364 PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE PATH- V. 



there were numerous fords and shallows which the boats 

 could only pass in great freshes, or, in dry seasons, by 

 drawing extraordinary quantities of water from the 

 locks above. Then, in winter, the navigation was apt 

 to be impeded by floods, and occasionally it was stopped 

 altogether. In short, the growing wants of the popula- 

 tion demanded an improved means of transit between 

 the two towns, which the Duke of Bridge water now 

 determined to supply. 



The growth of Liverpool as a seaport had been com- 

 paratively recent. At a time when Bristol and Hull 

 possessed thriving harbours, resorted to by foreign ships, 

 Liverpool was little better than a fishing-village, its 

 only distinction being that it was a convenient place for 

 setting sail to Ireland. In the war between France 

 and England which broke out in 1347, when Edward 

 the Third summoned the various ports in the kingdom 

 to make contributions towards the naval power accord- 

 ing to their means, London was required to provide 

 25 ships and 662 men ; Bristol, 22 ships and 608 men ; 

 Hull, 16 ships and 466 men ; whilst Liverpool was only 

 asked to find 1 bark and 6 men! In Queen Elizabeth's 

 time, the burgesses presented a petition to Her Majesty, 

 praying her to remit a subsidy which had been imposed 

 upon the seaport and other towns, in which they sty KM! 

 their native place " Her Majesty's poor decayed town of 

 Liverpool." Chester was then of considerably greater 

 importance as a seaport. In 1634-5, when Charles I. 

 made his unconstitutional levy of ship-money through- 

 out England, Liverpool was let off with a contribution 

 of 15/., whilst Chester paid 100/., and Bristol not less 

 than 1000/. The channel of the Dee, however, becoming 

 silted up, the trade of Chester decayed, and that of 

 Liverpool rose upon its ruins. In 1699 the excavation 

 of the old dock was commenced ; but it was used only as 

 a tidal harbour (being merely an enclosed space with a 

 small pier) until the year 1709, when an Act was 



