BINNEY'S CASE.—2 BLAND. 151

near Lancaster. The Edinburg and Glasgow Canal passes en-
tirely across Scotland. This canal begins at Leith in the port
of Edinburg and ends in the tide-way of the Clyde in the
town of Glasgow. It is also connected, by means of the Markland
Canal, with the Forth and Clyde Canal, which has a convenient
port at each of its terminations; and it is besides connected with the
Saltcoats Canal which terminates on the sea-coast to the south of
the Clyde, where a secure basin has been constructed for the re-
ception of ships and canal boats. At the port of Armyn, on the
tide of the River Ouse, a branch of the Humber, the Ayre and
Calder navigation terminates; where the canal boats from Liver-
pool, or the interior meet sea vessels of one hundred and fifty tons
burthen. The tide flows in the River Thames to Richmond, a dis-
tance of sixteen miles above London, and affords perfectly safe
navigation for small vessels; yet the Grand Junction Canal,
which is connected with the principal canals of the interior, passes
down near this tide navigation, and terminates at Paddington,
immediately contiguous to London, where, for its connexion with
the river it pays an annual tribute to the city. Had it been
practicable to obtain, by any reasonable means, an adequate sup-
ply of water, this Grand Junction Canal would have been ex-
tended through the city itself into London docks at Wapping.
Rees' Clyclo. Art. Canal.

From this review of the canals of Great Britain it appears, tiiat
*all of them, which have been, in any manner, intended to
contribute to the marine commerce of the nation, have not 162
merely been carried to and immediately connected with the very first
safe tide navigation to be found: but have been conducted down into
the very ports themselves. The ports of a nation are its great gates;
and therefore all canals have gone there to meet, assist in, or contri-
bute to the commerce of the country. And in order, that this may
be effected to the greatest advantage to all, it is essentially neces-
sary, whatever may be the cost, as well, that the sea vessel should
be enabled to have access to and make a port at the city or great
commercial depot itself; without any break in the continuity of her
voyage, as that the canal vessel should also be enabled, without any
interruption in her course to meet the sea vessel in the same port or
pool, and interchange cargoes with her.

The propriety of extending a canal along parallel with, and near
to tide-water navigation has often been a matter of doubt, and, in
some instances, it has been made a subject of ridicule. The South-
ampton and Salisbury Canal of England, passes for some miles
along the bold deep tide of the Southampton water, into the very
port of Southampton itself. From its skirting along close to the
shore of that river it was, that that facetious satirist Peter Pindar
took occasion to burlesque "Southampton's wise sons." But not-
withstanding doubt and ridicule, the propriety and necessity of