The principal advantages afforded by canals are thus concisely stated by General Rundall:— 1. They admit of any class of goods being carried in the manner and at the speed which proves to be most economical and suitable for it, without the slightest interference with any other class. 2. The landing or shipment of cargo is not necessarily confined to certain fixed stations, as is obligatory on railways, but boats can stop at any point on their journey to load and unload, and discharge their cargoes direct over the ship’s side. 3. The dead weight to be moved in proportion to the load is much less. 4. The capacity for traffic is practically unlimited, provided the locks are properly designed. 5. There is no obligation to maintain enormous or expensive plant or establishments, as all those can, and would be, provided by separate agencies and distinct capital. Thus a large outlay in first cost and subsequent maintenance of rolling stock is avoided. 6. There is an almost total absence of risk, and the reduction of damage to cargo in transit, and consequently of insurance, to a minimum. On the other hand, the defects, besides those of original construction, in existing British canals, are:— 1. A total absence of unity of management. For example, on one of the routes from London to Liverpool there are seven different canals and navigations; on another also there are nine, and on a third ten different companies. 2. A want of uniformity of gauge in the locks, as well as in the canals themselves. 3. With few exceptions they are not capable of being worked by steam. 4. An unequal system of tolls. 5. The many links in the communications in the hands of the railways paralyses any unity of action, and renders any scheme of amalgamation between the several lines impossible. If a restoration, or an extension of its ancient water lines, is to be undertaken in Great Britain, it is essential that it should be devised on the most improved principles. The chief points requiring attention are the dimensions to be given to the main lines, with the best relative proportion of width to depth; uniformity of gauge in the locks or lifts, which should be so designed as to ensure changes of level being overcome in the quickest time; the remodelling of the cargo boats; the use of the electric light for night navigation; a readjustment of the rates of toll; and suitable provision for loading and discharging cargo.