Besides being an accommodation to the Clyde traders and fishers, the coasting vessels from Liverpool, and all Ireland, prefer always in bad weather to pass up the eastern side of the Cantyre land, and cross by the Crinan canal into the before-mentioned general track, near the north-east end of the island of Jura. Thus, it will be evident, that by means of this Crinan canal, and the in land navigation to Inverness, Ste. vessels will pass by a well sheltered course from the Irish Channel, quite to the North Sea, opposite to the entrance into the Baltic.
The length of the Crinan canal is nine miles; the summit is only 62 feet above the tideway, and is passed by 15 locks, each 96 feet in.„length, and 24 in breadth. During the last two years, a steam-boat has passed re gularly along it in its way from Glasgow to Fort Wil liam.
From this brief description, it is evident that the ar tificial still water navigations in Scotland are but few, and of small extent ; and from the generally mountain .ous and pastoral nature of the country, it is not probable that many more can be required ; more especially as it is singularly well accommodated by the numerous arms of the sea, which penetrate deeply into this narrow coun try ; and as the Firths of Forth, Tay, Dee, Clyde, Nith, and Solway, afford useful navigations and havens.
It has been said that the first idea nf improving river navigation in Ireland is due to the enlightened adminis tration of the unfortunate Stafford, incited prubably by what had been done in the Low Countries; but we find nothing in the history of the Irish Parliament on the sub ject, until the earlier part of the last centuiy. The ge neral flatness of the country, and the abundance of lakes, waters, and morasses, are very favourable for creating and extending inland navigation.
In the first Parliament or Anne, on the 29th Septem ber, 1703, a committee was appointed to prepare heads of a bill for making the river Shannon navigable from the city of Limerick to James Town in the county of Leitrim ; also for the rivers Barrow and Boyne, and a canal from Lough Neagh to Newry. On the 8th No vember, the committee reported, that the scheme for the latter was practicable and beneficial, and might be constructed for 20 ton lighters for 20,000/. The sur veys were made by Captain Francis Nevil, collector of Armagh ; but it does not appear that any farther steps were taken at this time.
In 1709, the heads of a bill were brought in for mak ing the Shannon navigable from Limerick to Carrick; also a petition for the Newry canal, for which a bill was passed ; likewise a petition for making the Lim naviga ble from Clonmel to Thurless ; and another petition for removing. the rocks at Portnaw, in the river Bann; also
for making the river Barrow navigable; but no progress was made in these matters for some years. In 1715, George Frizell, Henry Crosdale, and others, having un dertaken to make the Shannon navigable, an act for that purpose passed, and a general law was established, for undertakings of the same kind, which may be considered the parent of the inland navigation of Ireland. It is enti tled, "An act to encourage the draining and improving the bogs and unprofitable low grounds, and fur easing and dispatching the inland carriage and conveyance of goods fro:n the one part to another within this kingdom." 'The undertakers were allowed a toll of 2d. per cwt. for every ten miles of 12 furlongs, and 3d. for each passel'. ger. Gross timber for building, rough stone, bricks, lime, to pay only one half toll. The members of parlia ment and justices were appointed commissioners, and for other rivers than the Shannon, with powers to appoint undertakers ; and the following improvements were partly proceeded with: 1. From Dublin, by the rivers Liffey, Rye, Boyne, Mungagh, and Brusna, to Banagher on the Shannon. Two canals have since been carried in nearly this direction, viz. the Grand Canal to wards the lower, and the Royal Canal towards the upper, parts of the river Shannon.
2. The river Barrow, and a canal from thence to join the Grand Canal at Munroe in the Bog of Allen.
3. The rivers Glyn and Bann, from Newry to Coleraine, which has been made to Lough Neagh under the name of the Newry Canal.
4. The Nore and Brosna, from New Ross to the Grand Canal near the Shannon.
5. The Liffey and Greece, from Dublin by Kilcullen, to Carlow. A branch of the Grand Canal has been carried nearly to Kil cullen, known by the name of the Kildare Canal.
6. The Blackwater, from Youghall to Newmarket, (only effected as far as Lisrnore.) 7, The Foyle, Findberg, and Mourne, from Derry to Omagh, (ef. feeted to Stragane.) 8. The Earn, above Lough Earn, (unattempted.) 9. The Maigne, from Limerick to Cork, (do.) 10. The Boyne, from Drogheda to the Grand Canal ; it has been rendered navigable to Navan.