Account of the Duke of Bridgewater's Navigation. ng fand and compounding mortar for the buildings. From the bafon we have been speaking of, the canal takes its courfe to Manchefter, which is nine miles by water, though but feven by land, the other two miles being loft in seeking a The canal is level for the water. broad enough for the barges to pafs, or go a-breaft, and on one fide of it there is a good road made for the paffage of the people concerned in the work, and for the horses and mules that draw the boats and barges. To perfect this canal without impeding the public roads, or injuring the people in the country, the duke has in many places built bridges to cross the water, and (where the earth was raised to preferve a level) arches under it; all of which are built chiefly of stone, and are both elegant and durable; but what principally ftrikes the common obferver, is the work which is raised near Barton-bridge, to convey the canal of water over the Irwell, which makes a part of the old navigation from Manchefter to Liverpool. This is done by means of three arches built of stone, which are fo fpacious and lofty as to admit of the veffels failing underneath it; and it is indeed a moit noble fight to fee large veffels in full fail under this aqueduct, and the duke's veffels failing at the fame time over all, and near fifty feet above the At convenient dinavigable river. fances there are, by the fides of the anal, receptacles for the fuperfluous water; and at the bottom of the canal machines conftructed on very fimple principles, and placed at proper ditances, to ftop and preferve the water, in cafe any part of the bank fhould happen to break down. The aqueduct is perfected as far as Manchefter, and another large bason is making for the reception of the veffels employed in this work. The method taken by Mr. Brindley for filling up a channel, where too deep, is admirable: He fills two very long boats, fixes them within two feet of each other, and then erects upon them a triangular trough, large enough to contain feventeen tons of earth: The bottom of this trough is a line of trap 233 doors, which, upon drawing a pin, fly But there are other marks, at Barton, The head of the navigation near Manchester, forms two terminatione. The first is a common wharf, for landing coals out of the large barges, for the fupply of carts and waggons. The fecond is a fubterraneous canal arched over, into which long and narrow boats enter. In the center of this subterraneous paffage is a well, bricked like the common ones funk from the furface of the ground. Near the mouth of this well is erected a crane of a new conftruction; which, turning on a pi vat, is easily brought over the mouth of the well, and cranes up the coals. The boats are filled with fquare boxes, each containing about eight hundred weight, for the convenience of being landed through this well; they there fore enter the fubterraneous canal, and move on till they come under the wall, where they ftop, and the ropes which are fixed to the crane above, being let This down with hooks, are fastened to the boxes, which are drawn up. crane is moved by a water wheel, driven by a small current of water. The navigation is carried a mile and half beyond Worfley, into the middle of a large bog, called here a mofs, belonging to the duke, and merely for the ufe of draining it, and conveying manures to improve it: It is greatly to that nobleman's honour to find him attending, and at a confiderable exGga pence, 2კნ This bog is of large extent, extremely wet, and fo rotten, that, before it is improved, it will not bear even a man. The duke begins by cutting finali drains, very near each other, which foon render the furfa e pretty firm. As fast as the bog becomes improved, the canal is extended, for the fake of going on with the work; and almolt at the end of it his grace is building a small house, for an overfeer, fituated upon land which once would not have borne even the men employed now in building on it. This improvement is of a new kind, and peculiarly useful in the neighbourhood of quarries, ftone-mafon's yards, mines in rocks, &c. &c. The next business is to view the other branch of the canal, which extends to Altringham, &c. and for this purpose you return to Manchefter to lie, and keep the pleasure-boat, to be ready at Caftle-field the next morning. After arriving in the old courfe at the branching off, you first come to Longford-bridge, under which is a canal-door. And just by a finall circular wear, for the conveyance of a team under the canal, the brock falls into the well, in the nave of the circle, down to an arched paffage, which conveys it under, and lets it rife again in its old courfe on the other fide. At Waterford the canal extends a long valley, the level being preferved without lock: The work is here very noble; the banks of earth of a vait height and thickness, beautifully floped, and the whole appearance ftrikingly great. It here crofies at the fame time a large brook much subject to floods, and a road: Two arches carry it over the ftream, and a third over the road. Bridgewater's Navigation. The three arches extend eighty feet. Here are trap-doors, &c. as at Bartonbridge, for fecuring the water of the canal in cafe of a breach, or for repairing the aqueduct. Further in the fame valley the navigation is carried across the river Merfey, on one arch of feventy feet span. We fhould remark, that the canal across this whole valley is of a vast breadth, and has rather the appearance of a great navigable river than an artificial canal cut at the expence of a fingle perfon. Next it is carried across Sale-moor; under the firft bridge you catch a pleafing view, through the arches of other bridges, in a line, and at the end a church and fteeple. This part of the navigation, from the lowness of the moor below the level of the canal, was pronounced by many to be impracticable, and Mr. Brindley's ne plus ultra; but this difficulty was removed by perfeverance and fpirit; a complete bed was made for the canal, raised at bottom as well as the fides, fufficient for conducting the water on a level. This was effected by making a vast case of timber for the whole work: Great piles of deal were fixed as a mound to keep the earth in a proper pofition to form the banks; and when they were raifed, the piles removed on for anfwering the fame work again, and the water brought forwards by degrees, to the attonithment of thole who pronounced the work impracticable. It is carried over two brooks here, for which arches are turned. At Altringham-bridge, the duke has a large warehoufe on the fide of the canal, feveral stories high, for the convenience of ftowing and lodging goods, in the trade that is carried on, on this part of the navigation: Alfo a wharf for felling coals, with cranes erected for loading and unloading boats: Here, likewife, his grace's people burn charcoal. For For the OXFORD MAGAZINE The Power of BEAUTY.ATALE. daughter of Young Johnfon bowed refpectfully, CHARLOTTE, the depot perf in token of acknowledgement, and his fect beauty nature ever formed: All the graces which adorn the female fex, were concentred in her, and the fine accomplishments of her mind gained her as many admirers, as did her external charms. Her father closed a life of heroic actions, and died for his King and Country at St. Cas. Charlotte was therefore left an orphan, and under the guardianship of 'Squire Thomlinfon, a particular friend of her father's, who, on quitting the kingdom, committed her to his care. Her guardian, turned of eighty, and labouring under all the infirmities of old age, was vain enough to think that, notwithstanding all these difadvantages, he was no improper match for his beauteous ward, especially as he was very rich, and the young lady had no fortune at all; her father, like too many others, defpifing economy, had always lived fo far above his income, as to be forced to part with even the last valuables to equip him for the expedition. But, alas! how great was his difappointment, when the received the tender of his love with a contemptuous fimile. The old gentleman did not reflect how formidable a rival he had in his nephew, Capt. Johnfon. The young lady had feen him often, and her efteem by degrees ripening into love, the at length fixed her affections entirely on him. Her guardian perceived their mutual flame with indignation: He called his nephew into his clofet one day, when the following converfation enfued. "Nephew, you are fenfible that I have always regarded you as my fon, my behaviour has ever borne teftimony of my love; the care I have taken of your education, and my endeavours to place you in a fphere of life equal to the rank which your deceased honoured father held in the world, are convincing arguments how much I had your welfare at heart," uncle thus proceeded: "What I have hitherto done, would be but little, did I not add one favour more. I have a mind you shall marry-I know a young lady, whofe numberless perfections, not to mention her beauty, will make you compleatly bleft. In a word, can you love Mils Pearfon?" "Sir," faid young Johnfon, "I have never, to my knowledge, feen the young lady-befides""Befides what!" anfwered his uncle. "I am refolved to marry no one whom I cannot love. My affections are unalterably fixed, on an object, whofe tranfcendent charms would fire a ftoic. In a word, I can only be happy in the arms of Mifs Summers." But," returned the old gentleman, "the has no fortune, and depends folely on my generofity for a portion. I certainly fhall not turn her into the world as a beggar, though I do not intend to give her a dowry equal to what you, on account of your affinity to me, will poffefs at my deceafe. In a word, nephew, I am determined you marry Mifs Pearfon: If you oppofe my will in this fingle pointyou know what follows." At these words he left the room. all A fhort fketch of the young lady, whom old Thomlinfon defigned as a fpoufe to his nephew, is neceffary in this place. She was tall, genteel, but far from being handfome. She pofletfed a tolerable thare of good sense; but the fickleness of her temper made her company very difagreeable to all her intimates. To compenfate, in fome measure, for thefe difadvantages, the was immenfely rich. This gained her many of that fpecies of admirers, who think that happiness entirely confifts in the poffeffion of wealth. The flattering things they faid, filled her with va nity, to which the was not a little prone by nature; and the implicitly believed them, when they fwore they were dying for love of her. A duel fought be tween The Power of Beauty. A Tale. 238 tween two rivals, charmed her imagination, at the fame time that it heightened her ambition. 'Squire Thomlinfon now thought he had gained his point. He never doubted but his nephew would inftantly obey his commands, for fear of being d.finherited; and he hoped by degrees to gain fo far on the affections of Charlotte, as to make her at leaft efteem him not altogether disagreeable. But he was mistaken, as will be seen in the fequel. Old Thomlinfon redoubled every effort to gain the good graces of his ward; but, to his unfpeakable grief, found all his endeavours fruitless. He had long fufpected that her affections were fixed on fome other more happy object, and not doubting but his nephew was the fortunate enamorato, he refolved to leave no stone unturned to fupplant his rival in the young lady's affections. To this, and having, as he thought, brought over the young lady's maid to his intereft, by means of prefents, he resolved to employ her as a fpy over Mifs Charlotte's actions. Betty, whofe coat of arms might, with the ftricteft adherence to truth, be faid to be impudence, with lying and contrivance for the fupporters, had the entire confidence of her miftrefs on all occafions. She was not a moment unemployed in putting in execution all the fchemes practifed by the two lovers to deceive the old dotard. She, however, received too many, and too valuable douceurs from Capt. Johnson, to be prevailed on to go over to the enemy; though the nevertheless thewed as great an attachment to his intereft, as he feemed to exact; and the inftructions the received from the uncle were employed as fo many inftruments to defeat all his endeavours to obstruct their happiness. Not to tire our readers patience, with the re cital of all the arts made ufe of by this thorough-paced miftrefs of intrigue, we hall content ourselves with recounting the following deception, which effectually rendered every future attempt of the 'Squire abortive. Betty, though once poffeffed of fome beauty, had now loft the power of pleafing. She had, however, vanity enough to think that the might still do well enough for her old malter, and therefore determined to make herself as useful as he could in the accomplifhment of her young lady's defign, at the fame time, to outward appear. ance, fhe feemed to fruftrate all their fchemes. To this purpofe the procured the lovers feveral interviews in the garden, of which he kept the key. In these foft tête-à-têtes they grew every moment more enamoured of each other, and at length refolved on an elopement, which they effected, without their intention being difcovered till it was too late to be prevented. The old gentleman could not contain his rage; and fome circumftances afterwards appearing, which fhewed that the chambermaid had had no little fhare in the management of the plot, fhe was difmilled with ignominy. but As foon as the nuptial knot was tied, the lovers feit to 'Squire Thomlinfon, to defire they might be permitted to crave his bleffing. He re mained a long while inexorable at length, by the mediation of friends, he was prevailed on to admit them into his prefence. A reconcilia.ion followed of course, and the old gentleman made a will in their favour, by which they were intitled to a fortune of four thousand pounds a year, befides a large sum of ready money. Extract from ANECDOTES OF A CONVENT. A Work just published. Z. z. Extra from Anecdotes of a Convent. berty, through a motive of piety, was a pleafing thought, which fufficiently paid them for that lofs. Pride, that fource of pleasure and of pain, is, in them, a great inftrument towards their felicity; they look upon themselves as a fpecies of beings fuperior to all others, but the clergy, and them they venerate almoft to idolatry; they are not priests, 'tis true--but they are priofteffes,which, in their opinion, is the fecond order of human creatures, and confequently they look down on the reft of the world with no finall degree of pity and contempt. Then they tell you, that they are the chafte spouses of Jefus Chrift; and nothing can affront them more than to be called old maids; they cannot bear the Epithet, though, at the fame time, it would be thought no less than facrilege to doubt of their being immaculate Virgins. The inftitutors of all orders of religious focieties (at least of women) have prudently foreleen the dangerous confequences which must neceffarily arife from allowing them too much leifure for reflection; for which reason, their rules are calculated to keep them in perpetual employment. They move by the clock, and are almost as much machines as it. The many, however, certainly are fo; thofe few among them, who are diftinguished by fuperior parts, find occupation enough in their schemes for rifing to the firft dignities of the order. It is incredible what arts they will practise (and that for years together) in order to attain power. The Abbess is not lefs furrounded by `ber flatterers than an Eaftern Monarch; and though they are fewer in number, yet are they not in the leaft inferior to them, either in addrefs or hypocrify; and all this is tranfacted with an air of the most tranquil humility. On the day of an election of a nun to fome high office in the Convent, not the leaft agitation of fpirit appears, either in the countenances or behaviour of any individual among them. Tho' 239 I myself have known, that for fix months, or more, before the time of election, every spring has been put in motion, and every art effayed, whe ther by bribes, promises, entreaties, flattery, or threats, to gain fuffrages for themselves or favourite candidate; yet all this is done with fuch an air of devout refignation and difinterestednefs, that, to look at them, one would fuppofe their converfation to be only in Heaven, and that they looked down with a perfect indifference on all worldly events. The few unhappy nuns are those who, from family confiderations, have been, not forced, for that is very uncommon, but feduced, into the taking of the veil. What I mean by being fedu.ed is, by the careifes on one fide of the Nuns, and the feverity and illtreatment purpofely given them by their parents at home, on the other. This a method which has (I fear) formerly been but too often put in praetice; but it is feldom made use of now, as fuperftition lofes ground every day in France. Few parents, in this enlightened age, think the facrifice of their children's happiness here, an infallible means of procuring their own hereafter. Now fhould this victim to fuperftition, or avarice, happen to have involuntarily difpofed of her heart, and be induced to comply with the remonftrances of her friends to become a Nun, from a kind of despair of ever being united to the man fhe loves, either from a disparity of for tune, or other weighty confiderations, she is indubitably wretched; because, from the moment that he had placed an infuperable bar between her and her wifhes, the obitacles, which he had before apprehended to be infurmountable, dininish; and her tortured imagination reprefents the accomplishment of them to have been, if not probable, at leaft poffible; confequently the must repent of the rafh ftep fhe has taken, and lament the feverity of her fate for the rest of her days. Animas |