Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/149

Rh making an Inland Navigation from the western to the eastern Sea, by Inverness and Fort William; and for taking the necessary steps towards executing the same,'  by which, commissioners were appointed to carry the act into execution; some progress was, in consequence, made, but in the following session, another act was passed, entitled,  'An Act for making further provision for making and maintaining an Inland Navigation, commonly called "The Caledonian Canal ," from the eastern to the western Sea, by Inverness and Fort William, in Scotland.'  By this legislative enactment, the commissioners, appointed in the first act, are authorized to receive, at his Majesty's Exchequer, the sum of £50,000, in two half yearly instalments, for the purposes set forth in the preamble.

Though this line of navigation was commenced by government, yet the last-recited act contains a clause securing a proportionate dividend to all who may be disposed to become shareholders in the undertaking for any sum above £50; ten per cent, to be paid at the time of subscribing, the other at such times, and by such instalments as time commissioners may determine. For the purpose of securing a supply of water for the lockage in this navigation, the act empowers the commissioners to embank Loch Garry, Loch Quoich or Quich, and Loch Arkeg, so that they may more effectually act as reservoirs.

THE RATES OF TONNAGE ALLOWED UNDER THIS ACT.
And so in proportion for any greater or less Quantity than a Ton; and payment shall be made for a full Mile, if any Portion of such Mile shall have been passed.

Vessels entering a Loch or Lake shall pay for the whole Length of such Loch or Lake.

Thirty-six cubic Feet of Oak, Ash, Elm. Beech, Poplar, or Birch Timber, and Forty-five cubic Feet of Fir, or Deal Balk, shall be deemed a Ton.

All Vessels in his Majesty's Service are exempt from Toll,

The act of 6th George IV. entitled,  'An Act to explain and amend two Acts passed in the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Years of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, for making and maintaining an inland Navigation, commonly called "The Caledonian Canal," by establishing further Checks upon the Expenditure of the Public Money for that Purpose, in certain cases,'  was passed chiefly with the view of better regulating the