INLAND NAVIGATION.

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productions of the internal parts of those countries, which were beforeuseless, or only consumed near the place of their growth ; yet neithergovernment, nor any public-spirited individual, attempted any works ofthat nature in England.

To the insular situation of Great Britain, and its numerous large andnavigable rivers, we may no doubt justly attribute the long neglect ofcanal navigations in this country. A private undertaking of that kindwas at length begun by a noble duke, during the continuance of anexpensive but glorious war, in which conquest crowned in the mostsignal manner almost every effort of the Britissi arms.

Peace succeeding, a full tide of commerce, and its concomitant, wealth,poured into England from every quarter of the world ; and new sourcesof trade and riches being opened, excited a general emulation amongour manufacturers to rival and surpass, if possible, those of othercountries. How far they have succeeded, and are daily succeeding, isnot for me to determine.

The success of the noble individual above mentioned, who plannedand began the first canal for inland navigation in this country, by draw-ing a mine of wealth from the bowels of a mountain, which had beenhitherto totally useless, and of no value, awakened a general ardour forsimilar improvements among the land owners, farmers, merchants, andmanufacturers of the kingdom ; and although there was neither aLouis XIV. nor a Colbert to encourage, there wanted not engineersequal to Riquet; and England, though late, began to rouse from herlethargic slumber, and pour forth the riches which ssie possessed in herinland provinces ; to effect which her navigable rivers alone, howevernumerous and large, were found to be inadequate.

In treating of the canals of England, Caerdyke , if it may be called acanal, ought perhaps first to be mentioned, as it is the most ancient; but6 whether