A. D. 1S99. 479 



required for their works, on paying the proprietors a fair price, either 

 by agreement or the determination of a jury. The canal is the pro- 

 perty of the corporation of London, who may grant hcences for build- 

 ing on the adjacent ground. They are alfo empowered, under the in- 

 fpecStion of the corporation of the Trinity-houfe, to remove, or alter 

 the polition of, the mooring chains ; the profits of which belonging to 

 Lord Gwydir by a grant from the king, a compenfation is to be award- 

 ed to him by commiflioners appointed for the purpofe, and to be paid 

 out of the confolidated fund, which is afterwards to be reimburfed from 

 rates to be raifed by virtue of this ad. 



' And whereas the fhips in the Wefl-Tndia trade frequently arrive at 

 ' the port of London in large fleets, and occalion great crowding, con- 



* fufion, and damage, therein ; and their cargoes being carried in light- 

 ' ers to the legal quays, caufe upon the faid quays, and in the paflage 



* thither, great obftrudions, inconvenience, and delay, and are expofed 



* to pilfering and fraud, whereby the owners fuflain great lofs, and the 



* public revenue is much injured,' a number of gentlemen, who have 

 fubfcribed to the propofed capital, together with fuch others as, with 

 their approbation, may become fubfcribers, are incorporated under the 

 title of T/je Wejl-India dock company, for the purpofe of making fufficient 

 wet docks with legal quays and wharfs and alio warehoufes attached to 

 them, on the north fide of the propofed canal in the Ifle of dogs, for 

 the reception and difcharge of veflels in the Weft-India trade, whereby 

 great accommodation will be given to the other fhipping in the river, 

 -and the Weft-India produce will be guarded from plunder and other 



damage The ftock of the company is ;,{^5oo,ooo, and may be increafed 



to £600,000, if neceffary. It is transferable like the ftocks of other 

 legal companies, each partner being liable for the debts of the company 

 only to the extent of his property in the ftock. They are reftrided 

 from ever raifing their dividends above ten per cent. — They are required 

 to inclofe the docks, wharfs, and warehoufes, with a llrong wall of 

 brick or ftone, not lefs than thirty feet in height, with ftrong gates, 

 and furrounded by a ditch of at ieaft twelve feet conftantly filled with 

 water to the depth of at Ieaft fix feet. No houfes on the outfide of the 

 wall fhall be nearer than the diftance of one hundred yards. The com- 

 pany muft not allow any flips for building or repairing vefle;ls to be in 

 their premifes, nor be concerned in building or repairing vefl"els. 



The lord mayor, as confervator of the river, may appoint a harbour- 

 mafter or harbour-mafters, who ihall have authority to dired the enter- 

 ing, mooring, and removing, of veflels in the port of London, the canal, 

 and other works connected with it, except the Weft-India docks, and to 

 appoint the times proper for opening and fliutting the canal. The har- 

 bour-mailers muft be approved by the corporation of the Trinity-houfe, 

 who may difchaige theui m cale of miicondud. — The diredors of the 

 Weft-India dock company may in like manner appoint dock-mafters, 

 alfo With the approbation of, and fubjed to difiniflion by, the Tj inity- 

 houfe, whole otiice and powers in the dock are fimilar to thofe of the 



