Answer:
If I were a Briton reading this in 1841, this would be my reaction. My reaction would be a surprise, causing me some indignity for this situation. Industries were getting reach at the expense of mother nature. Factories and fabrics were polluting the environment, and that had caused me to be upset with the industries. Although you forgot to attach the text, we did deep research and found that the text is "The Old Red Sandstone." It was written by Hugh Miller in 1841. It describes how steamboats discharged the trash and residual materials in the river. This polluted the rivers and the environment.