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HISTORY OF

ticable to extend his canal from Longford-bridge, by Dunham, to fallinto the river Mersey, at or near a place called the Hempstones, belowBank-quay, lo as to bring vessels into his canal at the lowest neaptides ; and having obtained a third act for that purpose, undertakesthis at his own expence, without any addition or increase of tonnage.

" If navigations are advantageous to a country, that advantage must“ increase in proportion to their extent, and the intercourse and con-" nections with the parts with which they communicate ; and allowing“ this to be a fact, there certainly cannot be a more interesting con-" sideration, than the facilitating the conveyance of goods, and mer-“ chandife between the great trading towns of Manchester and Liver-" pool.”

The first act recites in the preamble, that the persons named in the actioGeo. II. intituled “An act for making navigable the river or brookcalled Worsley Brook, from Worsley Mill, in the township of Worsley,in the county palatine of Lancaster, to the river Irwell, in the saidcounty,” have hitherto neglected to carry the said act into execution, &c.and that a cut or canal may be made from a certain place in the town-ship of Salford, &c. near Manchester, in the said county of Lancaster,to or near Worsley Mill aforesaid, and Middlewood, in the manor ofWorsley, and to or near Hollin Ferry, in the same county, and sup-plied with water from the said Worsley Brook, and other brooks andplaces near, &c. &c. &c. sufficient for floating or carrying of boats andother vessels of considerable burthen, by which the conveyance ofcoals, timber, stone, manure, goods, wares, and merchandises, to andfrom Manchester and Salford, &c. &c. will be greatly facilitated, &c.&c. The act impowers his grace the duke of Bridgewater, his heirs,&c. <Scc. to make and maintain the said cut or canal, at his or their ownproper costs and charges, to enter lands, dig, and remove obstructions,and to make towing-paths on the sides of his canal, gutters, and water-courses, locks, sluices, &c. &c. weighing-beams, bridges, arches, &c.

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