234. The Statural Hijlory 



one at a time ; which done, they fliut thofe upper gates and /luces 

 as before : Then they open the puces of the gates at the other end 

 of the Turn-pike, and let the water by degrees out of the inclofed 

 fquare till it is funk down, and the Veffel with it, level with the ri- 

 ver below, and then open the gates themfelves, and let the Veffel 

 out; the uppers/wall the while being drove too, and kept fo 

 faft by the water above, that little of it can follow. And thus the 

 boats go down ftream. 



46. But when they return, they are firft let into the inclofed 

 (pace (where the water (lands conftantly level with that of the low- 

 er channel') at the lower gates, which as foon as (hut again, the 



/luces are opened at theuppermoft gates, and the water let in, till 

 it rifes with the boat upon it, to be equal with that of the river 

 above : this done, the upper gates are eafily opened as before, 

 there being no prefTure upon them, and the boat let out. So that 

 notwithstanding the Channel has much fteeper defcents where 

 thefe Turn-pikes are fet, than at any of the Locks, yet the boats 

 pafs at thefe with much more eafe and fafety. Notwithftand- 

 ing thefe provisions, the River Thames is not made fo perfectly 

 Navigable to Oxford, but that in dry times, barges do fomtimes lie 

 aground three weeks, or a month, or more, as we have had fad 

 experience this laft Summer ; which in great meafure no doubt 

 might be prevented, were there a convenient number of Locks, or 

 Holds for water, made in the River Cherwel above Oxford, to let 

 down fla/hes as occasion iliould ferve ; and fo again out of the 

 River Eennet near Reading, the Lodden, ipc* 



47. Not impertinent hereunto is a contrivance for Fifh-ponds, 

 that I met with at the Right Worfhipful Sir Philip Hat court's at 

 Stanton Harcourt, where the /lews not only feed one another, as 

 the Ponds of the Right Honorable the Earl of Clarendon at Corn- 

 bury, Sir Timothy Tyrrils at Shot -over- Forresl, and the worfhipful 

 BromeWhorwoods ztHolton, istc. and may be fewed by letting the 

 water of the upper Ponds out into the lower 5 but by afide Ditch 

 cut along by them, and S luces out of each, may be any of them 

 emptyed, without letting the water into, or giving the leaft di- 

 sturbance to any of the reft: which being a convenience that I 

 never met with before, and perhaps unknown to many, I thought 

 good to mention. 



48. Amongft 



