11. A line from Sligo to the Shannon, at Carrick, (unattempted.) 12. A line connecting the Lakes Corril and Mask at May river, from Galway to KilIala, (unattemptcd.) 13. The Slaney, From M'inford to Ililtingless, (unattempted.) 14. The Suir, from Waterford to Thurless; some improvements have been effected, and a towing path made to CIonmell.
15. A Ime from Galway to the Shannon at Portumna, (unat tempted.) 16. The River Inny, from Lough Shillin to the Sbannon, (unat tempted.) 17. The River Luck, from Castlerea to the Shannon, (unat tempted.) 18. The Lee, from Cork to Nlacroome; some locks were made, but to no purpose.
19. The Banden, from Kinsale to Dummanery, (surveys only were made.) 20. The Leone, from Rosscastle to Castlemaiu harbour, (unat tempted.) The Laggan navigation is unnoticed in this act, and it does not appear that lot 14 years afterwards, any ef fectual progress was made in consequence of these un dertakings. For, in an act in 1729, it is stated, that the said commissioners having only power to contract with undertakers for carrying on the said works at their own private expense, the great charge hath discouraged pri. vate persons; and where encouraging tillage, and em ploying the poor, will be of great benefit, and it is rea sonable and fit that works of such public benefit, should be carried on at the charge of the kingdom by some public fund, Sec. Fee.
The Loid Lieutenant, four Archbishops, Lord Chan cellor, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, with 20 others persons, for each of the four provinces, were appointed commissioners, and from 25 Geo. II. made a corporate body, with extended powers for carrying on the inland navigation of Ireland ; and, for a fund, a duty was imposed on private carriages of 20s. per annum for four-wheeled carriages, and 5s. for two-wheeled car riages; on cards, 6d. if made in the kingdom, and Is. if imported; on dice, 5s. per pair ; and on wrought plate, 6d. per oz. troy weight. The amount of these, to the year 17:35, was S000/. per annum ; to 1740, was 4000/.; and to 1750. was 6000/.
By the ,,,.tition of the commissioners in 1758, it ap peal..., that for 19 years, the whole fund was applied to the canal from Newry to t'ne Tyrone collieries. In
1749, there was expended 58,400/. Is. Id.; and though the works were imperfect, the savings on the fund was 9393/. 10s. Id. In 1749, they engaged in other works on the rivers Boyne and Shannon, by which, in 1758, they had expended the IN hole fund, amounting nearly to 140.000/.
1749, the House of Commons renewed the expir ing duties on carriages, Sec. and granted a further supply of 4000/. per annum from 1751. In 1753, petitions were presented from Belfast, Lisburn, Hillsborough, Killala, and Moira, for opening a rivor canal navigation hy the river Laggan to Lough Neagh, estimated at 26,000/. In the 27 Geo II. an act was passed to open a naviga tion between Belfast and Lough Neagh ; and Id. per gallon on beer, and 4d. per gallon on spirits, was levied on the district of Lisburn for eleven years for said navi gation.
In 1755-6, many petitions were presented from other districts, but few had the independence of the north, to propose local taxation.
The city of Cork petitioned to make the river Lee navigable; Kilkenny for the river Nore ; Newry for an improvement in its river below the quays; and Bel fast for additional aid for the Laggan navigation. Peti tions were also presented for rendering the Blackwater navigable 40 miles to the collieries of Dromagh : the Suir, [row Clotunel to Waterford ; the Bann, from Lough Neagh to Coleraine.
The Tillt.ge Committee reporting that these various inland naxigations were the most effectual means to in crease tillage, especially from Dublin to the Shannon, the lines of the present Grand and Royal canals were then in agitation, but the sum of 20,000/. voted to the corporation for inland navigation for a canal to the Shan non, was directed to be applied to the line on the south of the city, now the Gr.,nd Canal. Exclusive of the be fore-mentioned sum. there was granted for river naviga tions and harbours, the further sum of 65,000/. and this was besides the formerly stated tillage dues. The na tional revenue, about this time, did not exceed half a million.
Mr. Thomas Orme was the engineer employed to examine most of these lines of navigation, as appears by his petitions to the House of Commons for remune ration.