Therefore, it appears, that to carry a wide and deep canal across rivers, is now a matter of as common occurrence, as to build a suspension bridge, or a chain pier. Yet mark how the first proposition for any thing of this kind was treated half a century ago.

Philips, in his “History of Canal Navigation,” speaking of the first proposition of the great father of canal navigation in England to carry a canal across a river, says:—

“When the first canal ever cut in England was completed as far as Barton, where the Irwell is navigable for large vessels, Mr. Brindsley proposed to carry it over that river, by an aqueduct thirty-nine feet above the surface of the water in the river.

“This, however, being considered as a wild and extravagant project, he desired (in order to justify his opinion towards his noble employer) that the opinion of another engineer might be taken; believing that he could easily convince an intelligent person of the practicability of the design. An engineer of eminence was accordingly called; who, being conducted to the place where it was intended that the aqueduct should be built, ridiculed the attempt; and, when the height and dimensions were communicated to him, he exclaimed, ‘I have heard of castles in the air, but never was shewn before, where any of them were to be erected.’

“This unfavourable verdict did not deter the duke from following the opinion of his own engineer. The aqueduct was immediately begun; and it was carried on with such rapidity and success, as astonished all those who, but a little before, thought it impossible; and within a twelvemonth did the crews of the vessels navigating the Irwell see the duke’s barges sailing over their heads, in the channel, upborne by this ‘castle in the air.’”

Now as the subject to which I solicit the honour of your attention, though equally practicable as the passages which I have quoted prove it to be to carry canals across rivers, will, at first sight, appear still more aerial than was this denounced “castle in the air” of the great introducer of canal navigation in England; and, as the engineers of the present day will pronounce it still more “absurd” and “impossible” than his proposition was considered to be, it behoves me to entreat, that you will vouchsafe a correspondingly increased portion of forbearance, to what I proceed to submit.

Many years ago, a circumstance which it is not necessary I should state, caused me to turn my attention to the best and cheapest means of conveying our persons and goods from one place to another.

After much consideration, a method of attaining these objects suggested itself, which admitted of a rate of conveyance so enormously rapid, and unprecedently cheap, as to be, at first sight, rejected as one of those utterly impracticable conceptions, which enter the imaginations of only poets and visionaries.

Reflection, however, convincing me, that this idea was, in point of fact, no more absurd than steam navigation, steam conveyance on land, and gas lighting were deemed twenty years ago, I took the same course with it which Fulton took with respect to steam navigation, which Winsor took with gas lighting, and which Trevithick and Vivian took as relates to locomotive engines—that is, I proceeded to put it in practice.

For proofs of the scale on, and success with which I did this, I beg to refer you to the following evidences of fact.

The first evidence I submit, is the copy of a circular which was sent to the principal inhabitants of Brighton, by a number of gentlemen, whose incredulity had been removed by witnessing and experiencing the operation of the method of conveyance I refer to.

“Brighton, May 5, 1827.

“Sir,

“The undersigned, having witnessed the operation of Mr. Vallance’s principle for conveying persons and goods by atmospheric pressure; and believing (if what we have seen on a scale of yards can be extended to miles [14a]) that it may be rendered very advantageous to the town of Brighton, beg to solicit your attendance, on Saturday the 12th May, at the Old Ship, at three o’clock.

“T. R. Kemp. [14b]
Philip L. Storey.
David Scott. [14c]
Thomas Yates, M.D.
John Lawrence.
William King, M.D.
John Lashmar.
H. M. Wagner. [14d]
J. S. M. Anderson. [14e]
John Glaisyer.
Isaac Bass.”