Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/442

 appointed, as the duties were never paid until the goods were delivered after a sale had been effected. But, with the exception of a few small vessels, which landed their goods at wharves, and the timber-*laden vessels, which made rafts of their cargoes on the river, the West India and all other traders discharged their cargoes into lighters, creating a state of confusion which, combined with the enormous amount of depredations, at length stimulated the parties most largely interested to devise means for protecting themselves, and suppressing the existing evils.

The West India merchants, being the greatest sufferers, took the lead, and through their exertions an Act of Parliament, which met with much opposition, was obtained for the construction of the West India Docks, on the Isle of Dogs, with powers to the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London to excavate a canal sufficiently large and deep to be navigated by ships, extending across the head of that peninsula between Blackwall and Limehouse Hole. The stock of the Company at the commencement of this important undertaking amounted to only 500,000l., with power to augment it to 600,000l. if necessary. They were restricted from raising their dividends above ten per cent. They were required to inclose the docks, wharves, and warehouses connected therewith with a wall of brick or stone, not less than thirty feet in height, with strong gates, and to