Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/485



NYNE OR NEN RIVER.
12 Anne, C. 7, R. A. 28th May, 1714.

11 Geo. I. C. 19, R. A. 20th Apr. 1725.

29 Geo. II. C. 69, It. A. 15th Apr. 1756.

34 Geo. III. C. 85, R. A. 17th Apr. 1794.

THE nature of the country through which this work is carried, and the multiplicity of small navigable cuts branching off in every direction, will render an inspection of the map more necessary than a detail of its course in these pages; we shall therefore content ourselves with giving a few of the leading points in the history of the navigation, and for a minute description of its course, refer our readers to the line laid down on our map.

The first attempt towards the object of the present account, was an act obtained in the reign of Queen Anne, entitled, 'An Act for making the River Nyne, or Nen, running from Northampton to Peterborough, navigable;' wherein certain commissioners were appointed to conduct the work, and to fix such rates and tolls for the navigation of the same, as they should from time to time judge necessary.

In the 11th of George I. a second act was obtained, in which it is recited that two clauses, in the former act, the one restraining the commissioners from making any part of the river navigable until they had agreed with some person or persons to complete the whole; the other compelling the said commissioners or contractors to make good any damage that might occur in endeavouring to render the whole navigable, but failing so to do, had been found so prejudicial, that no one would undertake the work, and in consequence nothing had been done. These clauses are therefore repealed, and leave is given to make any part navigable, and particularly that from Peterborough to Northampton. This act is entitled, 'An Act for making more effectual an Act passed in Parliament holden in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of her late Majesty Queen Anne, entitled, An Act for making the River Nyne, or Nen, running from Northampton to Peterborough, navigable.'  In 1756 an act to amend and explain the two former was obtained under the title of 'An Act for explaining and amending and rendering more effectual, Two several Acts of Parliament,