CANAL. 
which a proper quantity of water can be 
obtained : these, and many other circum- 
stances, necessarily produce great variety 
in the structure of artificial navigations, and 
augment or diminish the labour and expense 
of executing them. When the ground is 
naturally level, and unconnected with ri- 
vers, the execution is easy, and the naviga- 
tion is not liable to be disturbed by floods ; 
but when the ground rises and falls, and 
cannot be reduced to a level, artificial me- 
thods of raising and lowering vessels must 
be employed, which likewise vary accord- 
ing to circumstances. 
In Mr. Donaldson’s “ View of the Pre- 
sent State of Husbandry,” it is observed, 
that the canals already completed or form- 
ing have had wonderful effects upon the 
agriculture, as well as upon the manufac- 
tures and general state of many parts of the 
kingdom ; these, and the navigable rivers, 
render the carriage of bulky articles more 
easy and less expensive. The conveyance 
of manure, fuel, &c. into districts whither, 
without that medium, they could scarcely 
have been transmitted, has tended mate- 
rially to the improvement of these particu- 
lar districts ; and the ease with which the 
inhabitants can export the produce of the 
country to otherwise almost inaccessible 
markets, while it tends to the same end, has 
also considerable effects on the general mar- 
kets of the kingdom, and lessons the num- 
ber of horses that would be requisite for 
transporting these articles from one place 
to another. 
Owing to some cause or other, inland na- 
vigations in many parts of the island have 
proved ruinous to the adjoining lands ; 
while, in many others, the injury done to 
the soil in the districts through which these 
inland navigations are carried, by obstruct- 
ing the free passage of the rivers to the sea, 
and by their frequently overflowing their 
banks, and destroying the crops in the 
low grounds, is infinitely greater than any 
commercial advantages that can possibly 
be derived from them, except by those who 
are more immediately interested. To ren- 
der canals, or inland navigations of any sort, 
of general utility, says he, much circum- 
spection is necessary in framing the acts of 
Parliament; so that while the commerce 
of the country is increased, its agriculture 
may not be injured. It might, he thinks, 
be a wise regulation, that in every instance 
without exception, all sorts of manure 
should be cariied at one half or one third 
of lockage-dues made payable for articles 
of any other description. Were this point 
attended to, and minute investigation made 
as to the probable consequences that were 
likely to result from granting leave to form 
canals, and deepen the beds of rivers, for 
the purpose of inland navigations, these 
means of lessening the expense of carriage 
would not so often prove injurious to the 
best interest of the country, — its agricultu- 
ral improvement. 
It has been well observed by Mr. Mid- 
dleton, in liis able Survey of Middlesex, 
that “ canals calculated to navigate much 
smaller boats than any which have fallen un- 
der his observation, even down to ten tons, 
might be made at a very reduced expense ; 
and after certain leading Ones were exe- 
cuted, every man of considerable landed 
property would find it to be his interest to 
make a small canal through his estate, at 
least capable of floating boats of five tons, 
which would be equally convenient for 
bringing manure, and to carry away the 
produce. In all the marsh and fen districts, 
most of the present sewers would only 
want,” he thinks, “ a little cleansing to fit 
them for this purpose.” And he adds, that 
“ the extension of canals may become the 
most powerful means of promoting general 
cultivation. Good roads are certainly very 
essential, and he thinks cemals are at least 
equally so, in an agricultural view. On the 
best roads, produce and manure can sel- 
dom be carried more than ten miles with 
profit, at the present price of horse-keep ; 
but if canals were as numerous as roads, 
corn, hay, manure, &c. could be sent to 
every part of Britain, without using more 
road than the towing-paths, and to ten 
times the former distance witliout increas- 
ing the expense. A general canal-scheme 
would, says he, tend to equalize the price 
of every article in life more than all other 
things put togetlier. It would afford the 
cheapest, the safest, and speediest convey- 
ance of every article that might be too 
bulky and heavy for stage and mail coaches. 
The benefits would be universal in this 
island. The inhabitants of London and its 
environs would be infinitely more plenti- 
fully and cheaply supplied by canals than 
by any system of roads whatsoever. The 
remoter parts of this, and every other coun- 
try, would be placed more on terms of 
equality with those that are near, and every 
other part of the island might reap advan- 
tages which may be foreseen, but which are 
much too great for calculation.’’’ And he 
concludes by remarking, that “ canals and 
