CANALS. 



from his estate to Manchester ; but, seeing the ad- 

 vantages of still-water navigation over that of a 

 river, he conceived the project of a canal over dry 

 land, passing the river Irwell by an aqueduct, and 

 thus making a communication between his coal-mines 

 and the town of Manchester on one level. The plan 

 was subsequently extended, and the duke, who lived 

 14 years after the commencement of the execution 

 of his project (he died in 1772, at the age of 56,) 

 devoted his time and his fortune to the execution of 

 his great work, with the assistance of an engineer 

 distinguished for his genius. He diverted all his re- 



sources into this channel, and, to enlarge his means 

 for the undertaking, he limited his personal expenses 

 to 400 a-year, and is even supposed to have shor- 

 tened his life in consequence of the toils and anxiety 

 attendant upon so arduous an enterprise. It was a 

 grand project, worthy of the sacrifices he made to 

 it. And it is a stupendous monument, whereby his 

 memory is associated with the wealth and prosperity 

 of England. The works were projected by the ce- 

 lebrated engineer James Brindley, and executed 

 under his direction, and constitute a lasting memorial 

 of his genius and skill. 



The following are the principal Canals in Great Britain. (ORIGINALLY denotes the first assumed cost per 

 share, where the actual cost is not ascertained. ,) 



