the Mediterranean; and they planted colonies near the pillars of Hercules, near Cadiz, and on the banks of the Guadalquiver-adding greatly thereby to their own wealth, rank and consequence. The Carthagenians, who were of the same race, after the first Punic war, took entire possession of the country, which they |