The boats in the Cum river are about 45 feet long, and from 8 to 10 feet wide, drawing 2 feet 8 inches, and carrying. about 18 tons. They are furnished with decks, and raised in the fore part. As they have, below Denver, frequently to pass through rough water, they have a mast 36 feet high, and a square sail.
In Bedfordshire, the Ivel river proceeds from the Ouse at Temsford ; and by 30 Geo. II. WaS made navigable to Biggleswade. It was generally proposed to extend the navigation 5 miles to Shefford. The locks arc of a very rude description. • It is evident that the whole system of navigation in this fen district, is of that kind which we have called agri cultural; that is, the import of coals, deals, and other commodities for the consumption of the country, in re turn for agricultural produce. Aluch of the corn, es pecially for malting, is taken to London from the heads of the navigation, as at Cambridge, Ste. by land carriage ; but the greater part is shipped from the ports on- the Wash, as Lynn, and Boston.
Before leaving thidistrict, we may notice a considera ble natural navigation in the eastern part of the county of Norfolk. At Yarmouth is the mouth of the united rivers the Yare and the Waveney. The latter forms the boundary between the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and is navigable about 25 miles to the town of Bungay. The Yare is navigable 22 miles to the city of Norwich. It supplies that populous and manufacturing town, and serves for the export of agricultural produce from those extensive and well cultivated districts.
The Central District.
flaying described the principal navigations, whether natural or artificial, connected with the coasts of South Britain, WC now proceed lo give an account of those im portant lines of canal na%igations, which serve to connect the populous and industrious districts on the Mersey and Trent with the Severn and the Thames. The father of this great project was the Duke of Bridgewater ; for, after the completion of his canal, there seemed no physical difficulties but which might he surmounted by skill and perseverance. It was, therefore, immediately proposed lo connect the Mersey with the Trent, by proceeding from the Duke's canal, and penetrating through the ridge called Harecastle Hill, by means of a tunnel ; and this project was named the Grand Trunk. This being approved of and begun, the scheme was soon greatly ex tended, by carrying a branch from thc gland trunk at the town of Stafford to the river Severn at Stourport. Two years afterwards, in 1768, acts were obtained for extension to the towns of 13irmingham and Coventry ; and next year for a continuation of a long line by Banbury to the liver Thames, at the city of Oxford.
The farther progress of canal navigation seemed to be checked, until some years after the conclusion of the American war, when the improvement of the coal and iron trades, and the general application of the lately im proved steam-engine to machinery, (more especially in the latter manufactures,) gave new life to these under takings. Numerous projects were brought forward, and of these, the Grand Junction, begun in 1793, com pleted the connection between the manufacturing districts in the interior and the metropolis, without the vexatious delays of the river Thames.
In describing the central district, we shall first consi der the Grand Trunk, with its important branch the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal ; then abandon ing the order of time, we shall proceed from the metro polis by the Grand Junction canal along what now forms the great line of traffic, and also consider the numerous canals on either side, as being collateral branches connect ed in business with it.
The Grand Trunk was so named, as passing through the central parts of the kingdom, and being the great link connecting the Mersey, Trent, and Severn rivers. From its commencement at the mouth of the river Der went in Derbyshire, to the Derby canal at Swarkstone, is 6 miles, with a rise of 32 feet by 4 locks, for vessels of 14 feet beam ; thence to Hornington wharf near Burton 10 miles, the rise being 16 feet by two locks for 7 feet beam. From this wharf to where the Coventry canal nuns off' at Fradley heath 12 miles, with a rise of 86 feet by 11 locks. From this point to where the Stafford shire and Worcestershire departs at Hcywood, 13 miles, the rise is 32 feet by 4 locks; thence to Etruria, near Newcastle-under-Line, IV miles, with a rise of 150 feet by 19 locks. From this place the summit level continues through Harecastle tunnel to ncar Talk, 6 miles. From tho northern extremity of the summit level to the town of Middlewich, 11 miles, the fall is 326 feet by 35 locks. From this town the canal proceeds past Northwich, along the north bank of the river Weaver, and through three short tunnels to Preston Brook, in Cheshire, where it terminates in the Duke's canal. This last is a distance of 18 miles, all in one level. From the river Dement at Wilden ferry, to near Burton, this canal admits boats of 14 feet beam ; all the rest of this canal and its branches are for 7 feet beam only. The branches are, one from near Burton, of about a mile, to the river Trent. From Stoke, near Newcastle, there is a railway to Lanes End 3 miles. From Etruria there is a railway to Hornby Green and Burslem potteries. From Longport to Dole hall there is a canal branch, and thence a railway to Bursiem potteries. Adjacent to Etruria, the branch named the Caldon canal proceeds, by a circuitous course, near Stanley Moss and Froghall to Utoxeter, in all a dis tance of 28 miles. From this summit, near Etruria, this f'aldon branch or canal proceeds 5i miles to the eastward of Norton Green, on the road to Leek : in this last dis tance time is a rise of 75 feet by 7 locks. From this point to Stanley Moss, one mile, is the summit level ; thence to Froghall is 9/ miles, with a fall of 51 feet by 9 locks. From this place to Utoxeter is 111 miles. With this long branch is connected one from Stanley Moss, 34 miles, to the town of Leek ; a short cut from Skelton to Cobridge, and a railway from Froghall, 3i miles, which ascends to the Caldon LOW limeworks.