SCOTS M MAGAZINE. OCTOBER, 1768. CONTENT S. The GREAT CANAL. Extracts from the | The INTREPID PATRIOT 521. Account of a WHALE-FISHERY 509. BLINDNESS cured by a barbel-gall 514. The MEDICAL education at Halle 528. HISTORICAL AFFAIRS. Proceedings in America. A tree dedicated to Liberty of eminence, to furvey the track between the two feas, and to examine the rivers Carron and Clyde. This did not proceed from any distrust of Mr Smeaton's accuracy and attention, but from an earnest defire that all the affistance poli ble fhould be taken for the conduct of fo great and ufeful a work. There ha fent line of the canal, as begun, was ving been fome doubts, how far the preproper, it was thought abfolutely neceffary to have the opinions, of thefe gentlemen after examining every thing with their own eyes. The Carron company being materially interested, joined in the invitation to these gentlemen to come down. And Mr Brindley having recommended Mr Golborne of Chester, as the properett 3 S perfon perfon for confidering the navigation of the rivers Carron and Clyde, and of deepening their beds, so as to bring them to the greatest perfection poffible, he was also requested to give his advice. On Mr Brindley's arrival, an advertisement was inferted in the Edinburgh and Glasgow papers, dated, Carron, Sept. 5. giving notice of Mr Brindley's arrival at Carron, and that Mr Yeoman was expected in about a week; containing the questions proposed to be put to thefe engineers; and requesting, that the favourers of the defign would fend to Mr Garbet, at Carron, any other questions they might think proper to ask. The following memorandum was delivered to each of thefe gentlemen upon their arrival at Carron. "You have been requested to come to this country, to review the reports of Mr Smeaton, and of Meff. Mackell and Watt, upon an intended navigation from Forth to Clyde; to infpect the rivers Carron and Clyde, and the track propofed for the navigation; and then to deliver in writing the plan vou would recommend, in order to facilitate the carry ing of merchandife between the two feas in the cheapest and most convenient manner. Your opinion is likewife defired upon the best means of improving the navi gation in the river Carron, and upon making a cut of communication between the river and the intended canal; and of the means of supplying Carron works with a quantity of water equal to that which they will be deprived of by the intended navigation. The annexed questions have occurred as eflential to be fully confidered, and therefore they are laid before you. But it is defired, that whatever appears to you of importance for the common good of the country, or the intereft of the undertakers of the prefent intended canal, that you will, without referve, lay the fame before the public." Mr Brindley having finished his furvey by the 10th, and Mr Yeoman his by the 19th, of September, advertisements were put into the papers of those dates, gi. ving notice, that those engineers would attend at the Exchange coffeehoufe, Edinburgh, Mr Brindley on Tuesday the 13th, and Mr Yeoman on Friday the 23d, at eleven o'clock, to deliver each his report, and to answer any questions that the proprietors, or other gentlemen, might afk at them: adding in the adver tifement of Sept. 19. that Mr Golborne of Chester was expected in a few days, to examine what improvements could be made for the benefit of navigation on the rivers Carron and Clyde. Meff. Brindley and Yeoman attended accordingly in terms of the advertisements, and delivered, each his answers to the questions put, and his further obfervations, in writing.- The questions were twenty-one in number: we here infert three of them, with the answers given by Meff. Brindley and Yeoman, and Mr Smeaton's obfervations on these answers, extracted from his Review of the Reports, publifhed by order of a general meeting of the proprietors of the navigation, held Nov. 1. viz. Que ft. 3. Can a canal be made between the two friths to admit thips drawing fourteen feet water? and at what expence ? Anf. by Mr Br. I have no doubt a canal may be made of the largest dimenfions from Carron to Clvde, if the expence is unlimited; and that it may be made for about 700,000l. for fhips drawing fourteen feet water, admitting that Mr Smeaton is right in estimating the cost of a feven-feet canal at about 150,000 l. But I do not mean to include the expence of deepening the Clyde at Dumbuck, or other fords, which I could not fee, as there was a flood in the river when I was there. Anf. by Mr Yeo. I will not treat this question with difrefpect, nor call it chimerical. If this can with propriety be done, it is defireable; indeed it is natio nal; and therefore it ought to be well confidered. I will not enter into the nature of the different conftruction of veffels proper for fea-fervice, and thofe that are beft adapted for canal-naviga tion, but leave that matter to be settled by those whole province it is. I will therefore fpeak to it as an engineer, and fay, that it is practicable to make a canal between the friths for fhips drawing fourteen feet water, though very difficult to be executed towards and at the Clyde. But I apprehend, that the exact expence cannot be eafily ascertained, and I have not at prefent leisure to attempt it; but probably the expence will be increased in that fort of proportion as the feven feet to the eight and a half feet, and so on to the ten-feet canals, in Mr Smeaton's estimates. [xxix. 544.] 4. If you think the attempting a fourteen fourteen-feet canal too hazardous, fay the dimenfions you would advise, after having procured the best intelligence you can from Mr Smeaton, and his reports; Meff. Mackell and Watt, and their reports; Meff. Garbet, Gascoigne, and Caddell, [gentlemen of the Carron company], and the pilots on Carron and Clyde ; and af ter having accurately examined the depth of water at the intended entries to the Forth and the Clyde. Anf. by Mr Br. If proper reftraints are made to prevent monopolies and impofition at wharfs and warehouses, I ap. prehend, that by a canal of four feet deep, veffels of feventy feet long, and feven feet wide, drawing three feet water, and paying lock dues or tolls of three halfpence per tun per mile, would convey merchandise through this track cheaper than fea veffels; which, in my opinion, will be attended with much greater inconvenience and expence than will attend tranfhipping; though, how far particular commodities may receive damage by tranfhipping, merchants may judge better than engineers. But I have no doubt, that in point of prudence, private undertakers fhould not exceed the dimensions of seven feet, as fixed by ad of parliament [290.]; and I think the public would receive greater benefit by reducing the tolls than by increasing the size of the canal. Anf. by Mr Yeo. I must acknowledge, while I have an ardent wifh that the thing could be effected, that the attempting a canal, with the works appendent, for fhips drawing fourteen feet water between the friths, is extremely bazardous. For although it is very practicable to make a canal of the depth required, were the expence unlimited, and to fecure the fides fufficiently to fuftain the preffure of fifteen or fixteen feet head of water, and the accidental fhocks it may meet with from fhips paffing there. on; yet, if the lock-gates neceffary for the work be fufficiently ftrong, they will be ponderous and unwieldy, and from thence liable to accidents, and many more from the great weight of the fhips paffing through them, under the care of negligent, wanton, malicious, and fometimes unskilful hands. But what ftrikes me most of all, is the great depth of water that will cover the lower part of the Jock-gates, and the principal fhuttingplaces, upon which the fecurity of the water much depends. Seven feet depth of water for inland navigation, requires great attention in the execution and confervation of the whole. Leakages will happen from one cause or another, after all the care that can be taken; and when once they happen, it will require watchful eyes to repair them. Upon the whole, having read Mr Smeaton's report, and also that of Meff. Mackell and Watt, and confulted Mess. Garbet, Gafcoigne, and Caddell, and the pilots on the Carron and Clyde, and examined the depth of water at the intended entries to the Forth and Clyde, I am of opinion, that feven feet, the depth of the intended canal, is the depth that I now would advife under all the circumstances of the cafe. Letter from Mr Yeoman to Mr Garbet, dated, London, Sept. 28. Before I left Edinburgh, I was presented with several pamphlets, which contain, I fuppofe, all the arguments that have been published in favour of the largest canal. I have carefully read them over, and duly weighed the force of these arguments. But instead of their making me a profelyte to that fide of the question, I am more and more confirmed in my opinion, which I mentioned in my anfwer to the 4th question. I must acknowledge, that while I had the honour of being interrogated in the prefence of to many noblemen and gentlemen at the Exchange coffeehouse at Edinburgh the 23d inftant, that when the arguments for a large canal were enforced by fome gentlemen there, for a moment my eyes were dazzled with the glare of it; but upon a recollection of the train of ideas which led me to my former conclufion, I foon recovered to my former opinion.—I do most heartily agree to almost every propofition that I have met with, either in converfation or writing, about the defireableness of canal of the largest dimenfions: but when I confider how foon the navigation is likely to be interrupted by accidents, (nay, there is the greatest reason to expect that they will happen daily, if hips of great burthen were to navigate through the many works that must be erected in the courfe of this canal), it is my firm opinion, the duration of this moft defireable communication will be very short. And I must confefs, were I the largest proprietor in this undertaking, or if it were poffible that I could be put into the poffeffion of the whole property by royal bounty, or otherwise, I would firmly adhere to this principle, That seven feet 382 depth depth of water is the depth I would now recommend under all the circumstances of the cafe. I am under no doubt but that veflels drawing from fix to fix and a half feet water, will be conftructed, fo as to navigate fafely from Holland, and from any of our eastern ports, through the canal, to Ireland, and to the continent of North America, if reafons of state, or the conveniencies of trade, should require it: Obf. by Mr Smeaton. Mr Brindley recommends a canal of four feet deep, and veffels drawing three feet water, to be feven feet wide and feventy feet long. This would be a very effectual way of fecuring the use of the canal to the two terminations. No port but that of Carron could have the least chance: for fince thole kind of vefels could scarcely venture out of the narrow cuts, not even below Jemmy Reay's ford, in a windy day, the large veffels that now come to the Greenbrae (that is the natural harbour conftituted in the reach within the Hewk point) would be obliged to employ a mean or middle fort of veffel to carry the goods from the fhip to the entry of the canal, and the fame at the other end thereof. As to the ports of Leith, BorTowtounnefs, and many others upon the frith of Forth, together with Greenock, Port Glafgow, and many others upon the frith of Clyde, they would have no chance: even Glasgow would ftand but a bad chance without a fide-cut of equal dimenfions, or the main canal itself ter. minated there. In this cafe Mr Brindjey would have done well to have recommended the fort of reftraints that he would advife to prevent monopolies, and impofition at wharfs and warehouses; fince no body but those at the terminations could have any business there. Mr Yeoman agrees, the seven feet canal to be most proper; and Mr Brindley, that it thould not be exceeded, - N. B. As no difficulty is too great for Mr Brindley, I fhould be glad to fee how he would ftow a fire engine cylinder caft at Carron, of fix and a half feet diameter, in one of his feven-feet boats, fo as to prevent its breaking the back of the boat, or overfetting, 18. Can there be any confiderable favings made in the article of locks, by deep cutting at the point of partition? Anf. by Mr Br. As I find the materials at the fummit (or point of partition) very favourable, I recommend deep cutting at that place, not only for the saving of lock- age. but with the view of acquiring verp confiderable quantities of new water. Anf. by Mr Yeo. I believe that fome finall favings may be made in the article of locks, by deep-cutting at the point of partition; but by no means adequate to the expence of extra-cutting in the first instance, because of the great length of almost a flat country on each fide of that point, extending near a mile each way, with only about four feet of fall; vide Mr Smeaton's first report, p. 3. [xxix. 177.]. However, in all probability it will be adviseable to deepen through Dollater bog, as much as the nature of the ground will adimit, not merely to make a faving in the article of locks, which fhould not be loft fight of, but in hopes of procuring more water by fo doing: for in all likelihood the fupply of water will be increafed through the bog by deep-cutting. There is an objection occurs to this, which is, the lots of a fpacious reservoir in the bog, and which is mentioned in both Mr Smeaton's reports [xxix. 237-]; a convenience of great importance at the upper part of the canal and point of partition. But if the springs rifing in the bog, and the water from the several burns now running into it, fhould not prove a fufficiency for the navigation, there is fuch an affemblage of hills on each fide of the bog, and fo many valleys above the point of partition, very convenient for making refervoirs, that I firmly believe will be more than fufficient to make good the lofs of part of Dollater bog for that purpose. Obj. by Mr Smeaton. Mr Brindley fays in bis preface, that his time would not permit him to make minute examinations of the ftratas of the earth;" yet, under this head, he fays, "As I find the materials at the fummit (or point of partition) very favourable, I recommend deep-cutting at that place, not only for the faving of lockage, but with a view of acquiring very confiderable quantities of new water." Mr Yeoman recommends to cut as deep as we can, not so much with a view to fave lockage, as to acquire more water. - Mr Mackell reports from his examination in fummer 1767, that the cruft of peat-earth is generally not above five feet thick; and under that, in every place he tried, there was quick mud: And as Mr Brindley acknowledged verbally, that, in fuch a foil, deep-cutting was not to be recommended, or any ma terial quantity of water to be expected, [Further extracts in our next.] Some account of the Whale fishing on the coaft of Ireland. IN N the year 1736, one Chaplain, a lieutenant in his Majesty's forces, quartered at Gibraltar, who had been formerly employed in the Greenland fishery, was informed by Capt. Nefbit, who was alfo quartered in the fame garrison, that in the fpring of the year many whales frequented the north-west coasts of Ire land, from Tyland head in the county of Donegal, to the bay of Sligo. Chaplain, being an enterprifing man, fold his commiffion foon after he had received this information, and came to Ireland, with a view to fish for these whales. He, accordingly, procured two boats to be made upon the model of those used in the Greenland feas, and furnished himself with harpoons, and other instruments; but he was able to kill only two whales in eight years. As there were whales in great plenty on the coaft, he imputed his bad fuccefs to the want of a better apparatus; which not being able to purchase, he applied to parliament for aid, and obtained a grant of 500l.; but dying before he received it, it was never paid. After his death his brother pursued his project; but with no better fuccefs, for eight years more; during which time, he alfo killed two whales, and then died. In the year 1759, Meff. Thomas and [In the courfe of the canal many fprings must be expected to be cut, which will afford a fupply of water. Sec. Rep. p. 6.] Andrew Nefbit, gentlemen who lived near Killibegs, on the fea-coast of the county of Donegal, and who were very fkilful in the herring and other fisheries carried on there, feeing whales in great numbers, revived Chaplain's undertaking, and took for granted, that he miscarried either for want of money, or perseverance. In this project they engaged Meff. Benfon and Irwin, gentlemen of credit and property, and procured a fhip to be fitted up in the Greenland way, with five boats of a new construction. They also procured harpooners and other perfons experienced in the Greenland fishery, and in the year 1760, they began to filh; but though they faw many whales, they were able to kill none. Mr Thomas Nesbit afterwards killed one large whale with his own hand; and as there was no manufactory for the bone or blubber in this kingdom, he fent it to London. After procuring fome alterations and made another attempt with five of the improvements to be made in his ship, he ableft and most skilful harpooners he could get, and eight boats extremely well provided; yet not a fingle whale was killed that feafon, though great plenty were feen, and opportunities of ftriking them often offered. At length the company having expended 3000 l. in the undertaking, it was difcovered that the method of fishing and harpooning in Greenland, would not do in thefe feas. In Greenland, the wa ter being always calm, the boats are not agitated, fo that the harpooner is more fure of his ftroke; and the whale frequently bends his head downward in order to plunge under water; which the filhers call backing, and which straining and tightening the skin, the harpooner feizes that instant to strike, and the harpoon enters deeply, which it would not do if the skin hung loose over the blubber. In these feas, on the contrary, the water is always rough either by wind or a fwell, fo that the harpooner can take no aim, and the whale feldom backing, but lying extended on the furface of the water with the fkin loofe and flaxed over the fat, the harpoon, though it reaches him with confiderable force, does not enter. Mr Nefbit therefore, in order to give force to the harpoon, and alfo to the lapces which are discharged at the fish every ed, contrived to discharge both the har time he rises after the harpoon has enter❤ poon and lance, from a fwivel-gun; |