Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/649



The act of 1814, entitled, 'An Act for altering, amending and enlarging the Powers of Four Acts of his present Majesty, for improving the Navigation of the River Thames, westward of London Bridge, within the liberties of the city of London; and for further improving the said Navigation,' authorizes the Corporation of London to make a new pound lock at Penton Hook, in the parish of Staines, and to take on every barge or vessel or raft or float of timber passing such new lock, an additional rate of 4d. per ton. The act also empowers them to raise a further and additional sum of £70,000 in the same manner as prescribed by former acts for raising other sums; and to establish a sinking fund for paying off their debt, for which purpose they are to appropriate £1,000 from the tolls within three months fromn the passing of this act, and every subsequent year a sum of £500; which sums are to be employed, from time to time, as they are received, in paying off portions of the debt, or to be invested in government securities until they shall be sufficient in amount to pay off the whole of the debt. The tolls to be exempt from all rates and taxes.

The act of 1824, entitled, 'An Act to enable the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the city of London to raise a Sum of Money, at a reduced Rate of Interest, to pay off the Monies now charged on the Tolls and Duties payable by virtue of Four Acts of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Third,for improving the Navigation of the River Thames, westward of London Bridge, within the liberties of the city of London,' states that an offer had been made to the Corporation of the city of London of an advance of a sum of money, on the credit of the tolls and rates of the river, at an interest of four per cent, per annum; and as they are now paying five per cent, the act empowers them to raise the sum of £170,000 at four per cent. by mortgage of the tolls, which sum is to be appropriated to the payment of the existing debt; the present creditors who may be willing to reduce their rate of interest to four per cent, to remain creditors at such reduced interest.

In 1827 an act of parliament was passed, entitled, 'An Act for the better Regulation of the Watermen and Lightermen on the River Thames, between Yantlet Creek and Windsor,' which incorporates the company of watermen, &amp;c. by the name of