In proceeding with the detail of the several naviga tions of England, we conceive it will be most advisable for our readers to have the whole arranged into districts, referring to the grand outlets and natural navigation of the kingdom. We therefore propose to treat of them in the following order.
1. The basin ol the river Thames, including the va rious navigations to the south of it, and along the channel to the extt entity of Cornwall.
2. The estuary and vale of the Severn, and its connec tions with the Thantes ; also including Wales, and as far as the island of Anglesea.
3. The Mersey, or Bay of Liverpool, and the connect ing canals from thence towards the Humber.
4. The Humber estuary, with the Trent, Ouse, and other branches, also including the remaining river navi gation on the east coast.
5. The washes and basin of the Fen district, between the Thamt s and the Trent, with some account of the drainage there.
6 And lastly, The grand central canals of junction which unite the Thames and the Mersey, the Trent and the Severn.
The great thoroughfares, or canals of junction, will unavoidably fall to two or more districts; but we shall endeavour to render this as little inconvenient as pos sible.
1. The Thames.
This noble river, the most important for trade and na vigation perhaps in the world, having its estuary near the Dover Straits, the great highway of Europe, has for many ages been the resort of mercantile shipping. Lon don, the capital of the British Empire, with a population of upwards of a million, is situated at the head of its ship navigation, 60 miles from the sea, and accessible by ves sels of the greatest burthen. For 37-miles farther, to Staines, barges navigate the open estuary ; for 110 miles farther, to Lechlade, the river has been rendered naviga ble by locks and weirs, and various canals communicate with it in numerous directions.
The Thames runs in a basin of chalk; no mines are found within its limits. The great article of coal is therefore an article of transport. However, chalk, flint, firestone, building stone, and fuller's earth, with the agri cultural produce for the supply of the metropolis, create a considerable water carriage. London, frum its singu larly advantageous situation, has beconie the greatest emporium of Europe, especially for colonial produce.
The freedom of our constitution, our insular position, maritime power, and consequent security front tne vi cissitude of war, give it great advantages over its ancient rivals on the Scheldt or Rhine ; and therefore, while Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam, Ice. have declined, London has rapidly advanced in prosperity, and its trade comprehends every description of commerce known in Europe. London is also a great manufacturing town, and sends from its workshops various articles of necessity or luxury. In 1800 it was stated, that, including repeat ed voyages, 13,144 ships and vessels were employed in the trade from London to foreign countries, the colonies, and coastwise, besides 2,288 lighters, barges, and punts, used below Bridge ; 3,336 of the like vessels above Bridge., 3000 watermen's wherries; 350 boats, being ex clusive ot ships of war, transports, bte.—making a total of 22,500 vessels employed in the trade within the port of London. The value of goods imported and exported annual!) by them was upwards of sixty-seven millions Sterling.
Between the isle of Thanet and the coast of Essex, the Thames is 25 miles in width ; at Sheerness it is only five miles. Here the Medway enters from the south ward ; it has spacious and deep havens to Chatham and Rochester. On the north side of the Thames, the rivers Colne, Blackwater, and Crouch, and the Leigh Road, are navigable inlets.
Front Sheerness to Gravesend, 45 miles, the channel contracts to half a mile. and by bending its direction, be comes a land-locked harbour. From thence it proceeds, by a winding cours‘.. 22 miles to the Pool, where its breadth is reduced to 3 or 400 yards.
An artificial canal has been formed across the Isle of Dogs, of mile in length. Within tbis space it con nects with its navigable branch the river Lea at Black wall and Limehouse, on the south side, at Rotherhithe and Greenland Dock with the Grand Surrey Canal. Ex tensive wet clocks have been constructed at B ackwall fn. East India ships, in the Isle of Dogs for West India men, and in Wapping for other vessels frequenting the port of London.