SS Naxxigatwn. [CiiAr. VII. 



they were carried on to a consirlcrable length, and 

 continued with great zeal by his successors, espe- 

 cially by the late empress ; insomuch that there is, 

 probably, " no part of the world where inland 

 navigation is carried through such an extent of 

 country as in Russia; it being possible, in that 

 empire, to convey goods by water four thousand 

 four hundred and seventy-two miles ^ from the fron- 

 tiers of China to Petersburg, with an interruption 

 of only sixty-six miles 3 and from Astracan to the 

 same capital, through a space qI one thousand four, 

 hundred and thirhj-four miles ^ a tract of inland 

 navigation almost equal to one fourth of the cir- 

 cumference of the earth* !" The number of vessels 

 employed on the different canals of Russia, and the 

 amount of merchandise, of various kinds, for which 

 they furnish means of transportation, almost exceed 

 the bounds of credibility. 



Since the undertaking of the Russian emperor, 

 similar improvements have been projected and ex- 

 ecuted in Sweden, Denmark, France, and Spain ; 

 from which very important advantages have re- 

 sulted to those several countries, and fl'om which 

 many more, by due attention, might be produced. 

 The first navigable canal cut in Great Britain was 

 that undertaken by the duke of Bridgwater, and 

 completed, at his expense, in 17o9,forthe purpose 

 of formino: a communication between his coal 

 works, at A\'orsley, and the city of Manchester. 

 This ^^•ork was planned and executed by Air. 

 James Brindley, an engineer of singular talents, 

 ?nd the author of the present most approved sys- 



*■ See Fliillips's llisiorij of Maud Nwiii^ation, ItOj chap. ili. 



