REPORT ON HYDRAULICS. — PART II, 481 



system of direct and indirect communication, which has united 

 all the great rivers and ports of the kingdom. 



In Scotland the progress of inland navigation, although less 

 rapid, was proportionably successful; so early as the reign of 

 Charles II. the idea of joining the Forth and Clyde rivers ori- 

 ginated with the Duke of York. The subject was again resumed 

 in the year 1722 ; in 1762 a survey was made by Messrs. Mackell 

 and Watt; and in 1766 that great work was commenced by 

 Mr. Smeaton, and finally completed in 1790. Between the above 

 periods, also, Mr. Watt, the great improver of the steam-engine, 

 made many reports on the improvement of the river Clyde and 

 on the Monkland, Crinan*, and Caledonian Canals ; and in the 

 year 1802 Mr. Telford was employed to make surveys of the 

 whole coast and interior of Scotland, with a view to improving 

 its harbours and rivers, and which led to the execution of the 

 great Caledonian Canal by that gentleman in the year 1821. 

 Several other canals have been since completed in Scotland by 

 different engineers. 



The following is an approximate statement of the number of 

 miles and the cost of river- and canal-navigation in England, 

 Wales, and Scotland : 



Miles. Cost. 



River-navigation in England and Wales . 2036 £5,000,000 

 Ditto in Scotland 200 1,269,000 



Total river- navigation 2236 £6,269,000 



Canal- navigation in England and Wales .2277 19,793,065 

 Ditto in Scotland 200 2,344,324 



Grand total 4713 £28,406,389 

 Average cost of canal per mile : 



In England £9,000 



In Wales 5,000 to 6,000 



In Scotland 11,000 



The first idea of improving river-navigation in Ireland is due 

 to the enlightened administration of the unfortunate Earl of 

 Strafford, who had witnessed the effects of inland navigation 

 in the Low Countries. In the year 1703 the first act of par- 

 liament was passed for making the river Shannon navigable, 

 and many improvements were projected : nothing, however, was 

 effected, but an useless expenditure of 140,000/. of public money 

 on the rivers Shannon and Boyne in the year 1758. 



* Executed by Mr. Rennie. 

 1834. 2 I 



