Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/205

 Edinburgh, and Cork, might separately be considered as real wonders of strength and greatness: each of them were capable of fitting out a greater fleet than any single kingdom in the world: besides these, there were many ports of less consequence, for the building and rendezvous of small men of war and frigates: the coasts of the two islands were almost entirely surrounded with works, which were at once their ornament and defence.

Rivers that formerly were almost useless, now were navigated by large barges, which increased the trade of innumerable towns, and raised in many places, new ones: canals were cut which joined rivers, and formed a communication from one part of the kingdom to the other: the spirit of trade attended these prodigious works: villages grew into towns, and towns became cities. An