Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/657



The act passed in 1796, entitled, 'An Act to enable the Company of Proprietors of the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation, to raise a certain Sum of Money, for discharging some Arrears of Interest, and other Debts relating thereto, and to maintain and support the said Navigation,' empowers the company of proprietors to raise a further sum of £65,000, by the creation of thirteen hundred half shares of £50 each; and provides that those proprietors of old shares who may wish to take some of the new shares, shall be allowed to subscribe the sum of £37, 10s. now due for interest on each original share, as part of the purchase money for a half share, paying the difference of £12, 10s. in money.

Another act passed in 1809, entitled, 'An Act for altering, amending and enlarging the Powers of several Acts, for making and maintaining the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation,' empowers the company to raise a further sum of £200,000, by any of the means prescribed by the former acts of parliament, or by the creation of new shares, in which case the old proprietors are to have the option of taking the same number of new shares as they hold of the original ones, before they are otherwise disposed of.

The last act of parliament relating to this canal was passed in 1813, and is entitled, 'An Act for altering and amending an Act made in the Twenty-third Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, for making and maintaining the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation.' It authorizes the company of proprietors to make a dock or basin on their canal at a place called Weymoor Bridge, in the parish of Latton, in Wiltshire, where the North Wilts is proposed to join the Thames and Severn Canal, and empowers them to contribute, as shareholders, the sum of £5,000 towards making the North Wilts Canal.

Goods remaining on any wharf in the basin more than six hours, to pay such rates as may be agreed on.

The length of this canal is thirty miles and seven chains; from the Stroudwater Canal to Sapperton, a distance of seven miles and three-eighths, with a rise of 243 feet, by twenty-eight locks; from thence the summit pound continues through the tunnel, which is two miles and three-eighths in length to