1Ve shall next proceed to notice that justly celebrated undertaking, the Duke of Bridgewater's canal, which is not only singularly valuable on account of the very com plete accommodation it affords to the country through which it passes, but inestimable as the model and root of the canal navigation of England. The attempts previ ously made merit no attention, in comparison with the bold and successful projects of thedistinguished nobleman under whom it was contrived and executed. He at once proceeded in a complicated work, on the most compre hensive scale, and by his exertions and example turned a great portion of British talent and capital into a direction which has, in a few years, pervaded and improved the whole kingdom, and been a principal means of extending its commerce and manufactures.
We shall not stop to inquire whether the Duke of Bridgewater, when he conceived his truly magnificent plans, travelled to examine the canals in Holland, France, and Italy. He was to blame if he did not ; but when a nobleman of his rank and fortune breaks through exist ing prejudices, forms a project of great difficulty, risk, and expense, acquires information adapted to his mea sures, chooses agents thoroughly qualified for the parts they were to perform, and, what is pet haps more than all the rest, has the good sense and firmness to confide in them through good and bad report, and all the occasional and frequently serious disappointments to which new and great attempts are subjected, we must acknowledge, with exultation, that this man justly merits the title of Father of Engli.th Canal Xavigation.
The original destination of this canal was, to convey coals from the Duke's mines at Worseley to the town of :Manchester, and for which the act of 32 George II. NS/3S obtained ; but when the canal had reached the Warrington Road to ;Manchester, another act NVZS procured to varv the line, by crossing the river Irwell Banton Bridge, and proceed to :Manchester, up the south side of that river, with a branch to Longford Bridge. In three years that act was followed by a third, to carry the canal from Longford Bridge, past Altringliann to the river lersey at Hempstones, in the county of Chester ; but this was in par t changed, and the canal was finally carried by Preston Brook to Runcorn. In 1795, by an act 35 George III. an extension was made from Worseley Mill to the town of Leigh in Lancashire, with a branch to C'nat Moss.
Excepting 82 feet of rise by ten locks, in the distance ot 600 yards, at Runcorn, the whole of the navigation, which is about 45 miles, is upon one level, to which when we add 18 miles of the Grand Trunk from Preston Brook, making 63 miles, besides what is under ground, in the Vv'orseley coal mines, which cannot be less than 10 mile:, wc have the extraordinary extent of 73 miles of canal navigation upon one level. Combined with this aclvan tag-e, we may add, that the Grand Trunk, and all the ca nals at 'Manchester connected with the western sides of the ranges of mountains which separate Lancashire and Yorkshire, finally discharge water into the Duke's Cana!, and thereby insure a superabundant supply fcr all purposes. The locks at Runcorn were opened in 1772. In 1776 the whole of the. works from Worseley to NIan chester, Preston Brook, and Runcorn, were completed. The extension to Leigh was made in 1795.
The determination of preferring one level, led to the construction of tunnels, aqueducts, and embankments of very considerable magnitude, which, in that infant state of canal operations, were truly formidable. Nothing, however, could shake the fortitude and perseverance of its illustrious patron, or baffle the ingenuity and exer tions of his engineer, James Brindley, and his faithful and sagacious agent, :Mr. John Gilbert. The inter course upon this canal is incredible ; for besides the coal trade to .Manchester and Leigh, the intercourse with Liverpool, and, by means of the Grand Trunk; with all the midland counties, is unceasing and very exten sive. The, passage boats also bring a very considerable revenue. The whole annual produce, including- the Worseley mincs, is said to amount to from 70,000/. to 80,0001.
The river Alersey, for 20 miles above Liverpool, is an open cstuary, in some places four miles in width ; the tides arc high and rapid, spring tides at Liverpool rising about 30 feet, and 16 at Runcorn Gap. The following navigations connect with this part of the river. Imme diately below Warrington the Sankey canal enters; a little above Runcorn the Mersey and 'men new cut ; at Runcorn the Duke of Bridgewater's canal ; and a little below it the river Weaver navigation at Weston Point. About ten miles farther down, on the Cheshire shore, the Ellesmere can31 falls in at Ellesmere Port , and at Liverpool the Leeds and Liverpool canal.