that the Birmingham Canal Company charged in respect of bricks 11¼_d._ per ton for 6¾ or 7 miles, whereas the adjoining Warwick Canal Company charged 6½_d._ for 37¼ miles, and the Grand Junction Canal Company only charged 1_s._ 4½_d._ for 101 miles. At different times during the last two or three years proposals have been put forward, having for their object to place Birmingham in direct connection with the sea, either— 1. By a ship canal, that would enable vessels of 200 tons at least to proceed to the Bristol Channel. 2. By a canal that would enable canal boats to navigate the lower Trent to the North Sea; and 3. By the construction of an improved canal, between the Midlands and London. Each of these routes has been canvassed and considered over the last few years; and it is probable that some really effectual steps will be taken before long, in order to realise the long cherished and most desirable end of giving Birmingham a satisfactory outlet to the sea. The people of the Midlands have really been more active in this direction than those of any other locality. But they have apparently sought too much from the State and trusted too little to themselves. The Birmingham Town Council, in 1888, appointed a committee, with instructions either to get clauses introduced into the Railway Rates Bill, then under consideration, or to introduce a separate measure with a view to the formation of Canal Trusts, &c. In May of 1889, again, the Midlands sent a deputation to the Board of Trade, in order to urge upon that department, the desirability of improving the canal communication, between the Midlands and the sea. Besides this, the traders and manufacturers of Birmingham, have met and passed resolutions, calling upon the Government to inquire into the canal system without delay, with a view to its acquisition by the State. More real good would be done if the money were subscribed, to open up a first class waterway to the sea, as has been done, with so much spirit, by the people of Lancashire. Whether this waterway should connect with London, with Bristol, or with the Mersey, or whether it would be worth while to incur the expenditure required to connect all three, is a matter that would have to be very carefully considered.