...f continents, of the near tropical islands, and of the world. To-day its ships, fleet, safe, and beautiful in their forms, exceed in amount of tonnage nearly twice over all the commercial marine of Great Britain at the moment of Grenville's schemes. Between its wharfs and the British harbors, its packets run to and fro, swiftly and regularly, like the weaver's shuttle, weaving the band that joins nations t...