Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/407



The length of the river navigation, from its commencement to its fall into the Thames, is about twenty-six miles; and the Hertford and Lea Union Canal, from Hertford to the junction with the Stort Navigation, is about five miles; of the Lea Cut or Branch to avoid the circuit of the Isle of Dogs, one mile and a half; and of the cut made by Sir George Duckett, communicating with the Regent's Canal, one mile. The course of this navigation runs southerly from near Hoddesden to the Thames, and divides Essex from the counties of Hertford and Middlesex; the country is very flat, particularly as it approaches the Thames.

To observe that legislative enactments took place for this navigation above four hundred years ago, fully stamps the importance of this water communication, which has afforded a cheap and ready transit for corn, malt, wool and other agricultural produce to the metropolis; and in return, of coal, timber, deals, bricks, paving-stones, groceries, cloth, and various other articles of daily consumption; and by extending the navigation of the River Stort, these benefits are more widely dispersed through the country.

LEEDS AND LIVERPOOL CANAL.
6 Geo. I. C. 28, R. A. 7th April, 1720.

10 Geo. III. C. 114, R. A. 19th May, 1770.

23 Geo. III. C. 47, R. A. 24th June, 1783.

30 Geo. III. C. 65, R. A. 9th June, 1790.

34 Geo. III. C. 94, R. A. 9th May, 1794.

59 Geo. III. C. 105, R. A. 21st June, 1819.

A navigation between the east and west seas, by the Rivers Aire and Ribble, had been deemed practicable by several public spirited gentlemen, residents in the counties of York and Lancaster, who at various times had endeavoured to draw the public attention to the scheme. But while this was in contemplation, the Duke of Bridgewater formed a plan of making a navigable canal from Worsley Mill to Manchester, which was soon afterwards executed with great ability and amazing rapidity.

The Duke's success drew forth the attention of Mr. Longbotham, a native of Halifax, who, after inspecting and examining the works on the Duke's Canal, projected the scheme of making a similar canal from Leeds to Liverpool, and for this purpose he took an actual survey of the country between those two places, laid down a plan and prepared an estimate of the expense, which