The New York Packet

BALTIMORE, July 24.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in New-York, to his friend in this town.

"I have lately taken a tour to Susquehannah, to view the canal the Marylanders are making round the falls of that river, which, contrary to my expectation, I found in a fair way to be completed, as far as Maryland extends. No doubt the heretofore narrow partial views of Pennsylvania will soon be at an end, as the counties contiguous to the river are increasing fast, who will all find it to be their advantage to direct their trade down the Susquehannah, which might be made navigable, at a small expense, as far as Pennsylvania extends. When this is done, there will be a clear navigation of 300 miles from the ocean to the source of Susquehannah, from thence to the lakes that form the great river St. Lawrence, to the ocean again, a distance of at least 1500 Miles;--besides, there is a near communication from the lakes to the waters that empty into the Ohio, and from some of the waters that empty into the Susquehannah. There is a near communication with those that lead into the great Ohio, from thence to the river Mississippi, and then into the gulf or bay of Mexico, a distance of at least 2000 miles; and if we go up the Missouri, that empties into Mississippi, to its source, there is a near communication with the River of the West, which empties into the Western Ocean. Baltimore, when this navigation is completed, (if not too much rivalled by a future town near the head of the tide-water, on Susquehannah) will one day become the greatest trading city in America, if not in the universe, commanding the greater part of the trade of a rich, fertile country, equal to the extent of near 2000 miles square; and by the communications with the Western Ocean, will also command the wealth of the Indies, to supply the greater part of Europe, as well as America; and if Maryland would permit a canal to be cut from Chesapeake-Bay to the Delaware, Philadelphia might greatly increase her trade, without being materially injurious to Baltimore."