33 °

HISTORY OF

C H A P. XIII.

Account of the Canal from Dublin to the Shannon, in Ireland.—VariousReports of different Engineers on the Difficulty of cutting this Canal,'which is not yet completed , notwithstanding the immerse Sums it hascos.—Resolves of the Canal Company with respect to the carrying onthe Work , and finding Materials.—Account of the Newry Canal .—-Extracts from A. Young's Tour through Ireland .

IRELAND.

An Account of the navigable Canal from the City of Dublin to the River

Shannon.

T HIS grand canal, from the city of Dublin to the river Shannon,was originally planned by Mr. Omcs (the engineer to the Lagannavigation), and carried on under his direction from Dublin into the bogof Allen, at the expence of seventy-seven thousand pounds. When thework was advanced thus far, it was discovered that several capital mis-takes had been committed in the levels, the water in some places of thecanal standing four or five feet deeper than in others; in consequenceof which, the work being almost at a stand, in the year 1770, the mem-bers of the right honourable and honourable navigation boards called inMr. Valiancy, who subscribes himself “ Director of Engineers,” to sur-vey the works, and advise what was proper to be done: but the lordmayor and corporation of Dublin, who had the success of this workmuch at heart, not being satisfied with Mr. Valiancy’s survey and report,called in Mr. John Trait, engineer, who differed very widely from Mr.

Valiancy,