It has been well observed by Mr. Mid dleton, in his able Survey of Middlesex, that " canals calculated to navigate much smaller boats than any which have fallen under his observation, even down to ten tons, might be made at a very reduced expense ; and after certain leading ones were executed, every man of considera ble 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 equal ly convenient for bringing manure, and to carry away the produce. In all the marsh and fen districts, most of the pre sent sewers would only want," he thinks, " a little cleansing, to fit them for the pur pose." And he adds, that "the exten sion of canals may become the most pow erful means of promoting general culti vation. Good roads are certainly very essential, and he thinks canals are at least equally so, in an agricultural view. On the best roads, produce and manure can seldom 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,withoutusing more road than the towing-paths, and to ten times the fprmer distance, without in creasing 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 together. It would
afford the cheapcst,the safest,and speedi est conveyance of every artiele,that might be too bulky and heavy for stage and mail coaches. The benefits would be univer sal in this island. The inhabitants of Lon don and its environs would be infinitely more plentifully and,cheaply supplied by canals, than by any system of roads what soever. The remoter parts of this, and every other country, would be placed more on terms of equality with those that are near, and every other part of the island might reap advantages, which may be foreseen, but which are much too great for calculation." And he concludes by remarking, that "canals and irrigation might be made the means of cultivating every inch of this island, except rocky ground and mountain tops, and these ought to be planted." Ile states, that " of two methods of raising the money for making canals, the one which seems to deserve the preference is,the mode by which turnpike roads are usually provid ed for, instead of entrusting it to the ma nagement of interested companies. The latter method is exceptionable, from its creating a perpetual charge on all goods sent by that conveyance,without regard. ing the money expended, or the interest it may ultimately produce, which is a ve ry imprudent bargain for the public in this country, where population, trade.
manufactures and commerce, are so much upon the increase."