Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/27

Rh the shore of the English Channel, until it falls into the same at Shoreham Harbour, a distance of about fourteen miles from Binesbridge.

This river was a very imperfect tideway navigation, previous to the passing of this act, but it is now made navigable for barges drawing 4 feet, although the act only authorizes the trustees, for carrying the same into execution, to make it a 3 feet navigation. Seventy-nine trustees, together with the commissioners of sewers of the Rape of Bramber, were appointed to carry the act into execution. The qualification was the possession of a clear annual rental of £50, or of a personal estate of £1,000.

The funds for carrying on the works for the improvement of this navigation and drainage, were raised by an assessment of two shillings per acre on all lands lying in the level above Beeding-bridge, during the years 1807, 1808, and 1809, under the authority of an act of the 23rd of Henry VIII. and after that such sum as the trustees and commissioners shall deem necessary. They are also empowered to borrow money on security of the tolls, rates, &amp;c.

THE rendering these rivers applicable to the purposes of commerce forms one of the most important features in the history of our inland navigation, and as they were made navigable under an act of parliament, passed above fifty years prior to the date of any enactment for a canal navigation, a brief outline of this extensive and useful undertaking may not prove unacceptable to our readers.

The source of the Aire is in Maiham Tarn, a fine sheet of water belonging to Lord Ribblesdale, situate a few miles east of