Page:The Canal System of England.djvu/15

 "Brittania" that it was made by the Romans "probably for water-supply or drainage," adding that in 1121 it was deepened and rendered in some measure navigable by Henry I. Another very notable canal constructed by the Romans during this epoch was the "Caerdike," connecting the River Nyne or Nen with the River Witham. The length of this work—stupendous for the period—was no less than forty miles, extending from the vicinity of Peterborough to three miles below Lincoln.

The progress of our waterways generally, was however, as before stated, very gradual. This was no doubt greatly owing to the need of the, the crowning improvement necessary to adapt them for routes having great alterations of level. It has been truly remarked that "To us, living in an age of steam-engines and photography, it might appear strange that an invention so simple in itself as the canal lock, and founded on properties of fluids little recondite, should have escaped the acuteness of Egypt, Greece and Rome."

The invention had, however, escaped the notice of the ancients, and great doubts exist as to the person, and even the nation, by whom canal locks were first introduced, the discovery being claimed by both the Italians and the Dutch. It is true that in some of the early canals of Europe, inclined planes, up which a vessel placed upon