273 



speed, and its capacity for stowage. We may^ 

 however, admit * that a mean depth of from 

 15i to 17 h feet will suffice for a canal of junc- 

 tion intended for vessels of 300 to 400 tons » 

 this is fifteen inches less than the celebrated en- 

 gineers, Messrs. Rennie, Jessop, and Telford, 

 have given to the Caledonian canal^ and double 

 that of the canal of the Forth and Clyde. 



The gigantic works of Europe which we have 

 mentioned as examples, and the construction 

 of which has not cost more than 4 millions of 

 piastres, have had very small heights to pass 

 over, less than from 90 to 100 feet. The canals 

 which cross the ridges of partition of from three 



* I suppose that a foot and a half of water may suffice 

 under the keel of a vessel that navigates in a canal of which 

 the waters are perfectly calm, and which is carefully cleaned. 

 Notwithstanding the great difference of construction, which 

 has an equal influence on the quantity of water a ship draws, 

 we may, by approximation, admit the following statements : 



Burden* Draught of the Vessel. 



1200—1300 tons 19— 20 feet. 



600— 700 17—18 



300— 400 14—16 



200— 300 11—12 



In a matter which interests every man capable of reflecting on 

 the future destinies of nations, and the progress of general 

 civilization, I thought it was proper to give all the state- 

 ments on which the practical solution of the problem de-* 

 pends. The canal of Crinan, in Scotland, is also from 11 to 

 14 feet deep, on 3 leagues of length. 

 VOL. VI. T 



