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4.) the strait of Gibraltar and pour through Southern France, the trade of the world with the Mediterranean.
The preamble of the Decree of October 1666 is I think worthy of our attention for the spirit of enterprise it exhibits and because of the very remarkable fulfillment of the expectation of the King. I add here a translation of the most interesting part of this Preamble
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" Indeed the proposition which has been made
" to us, to unite by a Canal of navigation, the Ocean
" and the Mediterranean Sea, and to construct a  
" new Port on the shores of our Province of Languedoc, 
" has appeared so extraordinary to past ages, that 
" the most courageous Princes and Nations, who have 
" left to Posterity, the finest marks of indefatigable 
" exertion, were astonished at the grandeur of the 
" enterprise and could not conceive the possibility
" of its execution. Nevertheless, as elevated designs 
" are most worthy of magnanimous courage, and as 
" when considered with prudence, they are commonly 
" executed with success; the glory of the undertaking 
" and the infinite advantages to Commerce which are 
" represented to us, will flow from the union of the two 
" seas, have persuaded us that it is a Great work