Canals of Arnstelland.
The Ye, before Amsterdam, is from eight to nine fa thoms in depth, and forms a well sheltered road. The havens and canals of Amsterdam are shallow, being about eight feet deep at ordinary water. They are, therefore, fit for the Rhine ships and Dutch coasters, but do not admit vessels for foieign trade. These lie along the booms and front of the town, and the goods are trans ferred by means of the numerous canals of the city.
The several heights of the waters of Holland are re ferred to the Amsterdam Piel, which is considered to have been the mean height of the water in the Ye in the century before last ; but that high water is now two or three inches -above this level.
Without the walls of the city, the Amstel river is the great unk of nasigation. It is embanked and naviga ble eleven miles, to the boundary of the district at Am stelmonclhard, by which it divides into two branches, which cornect with numerous canals, both in this dis trict and that of Rhineland. NVe are sorry that our bounds will not permit us to enter into further details.
Delftland.
The city of Delft is said to derive its name from c‘ delvin," to dig. This jurisdiction is confirmed by charter in 1255. It contains three principal lines of navigation, uniting at the city. 1. The canal of Ley den, extending six miles to Leydsendam, with a branch of two miles to the Hague, and from thence six miles southward along the Downs, with various communi cations.
2. The Gasp and canal to Maesland Sluis eight miles, with a branch of five miles to Vlaardinger ; one of four to Lice, and various small cuts.
3. The Schie 81 miles to Schiedam, with a branch of 34- miles to Vyfsluis, and two others, viz. one of three miles to the port of Delfthaven, and one of three miles to the city of Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is one of the chief ports of Holland, the Maese in front of it being 30 or 40 feet deep : It is ac cessible to large sea vessels. Thc sea lock at Delftha ven is worthy of attention.
4. The Watership of Woerden, and the Krimpen NVaard, forms the central district of Holland, and dates foam 1322. It' navigations are, 1. The old Rhine, in which are three locks, between Woerden and Utrecht ; 2. The Linschotte, between the Rhine at Woerden and
the Yssel at Ouder Water, with a more direct cut to AIontfort ; 3. The NViericke, forming a communication in the lower part of the district': Utrecht.
Besides the Rhine and Veght, Utrecht had, at an early period, formed several artificial canals. The Veght itself is said to have been united with the Rhine in 1148. A branch of six miles passes to Martendyke ; the Vaartsche Rhyn is a canal of five miles from Utrecht to the Leck at Vreeswyck, and was made in 1373. The of being navigated, except by craft of a small descrip tion, canals have been formed to Brussels and Louvain. The canal of Brussels was formed between 1550 and 1581, George Rinaldo being the engineer ; it is 15 miles in length, with a fall of 50 feet by five locks. This canal is navigable for coasting sloops.
The canal of Louvain, formed in 1750, is 10 miles, and goes from Louvain to Mechlin. Half way between these ,places is a large basin or lock, with a fall of 10 feet, which requires half an hour to pass. There is also another double lock of four feet fall. The gates are 25 feet wide, and the length 96 feet. The canal has 10 feet water.
From Ripplcmonde the Scheldt continues navigable by Dendermonde to Ghent, where it receives the Lys. The city of Ghent has also a direct communication with the sea by canals, as Bruges, Dam, already described. There are also various others, besides branches to dif ferent villages, especially the rich tract called thc Pays Waars, between Ghent and Ostend. Above Ghent the river Lys is navigable, by means of single sluices, to Cointray, Menin, Harebrouck, and Aire. From Lisle is a canal 23 miles in length, made in 1690. The Scheldt continues navigable above Ghent, by Oudenard and Tour nay ; it also receives the rivers Scarpc and Hairne, which are navigable to Douay, Anas, and Mons. The navi gation or the Scheldt ceases, in a great measure, at Va lenciennes, where a canal commences by Bouchain to Cambray, 16 miles. This forms part of the great canal of Picardy.