The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-09 00:00:00

aIITWEIN Tilt aItISTOL AND LNOLISII CIIANNZLI.

SHIP CA,VAL

The vast importance of this project must, at a single
glance, be apparent to every one connected with the trade
of South Wales, Ireland, and the West of England. Each
district will, of course, consider it with reference to its own
local interests; some of the old established ports, which
have reposed in the ease of a secure monopoly, will no
doubt be alarmed into forebearance favourable to general
trade and the usual consequences of competition must ensue
to the public at large. It is not our intention to advoette
this or that particular interest, but if we can contribute
to the circulation of useful information, or elicit, by dis-
cussion, valuable opinions bearing upon this peat public
question, we believe our readers will not consider the space
thus occupied in our columns misapplied ; nor shall we
d salsa the probability or improbability of the successful
accomplishment of the undertaking: it is enough for us to
sac that it is now fairly before the public, sanctioned by
very high authority, with the prospect of success. We
shall therefore pass at once to tf:e consideration of that
state of things which would exist On the Opening of a free
and safe navigation for ships across the Western Peninsula
of Great Britain, from the neighbourhood Watchett on
the Bristol Channel, to Beer on the English Flannel. Of
all the countries to be affected by this great national work,
none can be more deeply interested than 2,reansea, Neath,
and the vicinity. It is now universalli felt and admitted,
that coal is the main spring, not only of that decided supe-
riority which this country maintains over surrounding na-
tions, but also of the extraordinary head prosperity of
those particular parts of our own Island in which this
grand moving power has been properly brought into action
by the energies of the inhabitants. This truth has not
yet had its due influence over the general trade, of which
Swansea, from its local position and physical advantages,
ought lung ago to have been the centre ; hut every well
wisher to the port must be highly gratified, if he compare
our recent lists of ship arrivals with those of former years.
It is no longer a question of theary, whether this port is
or is not capable of great improvement by the judicious
application of a moderate capita!: the experirknt has been
already made to an extent sufficient ta verify the fact. Let
any man, with the map of England before him, after
weighing the growing prosperity of Swansea and Neat'',
contemplate the future prospects of this district (which
may be denominated the British storehouse fur coal of all
sorts) on the opening of this new channel for trade ; let
him exali.ine its mountains of stone-coal and culm (the
peculiar qualities of which, appear to be now for the first
time known and duly appreciated in London), and the let
him conceive the effect of the passage for ships now con-
templated, across the Western Peninsula of Great Britain;
but the better to appreciate those advantages, be may con-
sult the Meteorological Tables of any past year, and it' he
considers the large portion of time during which winds
have prevailed unfavourable to the passage of ships from
Swansea round the Land's End, he may form some idea of
the saving of time, and cons.quently of money, which the
proposed navigation would effect in the trade of this part
of the country. We shall sultjuin the results of the Me-
teorulogic% I Table of 18:23, as published in the Annual
Register, and it would be at, amusing task for any skilful
nautical man to favour us, for the use of our readers, with
computations, spewing from these figures (or if practicable,
from actual experieuee,) the probable average of delay
which a vessel constantly employed between Swe.lisca and
',cordon must experience by the present navigation. Ile
may then compute that which it would prohabl:. cape-
rience by using the inland navigation now under contem-
plation:
in other words, the annual saving of every such
ship in time and money.—The Csnabriam.

E IT lt:4 ORD! NARY PHENOMENON

ON THE 80111)::RS or YORKSHIRE •xD iaik4!LnißE.

Our correspondent at Leeds has forwarded to us the fol-
lowing account of one of the 'cost exiraonlinary phenomena
of which we remember to see an account in England:—
`• Thursday last, the 2d instant. at Haworth, five miles south
of Keighley, in the West Ridi,g of the county of York, and on the
borders of Lancashire, about six o'clock in the evening, a part of
the high-lands on the kitathu.y.rnoor opened into a chasm, and
sunk to the depth of six yards, in some places exhibiting a ragged
appearance. nod forming two principal cavities—the one was about
two hundred yards., and the other not less than six hundred yards
in circumference. From these hollows issued two immense volunies
of muddy water, and uniting at a distance of upwards of lOt) yards
from their maims, constituted, fur about two hours, an overwhelm-
ing flood from forty to fifty (soinetimesserent)) yards In width, and
seldom less than four yards in depth. This dark slimy mixture of
mud and water followed the course of the rivulet, overflowing is
banks for twenty or thirty yards on each side, and to the distance
of seven or eight nines front the immediate irruption; all this way
there hi deposited a black moorish *.uhrance, varying fiten eight to
thirty-six inches in depth, and 'nixed occasionally with sand and
rocky fragments, pieces of timber, and uprooted trees, whkt had
been borne along by the impetuous torrent. This heavy andpotier.
NI stream broke down one solid stone bridge. 'static breaches in two
others, clogged up and stopped several mills, Lid fiat and destroy
ed several whole fields of corn, and overthrew to the foundation
several hedges and walls. In its COZITFe it catered the hotuust,
i:ig the furniture about, to the astotsishtrent and tenor of the inha-
bitlrts. At the time of the irruption the clouds were cemper-co-
loured, and Lwerine ; the atmosphere was strongly theme, and
unusually chete and sultry. There was at the same time loud and
frequent thunder, with much zigzag lighming, peculiarly flaring
anti vivid. An hour before there was scarcely a breath of air stir.
ring,htit the wind quickly rage to a hurricane, and after blowing hard
front six to eight o'clock. sunk again into a profound calm, at which
time the heavy rain, whi h hail continued all the while, ceased, and,
a ith the exception of a few floating clouds, the sky was very serene.
The whole is conjectured by the neighlwinet to be caused by some
subterraneous commotion, the most considerable as to its results
that has taken place in this kingdom ler many generations. The
river Aire, at 1....ed5, presented the cfreets of this ,ihenonienon last
Friday afternoon ; the water that comedown the river was in such a
polluted state as to have poisoned great quantities of fish I istri
the water, continuing in much the same turbid state, has be-
come entirely useless for culinary purposes as well as fur dyers, dtc.
The Coinniissioners of the water.worka have given public votive to
the intialiitar.ts of Leeds, that they will at present suspend the sup.
ply p: water, so totally useless to them, u-tti the Slte4llll 11111Pidal
into .1 ptuptr state."—hoes'.- Parr.