From this last canal proceeds the Dearne and Dove canal, (acts 33 and 40 Geo. III) It unites with thc Don navigation near Mexborough, and is calculated for the same kind of boats, carrying about 50 tuns. Com mencing at the Don, it proceeds to Knollbrook, 44- miles, rise 41* feet ; thence to Oldham Mill 2+ miles, rise 24 feet ; then to the Barnsley canal miles, rise 534 feet. The locks are 67 feet long, by 151 %vide. It was finished in 1804. Engineer, John Thompson.
The Don or Dun river (act 12 Geo. I.) empowers the company of cutlers in Hullamshire to make the river Dun navigable from Holmstile, near Doncaster, to Tindly, a township about 31 miles front Sheffield. By 13 Geo.
I. the corPoration of Doncaster is empowered to im prove the navigation the Don, (which had previously only been navigable for small boats up to Doncaster, a part of the year,) from Holmcastle down to Wilock, parish of Barmby upon Dun. The 6th Geo. II. united both into one cotnpany. The 13th Geo. II. was for farther improvements. The total length of the naviga tion is 311- miles, seven of which consist of short cuts. About nines miles below Fishlake Ferry, the river Dun joins the Ouse, at Goole. The navigation does not ap pear tn have beet) completed before 1733. There are 18 locks, rising 70 feet. Length of locks 63 to 72 feet ; breadth 134, to 18 feet. Length of vessels 56 feet, breadth 15 feet.
The trade consists in coal, lime, iron and earthen wares, groceries, corn. It supplies Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, 8cc.
From the lower part of the river Don, the Stainforth and Keadby canal (acts 33 and 38 Geo. III.) proceeds 15 miles to the Trent. It has a tide lock at each extremity ; and is chiefly for drainage.
The Trent liver forms a very extensive navigation, and its importance is much increased by the various branches and artificial canals which connect with it. By the Trent and Mersey, or Grand Trunk Canal, it is united to the river Alersey, and to the Severn ; and of late by the Soar river, the Leicester, the Union and Grand Junction canals, it communicates with the river Thames. The Foss navigation, one of the most ancient in England, had eat ly connected it with the river With am, and port of Boston, and a variety of branches, upon the rich country on each side. The tide flows up this
river as far as Gainsborough, which is navigated by coasting vessels. The channel of the river is through the fens, and is embanked on both sides. In this space Keadby, is the Stainforth and Keadby. At Stockwith, the Idle navigation, and also the Chesterfield canal, de part to the westward. Above Gainsborough, the chan nel is frequently obstructed by shallows ; so that, in 1761, the navigation, as reported by Mr. Smeaton, could only be maintained by flashing from the mills. By the 34 Gen. HI. a side-cut of 10 miles was made, to avoid two bridges and sandy shoals, which occur in 13 miles in the upper palt of the river. 'fhis cut is sometimes called the Trent canal. It commences at Trent Bridge, near Nottingham ; has a rise of 28 feet, and connects with the Erewash canal near Lawley, and has a short cut and a lock into the Trent in Beeston, and terminates at I,aw ley Ferry, in the commencement of the Trent and 'Met- sey canal. The above act (34 Geo. HI.) also embraces the general improvement of the river, the formation of horse towing-paths, &cc.
In this space the Trent receives, on the eastern side, the Foss na‘igation from Lincoln, the Grantham canal, and the river S031' navigation ; and,on the west, the Not tingham canal, the Eyewash canal, and the Trent and :Met sey canal, with their various branches.
At Stockwith is the Idle river, navigable 10 miles through a fen country to the town of Bawtry. At Misterton is a lock 17.1 feet wide, with doors 16 feet high, built on the site of the old Dutch lock, by John Srneaton.
Above the junctinn of the Trent and Mersey canal, the river Trent navigation is the property of the mar quis of Anglesea, under acts 10 ane 11 William and proceeds in a crooked courso for about 19 miles to Burton on Trent, making the whole river about 135 miles. At Swarkstone it receives the - • canal.
Leaving the farther progress of the Trent navigat;on for the central district, we return to the branches of the river, whether they arc canal or river navigations.
Near the mouth of the Idle river is the junction of the Chesterfield canal, act 10 Geo. III. Commencing- in the river Trent, it passes by a crooked line of 46 mileS to Chesterfield, on the river Rother.