A. D. 1777. 609 



Several acfts were alfo paflTed, as ufual, for the improx^ement of various 

 parts of London, for building bridges, making canals, draining fens, 

 and dividing commons. 



The company who eftabhflied the great iron works at Carron in Stir- 

 ling-fliire in the year 1760, had now brought their manufadure to 

 fuch a degree of perfection, that their exportation was at this time an 

 object of great national importance. Their great guns, which were caft 

 folid, and bored by a drill worked by the whole force of the River Car- 

 ron, were exported to Ruflia, Denmark, Spain, &c. : and the quantities 

 were fo confiderable, that the government was unwilling to let them be 

 carried in ordinary fliips, left they fliould fall into the hands of the 

 American cruifers. The company thereupon fitted out a ftout fliip of 

 their own, properly armed and manned, for the purpofe of carrying to 

 Spain 300 iron guns from three to twenty-four pounders. This is given 

 as a fpecimen of the cargoes fliipped by that great manufadturing com- 

 pany, who befides fupplying the demand in Britain, about this timefur- 

 nifhed many other cargoes of great guns to Spain, Ruflia, and other fo- 

 reign powers. The war alio greatly increafed the demand for their iron 

 ballaft, which was univerfally uied in the navy, and aUb in many mer- 

 chant Ihips. Their ftoves, which are now in every apartment all over 

 the kingdom, were at this time beginning to come into ufe. 



In the year 1755 the corporation of Liverpool employed Meflieurs 

 Taylor and Eyes to iurvey the country, with a view to confider of a plan 

 for joining the River Trent on the eaft fide of the country with the Mer- 

 fea on the weft fide, whereby the navigable communication with Hull, 

 which by fea is a circuit of a thoufand miles, and in time of war with 

 France is peculiarly cxpofed to the enemy's cruifers, might be perform- 

 ed with eafe and fafety in a line of lefs than two hundred miles. In 

 the year 1758 the marquis of Stafford and Lord Anfon promoted an- 

 other furvey for the fame purpofe, which was executed by Mr. Brindley, 

 the fame heaven-taught engineer, who fhowed the world the wonders of 

 the duke of Bridgewater's canal. In 1766 this important canal was 

 -begun by Mr. Brindley ; and it was finiflied, after his death, by his bro- 

 ther-in-law, Mr. Henfliall, in May 1777, to the great joy of the whole 

 country. It has obtained the name of the Grand trunk navigation, be- 

 caufe it goes under ground at five places, the moft remarkable of which 

 is Harecaftle hill, where it extends 2,880 yards (above one mile and five 

 furlongs) under the mountain, the furface of which is more than 200 

 feet above it ; a work projeded and accompliflicd by the happy boldnefs 

 of Brindley's genius, after being ridiculed by other engineers as imprac- 

 ticable. 



The main canal between the Trent and the Mcrfea was greatly im- 

 proved by the jundion of a branch, of 46 miles in length, extended to 

 the Severn at Bewdley in Worcefter-fliire, wliich conneds the three great 



Vol. III. 4 H 



