LANCASHIRE. 



521 



tor*- from north to south ; but its greatest breadth is not 

 ~"~"' more than three quarters of a mile from east to west. 

 _:reatet depth of water is forty fathoms. There 

 re several small bays on its shores, which are lined 

 with coppice woods, small farms, and rocks. The sce- 

 nery of this lake is much praised by Mrs. Radclifle. It 

 abounds in fish ; and the char found in it is much es- 

 rtavo'ir. ISthwaite water is about two 

 - in length, and half a mile broad. It is nearly di- 

 vided by two peninsulas, one of which projects from 

 each 1'he scenery of this lake is rather mild 



and pleasing, than bold, romantic, or picturesque. 

 Formerly there was in it a floating island ; but latterly 



* become stationary . There are several varieties 

 li in it ; b'it it is remarkable, that though it is 



connected with Winderroere, no char is found in it. 



.nilermerc may be regarded as belonging 



putty to Lancashire and partly to Westmoreland, as it 



cs the district of Furness from the latter county. 

 It ia fifteen miles long, with an avenge breadth of one 

 mile ; but, in some parts, its breadth does not exceed 

 500 yard*. Us greatest depth is about 201 feet It i* 

 famous fur it* 



No county in Kngl.uul abounds more in canals than 

 Lancashire. The first complete artificial navigation 

 was formed in it. This is called the Sankey Canal, 

 and form* a navigable communication between the 

 Mersey and the coal and copper works near St. Helen's. 

 Its length, from the place where it separates into three 

 branches, ii 9 mile*. The whole distance from the 

 Mersey II | mile*. There are eight single and two 

 double lock* upon it, with 60 feet fall. The chief ar- 



larried upon it i* coal. Decide* this canal, Lan- 

 cashire ia intersected by parU of nine others, four of 

 which communicate with Manchester. The Ashton- 

 under-line run* from that town to Manchester. It* 

 length i* 1 1 mile*, with a rue of 152 feet. Near Duck- 

 enneld-lodge it unite* with the Peak-tore* canal; and 

 at F airfield, a branch goes off toward* Oldhain. One 

 part of the Duke of Bridge* ater's canal runs from Man- 

 chester to Womley , a distance of nine mile*. At Wors- 



is carried under ground to the collieries. Near 

 this place, a cut branch** off to Chat MOM. Another 

 portion of the Duke of Bridgewater's canal runs from 

 Manchester to Runcorn, in Cheshire. The Manchester, 



and Bolton canal, commence* at the Mersey and 

 Irwell navigation, near Manchester, and terminates at 

 the town of Bolton. At Bury i* a branch four miles 

 long, which join* the Halingdean canal. The Roch- 

 dale canal connect* the Bridgewater canal, at Man- 

 cheater, with the Calder navigation, near Halifax. The 

 DougU* river navigation commences at the estuary of 

 the Kibble, and terminate* in the Leeds and Liverpool 

 canal, at Brier's Mill. The whole rue from the Kib- 

 ble i* 49 feet. The Leeds and Liverpool canal begins 

 in the Mersey, at the lower part of Liverpool. It passes 

 by Orrnskirk, erases the river Douglas, and afterwards 

 the Lancaster canal, near Houghton Tower. The Lan- 

 caster canal run* upwards of 7 ' i!iii< -. through nearly 

 the whole county of Lancashire, and part of Westmore- 

 land. It begins at West Houghton, and thence pro- 

 ceed* to Wigan, Preston, Garstang, and Lancaster. 

 Here it i carried over the river Seine by an aqueduct 

 of five arches. It passes out of Lancashire near Bur- 

 too. The great object of this canal, one of the most 

 important in the kingdom, is to open a communication 

 between the coal and limestone counties ; the county 

 north of Preston being destitute of cosj, but bounding 

 in lime. 



VOL. XII. PART J! 



Besides these canals, several rivers in Lancashire Lancashire, 

 have been rendered more fit for navigation than they 'T"" 

 naturally were. In order to render the Mersey, above 

 Warrington, navigable as far as Manchester, through 

 its communicating branch the Irwell, an act of parlia.> 

 ment was obtained near a century ago ; and the object 

 has been effected by means of wears, locks, &c. ; but 

 the Duke of Bridgewater's canal has rendered this na- 

 vigation of little use or profit. About the same time, 

 the navigation of the river Douglas was also improved 

 by artificial means ; but this has been since purchased 

 by the proprietors of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, 

 who have, in part, subtituted an artificial cut for the 

 natural channel of the river. 



The most abundant and valuable of the minerals of Minerals. 

 I>ancashire are its coals. Immense beds of them are 

 found in the southern ports, and towards the centre ; 

 but none, as has been already remarked, beyond Pres- 

 ton. The hundreds of West Derby, Salford, and Black- 

 bum, are most abounding in this valuable article. 

 There is one species of it almost peculiar to Lancashire. 

 This is called Cannel coal. It is found at Haigb, near 

 Wigan. It burns with uncommon brilliancy, without 

 smoke. It is very apt to fly into pieces, if not placed 

 on the fire in a particular position. It is very hard, 

 and susceptible of a high polish. If broken transverse- 

 ly, it presents a smooth conchoidal surface. Limestone 

 abounds in the north and north-east parts of the county,- 

 but none is found in the south or western parts, ex- 

 cept near Liverpool, where it is met with in small 

 quantity, and at a great depth ; and near Leigh and 

 Manchester, where lime peculiarly adapted for tarras 

 occur*. Mafle is abundant in the south and western 

 part* of the county. Stone of various sorts abounds in 

 Lancashire. Quarries of an excellent sort are wrought 

 near Lancaster. It bears an excellent polish. Lancas- 

 ter i* entirely built of it At Holland, near Wigan, 

 there are quarries of flap and grey slates ; and large 

 quantities of blue slate* are procured from the hills 

 near Hawkshead. They form a lucrative branch of 

 the export trade of the county. Scythe stones are ob- 

 tained near Rainford. With respect to the metals, iron 

 ore abound* in Furness ; and at Anglesark, near t'hor- 

 ley, i* a lead mine, consisting of several veins, inter- 

 secting the strata of the county almost perpendicularly, 

 and running in various directions. These mines are 

 noted for containing carbonate of barytes. In the north 

 of the county some copper mines have been wrought, 

 but not to much advantage. 



A* an agricultural district, Lancashire is not cele- AgricuN 

 brated. It* climate and soil are not favourable to agri- ture. 

 culture ; and since the manufactures of the county have 

 spread so widely, and given employment to such a 

 large portion of its inhabitants, agriculture has been 

 suffered to decline. In the south of the county there 

 are few very large estates, property having become more 

 minutely divided since the introduction of manufac- 

 ture*. The yeomanry, formerly numerous and respect- 

 able, have greatly diminished ; and most of the farmers 

 who have gained fortunes by agriculture, place their 

 children with manufacturers. There are, however, still 

 some large estates, as well as farms of considerable ex- 

 tent, ami well managed. One of the largest estates in 

 the county, if not the largest, belongs to the Earl of 

 Derby. The tenures are chiefly freehold ; leases for 

 live* are more common in Lancashire than in most 

 other counties. The general size of farms is about 50 

 acre* ; very few exceed 200. Although agriculture 

 has not advanced very rapidly in Lancashire, yet, in 

 3 



