200 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



" Account of the Navigation of the River Thames, 

 and the Locks that are built thereon " : 



After what has been said of the Rivers of England, 

 perhaps the inquisitive Reader will not be displeased, 

 to know in what Manner Barges of a large Burden 

 are navigated into the very Heart of the Kingdom ; 

 especially since it is an Invention so useful to the 

 Publick : For by this Means Tradesmen and Farmers 

 are enabled to send their Goods to an advantageous 

 Market, and at the same time the most populous 

 Cities are supplied with Necessaries of all Sorts at 

 a moderate Price. To explain this we need only 

 mention the River Thames, which is navigable up- 

 wards of 140 Miles above London-Bridge. 



It is very obvious to all, that the principle Obstruc- 

 tion to the Navigation of most Rivers is the Want 

 of Water, especially in the Summer-time, when the 

 Springs are low. Now, in order to remedy this In- 

 convenience, the Use of Locks was happily invented, 

 which are a kind of Wooden Machine placed quite 

 across the River, and so contrived as totally to 

 obstruct the Current of the Stream, and dam up the 

 Water as long as it shall be thought convenient. 



By this Artifice the River is compelled to rise to 

 a proper Height, that is, till there is Depth enough 

 for the Barge to pass over the Shallows ; which done, 

 the confined Waters are set at liberty, and the loaded 

 Vessel continues its Voyage till another Shoal 

 requires the same Contrivance, and again retards 

 its course. But though this Method is extremely 

 convenient, it is attended with great Charge ; for 

 they are obliged to pay, in one Voyage, upwards 

 of Fourteen Pounds ; I mean, if they go through all 

 the Locks in their Passage to or from London. This 

 extraordinary Expense is chiefly owing to the Locks 

 being the Property of private Persons, who raise a 

 large annual Income therefrom ; which may be 





