established with the view of facilitating the working of the collieries with which it connects; public money was advanced to complete it between 1753 and 1770, amounting to 40,304 1.

144. LANCASTER CANAL. Acts 32, 33, 36 and 40 Geo. III. General direction nearly S. for 754 miles in the counties of Westmoreland and Lancafter; its objects are the interchange of the lime-stone of the northern parts, for the coals and cannel of the southern parts of the line, the supply of Lancafter and Preston, &c. it is to connect with the fea at Glaffon Dock by a cut of 4 miles from Galgate on the line of the canal; it croffes the Loyne and Ribble rivers, but without connecting with them, and it likewife paffes under the Leeds and Liverpool canal. This canal is 7 feet deep, the boats are 56 feet long and 14 feet wide, carrying 60 tons. There are two tunnels, one at Hincafter near Leven's Park of about 800 yards long, and another through the Whittle Hills near Chorley. At Lancaster there is a moft furprising aqueduct bridge 51 feet high, over the Loyne river, confifting of 5 arches of 70 feet fpan each. There are other aqueducts over the Ribble at Prefton, the Wyre at Garstang, the Beeloo near Bethorn, &c. and it is paffed on an aqueduct 60 feet high near Bark-mill, not far from Wigan, by the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The company is authorifed to raise 414,000 7. in 1007. fhares, and 200,000l. more in flares of 30%. cach. In July 1796, the last arch of the Lancafter aqueduct was completed: in September 1805, it was ftated that the fhares divided 1 per cent. From Bolton to Lancaster and thence to Preston it was opened in November 1797, and in a few years after the whole of the long level was completed. In June 1803, the Whittle tunnel was completed, and 1 mile of the rail-way, fo that coals paffed from Weft Houghton to Bramber-bridge, and in 1805, the remainder of the rail-way was opened for conveying coals to Preston, Lancaster, &c. At Heft this canal paffes along close to the fea beach.

145. LARK RIVER. This river (fometimes called the Mildenhall) has its course nearly S. E. for about 22 miles in the county of Suffolk, after skirting the bounds of Cambridge for fome miles. It is generally very fhort of water in the autumn. In 1789, this river was propofed to be croffed by the Bishopftortford and Wilton intended canal; and in 1802 it was proposed to be joined at Bury St. Edmund's by the Stowmarket and Bury rail-way.

146. LEA RIVER. Acts 12 Geo. II. and 7, 19, and 45 Geo. III. General direction almost north for about 28 miles between the counties of Middlesex and Effex and in Hertfordhire; its objects are the fupply of Hertford and all the furrounding county with coals, deals, &c. and the export of farm

ing

ing products, of which malt from Ware forms a confiderable part. At Bromley near Bow it connects with the Limehoufe canal, and near Hoddefdon it is joined by the Stort river. In 1772, and again in 1802, this river was proposed to be joined at Waltham-Abbey by the London and Waltham-Abbey, with another junction therewith at Lee-bridge; and in 1792, it was propofed to be joined at Hertford by the Leicefter and London canal. Several years ago the Biggleswade and Hertford canal was proposed to join this river at Hertford. Between Hertford and Ware, the New River or aqueduct for the fupply of London, has its rife, partly out of the chalk hills, and partly by a feeder out of this river, and pursues its devious courfe for near 40 miles. This great work was begun by Sir Hugh Middleton in 1608; in 1773, Mr. James Sharp fuggefted the making of the New River navigable, and continuing it by a level cut to the Thames near Reading. In 1803, Mr. John Rennie was employed by government to survey the lower part of the course of the Lea River, and to conftruct embankments acrofs, for filling this extenfive vale with water in case of an invafion the gates intended to produce these effects, are vesfels that can on the shortest notice be floated to and funk in their proper places, to stop the water, as before defcribed.

147. Leatherhead and Thames Rail-way. In 1801, it was propofed to make a rail-way from a bafon to be made on the banks of the Thames, in Weft Moulfey (oppofite Sunbury) to the town of Leatherhead in Surry, through the parishes of Walfton, Cobham, Stoke-Dawbernon, Little Bookham, Great Bookham, and Fetcham.

148. LEE RIVER, (Ireland.) For improving the navigation of this river, the Irish parliament between 1753 and 1770, granted 2,000l.

149. LEEDS AND LIVERPOOL CANAL. Acts 10, 23, 30, and 34 Geo. III. General direction between N. E. and E. by a very crooked courfe of 130 miles in the counties of Lancafter and York; it croffes the grand ridge by a tunnel, near Colne, and at Red-Mofs and Afpule croffes the Haflingden and Liverpool branch of the grand ridge. Its objects are a communication between the ports of Liverpool and Hull, the export of the immenfe ftores of coals, cannel, and lime-ftone, that are found on parts of its course, and the supply of the great towns thereon with the agricultural products of the intermediate country. At Brier's-mill it connects with the Douglas navigation (now belonging to this company, by a purchase under 23 Geo. III.) near Bark-mill not far from Wigan it croffes the Lancastar canal (but is 60 feet above it on an aqueduct-bridge). At Church it connects with the Haflingden canal, at Skipton with Thanet's

canal,

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canal, and at Windhill with the Bradford canal. From this canal there is a cut to Ighton-hill collieries, another to Altham collieries; and provifion is made for cuts to be made by the earl of Balcarras and Mr. Shuttleworth between their coal-works and the line. The whole lockage is 840 feet by 91 locks, which are each 70 feet in length, and 15 feet in width; the breadth of the canal at top is 42 feet, and it is 44 feet deep in water. At Leeds there is a fine bafon, and there are fpacious warehoules belonging to this company at the north-eaft corner of Liverpool town, and it was intended in 1801, to conftruct a new bafon from the North Graving-Dock on this canal, to the top of Plumbe-ftreet. At Foulridge there is a tunnel of 1030 yards in length, and 23 yards below the highest point of the hill; the foil of which proved fo very loofe, that only 700 yards could be worked under-ground, the remainder was obliged to be opened from above, from 10 to 20 yards deep, and 20 to 30 yards wide at the top, although it was fupported with inmenfe labour and expenfe by timbers to prevent its falling, until the tunnel arch was formed, which is 18 feet high and 17 feet. wide within-fide; it is arched with fione. At Furnloy near Burnley, there is another tunnel. At Cottingley below Bingley, and near Gargrave, there are confiderable aqueduct bridges over the Ayre river, and feveral lefler ones in different places. In 1770, the eastern end of the line was completed from Leeds to Holme-bridge, a distance of 334 miles; about the end of 1794 this was extended to near Foulridge. May 1, 1796, the Foulridge tunnel was completed and the line opened to Burnley. In May 1801, the Furnloy tunnel was finifhed, and the navigation extended to Enfield within 4 miles of Blackburn; and in July 1801, the Altham branch was opened. The western end of the line was begun as carly as the other, and in 1770 the fame was opened from Liverpool to the Douglas old navigation at Newborough, 28 miles; and on 19th October 1774, the prefent navigation was completed to Wigan. This company was authorised to raise 600,000 /. the amount of fhares col About 1794, a branch of the Manchester Bolton and Bury was proposed to join this canal at Red-Mofs near Wigan. In September 1802, it was propofed to make a branch from this canal near Wigan to Bridgewater's canal at Pennington; also a branch or rail-way from it to Low-hall collieries.

150. LEICESTER NAVIGATION. Acts 31, 34, (far Afhby Canal) and 37 Geo. III. General direction about fouth, following nearly the courfe of the Soar River, for 14 miles in the county of Leicester; its objects are the fupply of Leicester with coals, deals, and general merchandize, the export of coals and limestone from the mines on its branches, and the farming pro

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ducta

ducts of the country. From the bafon at Loughborough, a rail-way branch of 2 miles, and a rife of 185 feet extends weftward to a bafon at Foreft-lane, at the east end of the Charnwood Foreft water-level. From the weft end of the water-level, a rail-way extends of a mile further to Clouds-hili limeworks, and there connects, or very nearly fo, with a branch of the Afhby-de-la-Zouch canal; there is a fhort rail-way branch of fix chains to Barrow-hill lime-works. In December 1793, the part of the line between Loughborough and Sielby, near Mount Sorrel, was opened, and in February 1794 the remainder of the fame to Leicester was opened. The company was authorised to raise 84,000 1.

About the year 1792

151. Leicester and London Canal. printed propofals and a plan were circulated for a canal from the Leicester, intended as a rival to the Grand Junction, and to form the shortest communication between London, Liverpool, Hull, and Lyan, and the intermediate large trading towns, mines, &c.

152. LEICESTER AND MELTON-MOWBRAY NAVIGATION. Acts 31 and 40 Geo. III. General direction nearly E. following the courfes of the Wreak and Eye rivers, for about 12 miles, in the county of Leicester; its objects are the fupply of Melton Mowbray with coals, deals, &c. and the export of the farming products of the country. The company were authorifed to raife 40,000 7.

153. LEICESTERSHIRE AND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UNION CANAL. Acts 33 and 45 Geo. III. General direction nearly S.E. by a crooked courie of 43 miles in the counties of Leicester and Northampton; its objects are the formation of a junction between London, Hull, and Lynn; the fupply of the country through which it paffes with coals, deals, &c. and the export of farming products; it is to connect at Northampton with a rail-way branch of the Grand Junction. There are four tunnels on this line, viz. at Foxton, of 1056 yards in length; at Kelmarfh, of 990 yards in length; at Saddington, of 880 yards in length, and at Oxenden, of 286 yards in length. On Oxenden and Kelmarth brooks are the aqueducts for the fupply over the fummit-level, but flood-waters alone are to be taken. There are a great number of fmall queducts over the streams which it pafics. In March 1800, the tunnel at Saddington was finifhed, and the line opened from Leicester to Gumley, a diftance of 17 miles; but fmall progrefs appears to have been fince made with the other three tunnels, and the remainder of the line, intended to form the union. By the first act the company were authorised to raife 300,000 7. fhares 100 l. each; the laft at was for varying fome parts of the line and amending the former onc. About the year 1793, the Uppingham canal was

in

in contemplation, and its junction with this canal is provided for in the first act.

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154. LEOMINSTER CANAL. Acts 31 and 36 Geo. III.General direction nearly W. by a crooked course of 45 miles in the counties of Worcester, Salop, and Hereford; its objects are the fupply of Leominster and the country with coals from the Pinfax mines near its eastern end, and the export of iron, lime, and agricultural products. At Pinfax is a tunnel of 3850 yards, and the other at Soufnant is 1250 yards in length. There are confiderable aqueduct-bridges over the Rea river at Knighton, over the Teme at Woferton, and over the Lugg at Kingfland. In July 1796 the difficult tunnel at Putnal-field in Soufnant was finished, and in November 1796, near 20 miles of canal, from Mamble coal-works to the town of Leominster were opened, and coals, which before fold there at Is. 6d. per cwt. were at once reduced to 9d. per cwt.! On the 1ft of June 1797, the entrance of the canal from the Severn was opened: fince which confiderable progress has been made in the works in May 1805, the Pinfax mining company was propofed, for opening new coal and iron mines near that place, on the line of the canal, which was expected to facilitate its completion. The Leominster company have been authorised to raise 370,000 1. About the year 1794, the Welshpool and Leominster canal was propofed to join this at Woferton.

155. LIFFEY RIVER, (Ireland.) The direction of this river is nearly weft, in Dublin county, from the Bay of Dublin to the entrance bafon of the Grand Canal in Dublin city. In 1800 it was propofed to avoid the bar at the mouth of the Liffey, by cutting a new channel or canal for ships from DunJeary to Ringstead dock; it was alfo propofed to make Dalkey found a safe harbour, and to make a cut from thence to the Grand Canal bafon; the bill for this purpose was paffed by the commons, but was rejected by the houfe of lords.

156. LIMEHOUSE CANAL. The direction of this canal is about N.E. for 11⁄2 mile in the county of Middlefex; its object is to fhorten the navigation between the Lea river and the port of London, by avoiding the circuit round the Isle of Dogs. This canal was cut at the expenfe of the city of London, in an early part of the prefent reign. In 1773 a cut from the intended London and Waltham-Abbey canal was intended to join this near Limehouse church.

157. LIMERICK CANAL, (Ireland.) This canal was cut near 40 years ago from the town of Leitrim to a morass within a fhort distance, for the purpose of bringing turfs, to supply the town of Limerick with fuel.

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157. Liskeard

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