The inland navigation of this tract has been considera bly extended since 1804, by the con.struction of the Royal Military Canal along the upper edge of these levels. It was originally intended as a line of defence, and as a rallying point lOr troops after a contest on the beach. Mr. Pitt was its great promoter. Perhaps a more use ful purpose will bc found as a navigation, for the con veyance of beach or shingle for the roads in the Weilds of Kent, and the transport of oak timber for ship-build ing, to Rye harbour. The line extends from the heights of Folkstone, in Kent, skirting the hills in the rear of Romney Alarsh, to those of Fair Light Head, in Sussex, cutting off the whole flats of Romney Marsh and Pitt level, embracing 13 miles of assailable coast. It was commenced in 1804, under the direction of thc quarter master general. His assistant, colonel Browne, having the management of the practical operations, the Royal Staff corps executed the artificers' work ; the Waggon Train the carriage. Navigators were employed in the exca vation, and thiee steam engines were found insufficient to drain the works, and consiclerabk difficulties were ex perienced : the whole was, however, completed in 1806. The canal and ramparts were to have been continued from the river Rother, under Pleyden Heights, to Rye. at Shorne Cliffe, and a tunnel driven through the shingle beach at Shortie Cliffe, 300 fcet long, and 25 superficial feet in the section. The river Rother being fluctuating, a lock was necessary at that end of the canal. The line of defence beyond Rye, from Winchelsea to Cliffe End, through Pitt level, about 3 miles, was of the same dimen sions as that already described ; that is, 72 to 62 feet wide at the water's surface, 36 to 30 feet at the bottom, and 9 feet deep. Along the land side was a line of para pets, cannon proof, and a military road 30 feet in breadth. The canal line is,laid out in a series or angles, so that successive reaches may flank each other. The locks are 72 feet long between the gates, and 16 feet wide.
A little to the westward of Ileachy Head is the liver Ouse, up which the tide flows 9 miles to the town of Lewes. It was embanked under an act of 31 Geo. III. And an act SO Geo. III. was obtained, to render it navigable to Hammer bridge, about 22 miles above Lewes, with Si feet water, for boats 50 feet long, and 124 wide. In 1793, a pier was built at the month of this river. Coals, deal, timber, and merchandise are import ed, and chalk and agricultural produce exported.
In the same county, the river Arun navigation com mences at Arundel haven, and proceeds 26 miles to New Bridge, near Wisborough Green. The Arundel canal branches off to the westward, about 11 miles from Mid burst, with a collateral cut of one mile at Haslingbourn bridge. This canal is the property or the earl of Egre rnont. Exports and imports arc the same as on the Ouse.
In this quarter, a communication of considerable im portance will soon be opened with Portsmouth and the river Arun, and the adjacent places, by means of a canal vhich commences in the island of Portsea, at the half way houses, from whence it proceeds to Langston har bour, a distance of 21 miles. Thus far the canal has a
depth of 12 feet water. There are only two locks, which rise about 8 feet above water. They are each to be 110 feet in length, and 24 feet in breadth. From Langston harbour, the navigation is to cross the channel between Haylen island and Thorny, into Chichester harbour ; from thence a canal line is carried across the country 12 miles to the river Arun, about 3 miles below Arundel. In this distance there are two locks at each end, rising 8 or 9 feet.
The canal from Chichester harbour to the city of Chi chester is about 44 rniles, that is to say, 3 upon the main line, and a branch 4. This district of canal has 8 feet water, and locks 18 leet wide. The rest of the canal has only 5 feet water, and locks 12 feet wide.
The creek which separates the island of Portsea from the main-land, and connects Langston harbour with Portsmouth harbour, is to be deepened to low water for the distance of about 2 miles, so as to receive the vessels which ply upon the before-mentioned navigation, and it is intended to work vessels across the tide-way, by means of steam boats.
To the north-west of Portsmouth is the great estuary of Southampton, at which place the Ilchin passes nearly due north, about 14 miles to Winchester. From this river at Netham, the Southampton and Salisbury canals branch off. One line proceeds along the eastern bank of the Anton river, and joins the Andover canal, which af terwards crosses the river, and is terminated at Andover ; the whole rise is 176 feet. The branch to Salisbury leaves the Andover canal near Kingsbridge Ali11, and after crossing the above mentioned river, proceeds to, and terminates at Salisbury. The acts are 30, 33, and 40 Geo. III. The engineers were, James Blindley, Robert Whitcworth, and John Rennie.
The river Avon, which proceeds by Salisbury to the sea at Chlistehurch, about SO miles, is now, in a great measure, suspended hy the above mentioned canal navi gation. From the town of Christchurch the river Stour passes north-west 33 miles to Sturminster, in the county of Dorset. At Christchurch, the spring tides flow only afrorn 5 to 7 fcct, the neaps 4 to 5 rect.
In the county of Dorset there is little inland naviga tion. In Devonshire, the estuary of the river Exe is navigable to Topsham, whence a canal is formed to carry coasting vessels with coals, Ste. to the city of Exeter. In 36 Geo. III. an act was passed I'm a canal nom the river Exe at Topsham, across the counties of Devon and Somerset, to the river Tone, at Taunton. It w..is com menced, but has not yet been accomplished.
Still more to the westward, from the tide-way in the Teign river at Newton Abbots; the Stover canal goes to Newton Bushel, distant one mile, with a rise of 20 feet, and thence to Bovey 51 miles, with a rise of 3 feet. The branch to Chudleigh is level. The imports are coals, shell.sancl, and lime; the exports, potter's clay, Bovey coal, and agricultural produce.