41 



the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex ; hence in 

 those times, the river must have been public 

 and common to the people of both nations. 

 Vide History of England. 



In an antient book called Dunthorne, it is 

 said that " the River Thames was the cause 

 of the first erecting and building the city of 

 London." 



Heylin in his Geography says, " in England 

 there are 325 rivers, though some say 450, 

 of which the chief is the Thames/' 



In Doctor Campbell's history, the Thames 

 is mentioned as the first, and principal of the 

 three public navigable rivers in the kingdom. 



" The Thames is the most famous river 

 of England." Sir Henry Chauncey's History 

 of Hertfordshire. 



In Seymour's history of London, it is said 



it might have been in Cassibellanus's time, it is now as deep 

 as most places on the river, and appears to have been always 

 naturally so. It was, however, a little excusable in him, in 

 wishing to fix " the point of honour" near his own residence, 

 and create an additional interest in a spot perhaps the most 

 beautiful on the whole line of navigation. 



