f 2I 3 ] 



mud and rubbifh. The water thus collected 

 flows into the river Medlock at U. 



The general defign of thefe works is, un- 

 doubtedly, great; the whole plan (hews a 

 capacity and extent of mind which forefees 

 difficulties, and invents a remedy before the 

 evil exifts. The connection and depen- 

 dence of the parts on each other are happily 

 imagined, and all exerted in concert, to com- 

 mand, by every means, the wimed for 

 fuccefs : The genius of the engineer deferved 

 it; but the idea is more beautiful in fpecula- 

 tion than ufeful in practice; at lead it ap- 

 pears fo to me: But I mould apologize for 

 criticiling works of fo noble a tendency, and 

 fo excellently invented ; excufe my being fo 

 free as to exprefs the idea I have of the de- 

 fects of thefe works; alluring you that I vene- 

 rate, no lefs than the warmeit 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 

 moft boifterous times, in common rivers, 

 this would always be fmooth, and free from 

 every inequality. But the event has turned 

 out otherwife. The whole furface has more 

 than once been totally overflowed, the hexa- 

 gon, well, and all, one general flood, and the 

 outward mound rounded of earth, to confine 

 the water, every where overflowed by it, 

 confequently the canal received a much 

 larger portion than ever Mr. Brindley de- 



P 3 iigned 



