Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/646



In 1777 another act was passed, entitled, 'An Act for enabling the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the city of London, to purchase the present Tolls and Duties payable for navigating upon the River Thames, westward of London Bridge, within the liberties of the city of London, and for laying a small Toll in lieu thereof, for the Purpose of more effectually completing the said Navigation; and for other Purposes;' which states that the Mayor, &amp;c. of London, in pursuance of the powers granted to them by the last recited act, had expended the sum of £10,000 in improving the navigation of the river between London and Staines Bridge; that they find, to complete such improvements, an additional sum of nearly £8,000 will be required, which they are willing to expend thereon, provided they are authorized to purchase the old tolls and duties now collected on that part of the river in their jurisdiction, and to collect in lieu thereof a small tonnage rate. The act then empowers the Lord Mayor, &amp;c. to purchase such old tolls and rates, which are then to cease, and in lieu thereof they may take the following

TONNAGE RATES.
Vessels under Three Tons and all Pleasure Boats are exempted from these Rates.

The corporation are authorized to borrow £15,000 on mortgage, and assign the tolls as security; or by annuity at the following rate. On the lives of persons from the age of forty-five to sixty years, eight per cent. per annum; and on sixty years and upwards, ten per cent, per annum. All writings authorized by this act to be exempted from stamp duty.

The act of 1788, entitled, 'An Act to explain, amend and enlarge the Powers of so much of Two Acts, passed in the Eleventh and Fifteenth Years of the Reign of his present Majesty, for improving and completing the Navigation of the Rivers Thames and Isis, from the city of London, to the town