INLAND NAVIGATION.

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execution of works new to this country, and such as will extend hisfame, and endear his memory to future times. The public could onlyrecognise the merit of this extraordinary man in the stupendous un-dertakings which he carried to perfection, and exhibited to generalview. But those who had the advantage of conversing with him fami-liarly, and of knowing him well in his private character, respected himstill more for the uniform and unshaken integrity of his conduct, forhis steady attachment to the interest of the community, for the vastcompass of his understanding, which seemed to have a natural affinitywith all grand objects, and likewise for many noble and beneficent de-signs, constantly generating in his mind, and which the multiplicity ofhis engagements, and the shortness of his life, prevented him frombringing to maturity.

An anonymous friend (as he styles himself) of Mr. Brindley says," he was the greatest enthusiast in favour of artificial navigations thatever existed. Having spoken upon various circumstances of riversbefore a committee of the House of Commons, in which he seemed totreat all sorts of rivers with great contempt, a member asked him, forwhat purpose he apprehended rivers were created ? Mr. Brindley,considering with himself a moment before he gave an answer, repliedat last, To feed navigable canals.

“ Employment in so many considerable works had made him thinkthere was nothing impossible to him. He had always a favouritescheme of joining the two islands by a floating road and canal fromPortpatrick to Donaghadee, which he was confident he could executein such a manner as to withstand the most violent attacks of the waves.

“ He had been so lowly educated, that he had learned neither to readnor write, and afterwards went no farther than signing his name ; yethe could cast up pretty intricate accounts in his head without difficulty

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