Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/629



The first act of parliament relating to this undertaking was passed in 1730, and is entitled, 'An Act for making navigable the River Stroudwater, in the county of Gloucester, from the River Severn, at or near Framiload, to Wallbridge, near the town of Stroud, in the same county.' It appointed certain persons therein named undertakers for effecting the provisions of the act, and authorized their taking the following

TONNAGE RATES.
And in proportion for a greater or less Weight or Distance.

From the opposition of the millers, arising from the fear of losing their water, and other causes, this act was not carried into execution; but in 1759 a second act of parliament, entitled, 'An Act to amend and explain an Act made in the Third Year of his present Majesty's Reign,' was passed, which authorized John Kemmett, Arthur Wynde, James Pynock and Thomas Bridge to carry into effect the provisions of the former act, and giving them all the powers therein granted to the undertakers, they covenanting to complete the navigation without locks, and consequently without loss of water to the millers. The scheme by which these gentlemen meant to effect their purpose, was by shifting the cargoes into boxes, and at every mill to remove them into other boats by means of cranes; the plan, however, did not succeed, though it was persevered in to nearly the ruin of the projectors.

In 1776 another act of parliament was passed, entitled, 'An Act to amend an Act, passed in the Third Year of his late Majesty's Reign, entitled, An Act for making navigable the River Stroudwater, in the county of Gloucester, from the River Severn, at or near Framiload, to Wallbridge, near the town of Stroud, in the same county, and for giving other Powers for the Purpose of making a Navigation from Framiload to Wallbridge aforesaid.' It states that the undertakers appointed by the preceding act had failed to complete the navigation, and that certain persons had subscribed £20,000 for that purpose. The act, therefore,