THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF THE CANAL. 299 



have its good effects, though they are not of a nature to strike 

 the common observer so forcibly as many others do of much less 

 importance. 



"That these were some of the principal objects in the first 

 planning of the canals I can from my own knowledge assure you, 

 and Parliament was so sensible of the great benefits which the 

 public would receive from these works, that by the same Act in 

 which they gave leave to make them, it was declared felony for any 

 one wilfully to injure or destroy the canals or the works belonging 

 to them.* 



" I can therefore no otherwise account for what I have heard was 

 threatened on the late occasion, to destroy our canal and let out the 

 water, than from the common frailty of human nature, that when 

 the passions are uppermost, a man shall take revenge upon objects 

 which have no relation to the subject in dispute, and even abuse his 

 best friends if they happen to be nearest to him. I may perhaps be 

 told that in the instance alluded to provisions were carrying out of 

 the country by the canal, and not into it. The simple fact is, that 

 they were passing through it, being the produce of distant counties 

 (Norfolk and Suffolk), and were passing along the canal to Man- 

 chester, to be sold there for the support of a numerous body of 

 manufacturers like ourselves, and they were passing by us only 

 because corn was dearer there than here, for otherwise we cannot 

 suppose that the dealer would have carried it forty miles farther, to 

 sell it at the same price he might have had with us ; and upon a 

 change of circumstances, the next boat of flour or corn would, for 

 the same reason, have been sold amongst us ; but neither the one 

 nor the other could have come into this country from such distant 

 parts by any other than water carriage. Some, I am told, have 

 been weak enough to believe themselves, and to persuade others, 

 that the corn was to be exported to foreign parts while it was so 



* The words of the Act are : " If any person or persons shall wilfully, 

 maliciously, and to the prejudice of the said navigation, break, throw 

 down, damage, or destroy, any banks or other works, to be erected or 

 made, by virtue of this Act, or do any other wilful hurt or mischief, to 

 obstruct, hinder, or prevent the carrying on, compleating, supporting, and 

 maintaining the said intended navigation, such person or persons shall be 

 adjudged guilty of FELONY ; and every such felon shall be subject and 

 liable to the like pains and penalties as in cases of felony. And the 

 Court before whom such person and persons shall be tried and convicted, 

 shall have power to TRANSPORT, &c., every such felon, in like manner as 

 other felons." 



