Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/168

146 and, from the facility with which coal can be brought up, and merchandize exported, has been one of the principal means in bringing this place to its present flourishing condition.

CHELMER AND BLACKWATER NAVIGATION.
6 George III. Cap. 101, Royal Assent 6th June, 1766.

33 George III. Cap. 93, Royal Assent 17th June, 1793.

THE River Chelmer has its source near Thaxsted, in Essex, from whence it pursues a southerly course, by Dunmow, to Chelmsford, where the navigation commences. Its course from Chelmsford is directly east, to near Maldon, where it joins the Blackwater, by which name the wide estuary, opening into the sea at Sales Point, is designated.

When the design was first promulgated for making the Chelmer navigable, Mr. Smeaton was directed to examine its course, and he accordingly reported upon it in June, 1762. He recommended a canal of thirteen miles in length, instead of rendering the channel of the river the site of the navigation, and his estimate for this amounted to £16,697.

Four years after Smeaton had viewed and reported as above, an act was obtained, entitled,  'An Act for making the River Chelmer navigable from the Port of Maldon, to the town of Chelmsford, in the county of Essex,'  by which, commissioners, consisting of the principal inhabitants of the country through which it passed, or any seven of them, were appointed to carry the powers of the act into execution. Twelve years were allowed for finishing the necessary works, but no portion was to be commenced until an advance of twenty-five per cent, had been made upon the sum of £13,000, which the commissioners were authorized to borrow. Under this act, however, it appears that little or nothing was done; but a new company, (twenty-seven years after the date of the former act,) consisting of one hundred and forty-seven persons, (amongst whom were Lord Petre, the Hon. R. E. Petre, the Hon. G. Petre, Sir John Jervis, K.B. and Sir John Henniker, Baronets,) obtained an act in the year 1793, entitled,  'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Communication between