Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/644



the river and using the towing-path, which was formerly free to them; and that such large sums are demanded by the owners and occupiers of land through which the towing-path passes, for horses that are used for haling vessels, as greatly to injure the trade on the river; for remedy of which, the act appoints commissioners for the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Berks, Bucks, Oxon, Gloucester and Wilts, with powers to ascertain and settle such rates and tolls to be paid by the owners of barges and other vessels for the use of the towing-path, either by men or horses, and to the occupiers of all locks, weirs, &amp;c. as they shall consider fair and reasonable, regard being had to the tonnage of the vessels; to the rates settled by the act of the 7th of King William III. and to the expense incurred in the erection of such locks, weirs, &amp;c. provided, however, that they shall not alter the amount of any tolls or rates which shall be proved to have been taken for the preceding thirty-five years or more.

The commissioners are also empowered to fix the rate of carriage to be taken by the owners of barges, &amp;c. and to cleanse and scour any part of the rver they may think necessary; to defray the expense of which they may impose a rate to be paid by all barges, &amp;c. passing any place so cleansed and scoured.

The act passed in 1751, entitled, 'An Act for the better carrying on and regulating the Navigation of the Rivers Thames and Isis, from the city of London, westward, to the town of Cricklade, in the county of Wilts,' appoints as commissioners for the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Berks, Bucks, Oxon, Gloucester and Wilts, all persons living in such counties who shall be rated to the land-tax for an estate of £100 a year in value, giving them the same powers and authority which were given to the commissioners by the act of 1730, from which we have extracted; which act, as well as the 7th of King William the Third, is hereby repealed.

The next act of parliament respecting this navigation which we consider it necessary to refer to, is that passed in 1771, entitled, 'An Act for improving and completing the Navigation of the Rivers Thames and Isis, from the city of London, to the town of Cricklade, in the county of Wilts;' which states that the act of 1751 (named above) not having vested sufficient powers in the commissioners therein appointed, for preventing abuses and