Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/145

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hundred years ago from Ireland, where it was in- troduced by the immortal Raleigh, who conferred a greater obligation on his country, and a greater benefit on society at large, by this present to Eu- rope, than by all his discoveries, which only multi- plied riches, without redressing wants.

In our way to Preston we frequently caught the grand canal already spoken of, which is continued only a few miles beyond this place, owine to the enormous and unlooked-for expence of its progress. The estimate had been 350,000k and the fund subscribed immediately 400,000!.; but so inaccu- rate were the calculations, that almost double this sum has been consumed without compleatiim- the work. A packet-boat is established upon it be- tween Lancaster and Preston, in which passengers pass from one to the other. Ilalf-a-crovn is the fare for the genteel accommodations at the head of the vessel; and eighteen-pence for a more ordinary place on the poop. The act for the formation oi this canal was obtained in 1792, and the work immediately commenced at Kendal, where it is sup- plied by a small brook about a mile beyond ike town. Its direction is immediately south toward* Lancashire, and passing under-ground for half a mile, it enters that county near Burton. South of this town, at Borrick, it sinks to its mid-level;

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