Besides the great quantity of salt obtained from the rock, an immense weight is supplied by the brine pits, not less than 45,000 tons annually, being manufactured at this town, or in the vicinity. The usual depth of the springs is from 20 to 40 yards. These are situated on a hill at some distance. The briny stream is raised by a steam-engine, and conveyed through very long troughs to the brine-pits. The process of extracting the salt is accomplished by heating the liquor in iron pans, of 20 or 30 feet square, and about 14 inches deep. When it boils a light scum rises to the top, which is taken off, and the liquor reduced to a lower degree of heat ; the steam arising is made to evaporate as quickly as pos sible ; and the salt collecting into crystals forms a crust on the surface, which, sinking afterwards to the bottom of the pan, is thence removed once or twice in every 24 hours. The revenue arising from the salt of this county is considered of so much consequence, that a particular board is appointed for its collection and management, quite independent of the excise and customs. The quantity of it made annually for home consumption has been stated to amount to more than 16,000 tons, while the average of the quantity sent to Liverpool for expor tation has not been less than 140,000 tons. See Hoiland's Sketch of the Natural History of the Cheshire Rock salt District, in the Transactions of the Geological Society, vol. i. p. 38.
Coal, and various other valuable minerals, are found in abundance in different parts of Cheshire. A small quan tity of copper ore has been found in the Peckforton hills; and lead, copper, and cobalt ores occur at Alderley Edge, in the eastern part of the county.
Besides the staple produce of Cheshire, viz. its cheese and its salt, the principal articles of its manufacture con sist of silks, cotton, and linen goods. The cotton trade particularly, which has of late been extended into it from Lancashire and some of the bordering counties, seems now, next to the manufactures mentioned, to constitute even the most considerable and flourishing branch of its trade. Manufactures of leather, ribbons, thread, gloves, buttons, and shoes, are carried on at Nantwich, Maccles field, Congleton, Knutsford, and some other places. A considerable portion of the industry of the county has been laid out also in working its mines, and in increas ing the value of that important description of produce. Chester is a great mart for Irish linens. Other com modities imported there are wood, hides, tallow, fea thers, butter, provisions, &c. from Ireland ; groceries from London ; timber, hemp, flax, iron, and tallow, from the Baltic ; kid and lamb skins from Leghorn ; fruit, oil, barilla, and cork from Spain and Portugal, and from the latter a large quantity of wine, which is indeed the prin cipal article of foreign import. The exports are coal, lead, lead ore, calamine, copper-plates, brass, cast-iron, and vast quantities of cheese.
It is of great consequence towards facilitating the trade of this county, that it is so advantageously situated by nature in respect to the means of water-carriage, and it has been not less fortunate for it, that the means thus placed within its reach of melioration and general bene fit have been so assiduously and so wisely improved. Most of the rivers and streams which wind through this county direct their currents northward, and empty them selves into the 'Mersey or the Dee. The former of these
principal rivers divides Cheshire from Lancashire for a course of nearly sixty Mil( s ; for about 35 of which, from Liverpool to the mouth of the river Irwell, it is naviga ble for vessels of considerable burthen. Deriving its source from a conflux of small streams at the junction of the county with Derbyshire, and flowing in a westerly direction, it receives in its course the waters of the Goyt, the Tame, the Bollin, the 'men, and the Weaver ; after its junction with the latter of which, it swells into a broad estuary, and taking a north-western course, soon unites with the Irish channel. The Dec, originating in the mountainous district of Merionethshire, and having formed the large lake of Pemble-mere, passes after wards through a series of very picturesque and grand scenes, till it approaches the western border of the county, to which it forms a boundary from Worthcnbury to Aldford. It then passes on to Chester, the walls of which city it nearly encircles, and flows; thence to the west through an artificial channel, which was formed at an immense expense by a body of gentlemen, called the River Dee Company. This river forms also a large sandy estuary between the county of Flint and the hun dred of Wirrel, and joins the Irish sea about 14 miles north-west of Chester. The Weaver, deriving its source from Ridley Pool, close to Cholmondeley Hall, passes the towns of Nantwich, Minshull, Weaver, Winsford, and Northwich, where it is joined by the Dane from the northern parts of Staffordshire, and two or three other streams from the central parts of the county. Hence it proceeds to Wareham, Acton Bridge, and Frodsham, receiving during its progress several tributary streams, and falling ultimately at the last mentioned point into the swelling bason of the Mersey. Between this place and Winsford it has been rendered navigable by means of several locks. The plan by which this was effected deserves notice, as a memorable instance of local patri otism. The gentlemen of the county observing the great expense of land carriage from the salt-towns, to Liver pool and other maritime places, obtained, in 1720, an act of parliament for the purpose of rendering the Weaver navigable, and empowering them to raise on that account a subscription of 49,0001. The subscribers were to receive 5 per cent. on the principal, and 1 per cent. for the risk, and also certain instalments arising from the tonnage of vessels on the river, till the money advanced was reimbursed ; but afterw ards the whole amount of the tonnage, deducting only the charges of necessary repairs and management, was to go to the support of public bridges within the county, and to other public useful purposes. Every vessel navigating the river pays one spilling per ton, and the receipt has amounted in some years to 80001. The debt has consequently been paid off for some time ; and this lucrative revenue having been left free, has since been applied to several con siderable uses both in town and country. The length of the navigation is 20 miles, in which course it has a fall of 45 feet 10 inches, divided between 10 locks. About 120 vessels, from 20 to 100 tons burthen, arc constantly employed here, and are principally occupied in carrying rock salt and taking up coals in return.