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thus collected flows into the river Medlock 

 atU. 



The general defign of thefe works is, 

 undoubtedly, great -, the whole plan fhews 

 a capacity and extent of mind which fore- 

 fees difficulties, and invents a remedy be- 

 fore the evil exifts. The connexion and 

 dependence of the parts on each other 

 are happily imagined, and all exerted in 

 concert, to command, by every means, the 

 wilhed for fuccefs : The genius of the 

 engineer deferved it ; but the idea is more 

 beautiful in fpeculation than ufeful in prac- 

 tice y at leaft it appears fo to me : But I 

 Ihould apologize for criticiiing works of 

 fo noble a tendency, and fo excellently in- 

 vented ', excufe my being fo free as to ex- 

 prefs the idea I have of the defeds of 

 thefe works -, aifurlng you that I venerate, 

 no lefs than the warmeft of his admirers, 

 the mafterly genius that planned them. 



The grand defign of the wear was to 

 preferve the canal free from the influence 

 of floods, ^c. It was expected, that in 

 the moll boIfl:erous times, in common ri- 

 vers, this would always be fmooth, and 

 free from every inequality. But the event 

 has turned out otherwife. The whole 



furface 



