CATARACTS, AND INUNDATIONS. 2$ 



under a mountain cut into a very lofty arcade, the greatest part of 

 which is lined with free st6ne, except toward the end, where it is 

 only hewn through the rock, which is of a soft calcareous sub- 

 stance. At A.gde is a round sluice, with three openings, three dif. 

 ferent depths of the water meeting at this place ; and the gates are 

 so ingeniously contrived, that vessels may pass through by opening 

 which ever sluice the master pleases; an invention that struck the 

 great Vaubaii himself with admiration. The lesser rivers and streams, 



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that might have prejudiced the canal, have been carried under it by 

 water-courses, forty-four in number, beside eight bridges. 



This canal cost thirteen millions of livres (something more than 

 half a million sterling), part of which money was furnished by the 

 king, and part by the states of Lanpuedoc. The king generously 

 granted to Riquet, the projector and conductor, and his male heirs, 

 all the jurisdiction and revenues belonging to it; so that the crown 

 was not to come into possession till the extinction of his family. 

 Ships passing on it, for ever} hundred weight paid twenty sous (IQd. 

 English), and even the king himself paid the same toll for military 

 stores, &c. sent by way of this canal ; so that the revenue, especially 

 in time of a brisk trade, was very considerable. However, the 

 charges attending it are also very great ; for the salaries of the se- 

 veral directors, receivers, comptrollers, lieutenants, clerks, and 

 watchmen, annually amount to one hundred thousand livres (4000^. 

 sterling), beside an enormous great expence in repairs. The Counts 

 of Caraman, descendants of Riquet, were also obliged to keep 

 passage-boats, which are drawn by mules or horses ; these go and 

 return at stated times. According to Mr. Swinburne, 360 boats 

 navigate this canal, each of which perform annually six voyages. 

 The conveyance of goods is paid for by the league, passengers pay 

 by the day. The proprietors of the works receive a thousand 

 livres (43/. 15s. sterling) each voyage. The whole annual income, 

 the same writer states to be 2,lfjO,OOO livres (g4.500/. sterling), 

 the current expences and costs of repairs are supposed to amount, 

 one year with another, to 1,610,000 livres (70*4371. 10s. sterling) 

 per annum, and the net profits to 550,000 livres (24,062/. 10s. ster- 

 ling). The length of this canal from Toulouse to Bezieres, where 

 it join* the river Orb, is 125,435 French toises, equal to one hundred 

 and fifty-two English miles. " The system of inland navigation," 

 observes the same writer, " has been so much improved of late 



