By the original act this canal was to have had all its water pumped up from the river Thames; but an ar rangement has been lately Made for the Regent's Canal Company to supply the Grand Junction water works with water from the Thames, and, in lieu of this, to de rive a supply for their canal from the Paddington level of the Grand Junction canal, which formerly went to the said water works.
It is expected that a great proportion of the trade, which now passes by Brentford, or is transacted at Pad dington, will be transferred to the before mentioned basin, adjacent to the central pat ts of the city of London ; and that all the northern side of that city and Westmin ster, as well as the adjacent extensive suburbs, which are at present supplied from the river Thames by. an extensive cartage across the city, will in future be sup plied by the Regent's canal. Il' these expectations are verified, the proprietors will be amply remunerated, although they have unavoidably had to content] with ma ny obstacles, and incur much expense. Mr. Morgan is the engineer employed by the Regent's Canal Company, and Thomas Telford by the Grand Junction Canal Com pany, and the commissioners for Exchequer Bills, which have been lent to complete the work.
At the north-west extremity of the Grand Junction, the Oxford canal not only extends the connection of the former with the interior, but opens an important com munication between this great summit of the country (in a south-west direction) with the river Isis at Oxford, and also the extensive track through which it passes. This canal leaves the Coventry canal at Longford, about 4 miles north of the town of Coventry, and proceeds upon one level across the upper part of the valley of the NVarwick Avon to near Hill Morton, a distance of 26 miles 4 furlongs 3 chains. Near to Hill Morton, in the distance of 3 furlongs 7 chains, there is a rise of 18 feet 10 inches hy three locks. From this place to Nap ton, 16 miles 6 furl. the line is level. About the middle of this distance the Grand Junction passes off; and near Napton on the Hill the Warwick and Napton canal. From the last mentioned point the canal proceeds by Doles wharf, a distance of 1 mile 7 furl. 3 ch. with a rise
of 55 feet 3 inches, by 9 locks. It has here reached its summit level, which continues 10 miles 6 furl. 7 ch. to Claydon, having, hy means of a tunnel 1188 yards in length near Teney Compton, passed a ridge, from which the water on one side flows to the Severn, and on the other to the Thames. From Claydon the canal falls into the valley of the Charwell, and proceeds to the town of Banbury 7 miles 2 furl. with a fall of 77 feet 4 inches by 12 locks. From Banbury the canal follows the Charwell, crossing it near Hampton Gay, and passes to the river Isis at Bacicock's garden, on the east side of Oxford. 'f he distance from Banbury is 27 miles 2 furl. with a fall of 114 feet 5 inches by 17 locks. At Oxford there is a lock with a fall of 3 fcet 6 inches into the Isis. Its total length is 91 miles.
The canal is 28 feet wide at the surface of the water, 16 feet at bottom, and generally 41 feet deep ; the sum mit is 6 feet deep. The locks are 75 feet long, and 7 feet wide at bottom. There are nearly three bridges in a mile on an average. In 1769 Mr. I3rindley's plan was approved of, and the work begun. In 1775 the canal had reached Napton, and Banbury in 1778. In 1786 the work was resumed, and in 1790 it was completed to Oxford.
At Hill Morton there is a branch half a mile in k.igth, and another of the samc length at Napton. These two are on the same level as the canal to the steam-en gine for pumping up water to supply the canal. There is a third branch of a quarter of a mile, which connects with the Isis navigation at Godstow. This last branch belongs to the Duke of 'Marlborough. The steam-en gine at Hill Morton pumps water from the lowest or long level into the Napton level, and that at Napton from this last mentiened level up to the summit. There are also reservoirs to supply the summit.
This canal was formed chiefly to convey coal from the counties of Waiv..ick and Stafford to Oxfordshile, and the city of Oxford, for the exportation of agricul tural produce, and by means of the river Isis and Thames to form an intercourse with London. The acts are 9, 15, 26, 34, 39 Gco. III.