the Regent's Canal Company. 403 



out the comfoit even of an explanation, he is simply told that 

 the premium of 100 guineas was not adjudged to hiin. 



Letter addressed by Mr. Gower to the Regent's Canal Com- 

 pavy. 

 Nova Scotia, Ipswich, Oct. 1.9, 1820. 



Gentlemen, — On the 5th of September 1S12, observing an 

 advertisement in the Times Newspaper, from the Regent's Canal 

 Company, offering a reward of 100 guineas for the best design 

 of a lock to save water, and give facility to passage, a copy of 

 which is annexed, I was induced to become a candidate. 



A design was accordingly prepared, similar to the one ivhicli 

 accompanies this letter, being dated the 14th of September 1812; 

 and feelintr, from the wording of the advertisement, that 1 might 

 rely with perfect confidence upon the good faith and honour of 

 the parties to whose inspection the designs were to be submitted, 

 it was delivered at the office of Messrs. Edwards and Lyon, Soli- 

 citors, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, by my brother Dr. 

 Gower, of Old Burlington-street. A fair time having elapsed 

 without receiving any intimation relative to the design, from the 

 tenor of the advertisement, I had reason to conclude it was not 

 approved ; and in consequence requested Dr. Gower would have 

 the goodness to withdraw it. He made his application accord- 

 ingly, at the office of Messrs. Edwards and Lyon, which enabled 

 him to procure the design from the Regent's Canal Office, Queen 

 Ann's-street West, now Folev-place. 



'I'he return of the design released me from dubiety. It was 

 the signal of dismiss'von, that gave me clearly to understand I was 

 not the successful candidate. How great then was mv surprise, 

 when on the 21th of April last, as travelling from Ipswich to 

 London, on the outside of the coach, I ()l)served a double lock, 

 similar to mv design, constructed on the Regent's Canal where 

 it crosses the Mile-end Road ! This was afterwards found to be 

 one only of a number. From the facts liere stated, and with the 

 Company's advertisement before me, I cannot but feel that I have 

 a claiu) upon their honour, and that I am entitled to the reward 

 for which I laboured to become a candidate ; I therefore trust, 

 gentlemen, notwithstanding the time elapsed since the 14th of 

 September 1812, that von will do me the justice to consider this 

 statement ; and should it be necessary for Dr. Gower to prove 

 the ficlivery of the drawing, he will with pleasure attend with the 

 original design. 



I remain, gentlemen. 



Your obedient servant, 



R. 11. Go\vi;u. 



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