CHAP. IX. BRINDLEY'S LAST CANALS. 459 



upon the river (at least above Kingston) may be much better, 

 cheaper, and more certainly supplied with their commodities than 

 ever they were, or ever can be, by the river navigation alone, sup- 

 posing the shallow places to be contracted (as mentioned before) so 

 Unit the vessels have a sufficient depth of water to carry them down 

 (lie stream from the ends of the cuts to the several places where 

 they are designed. 



" "When I made my former report about the canal, I was 

 informed that the vessels came very well up to Isleworth, but now 

 understand it was generally at two tides ; yet notwithstanding I 

 take Isleworth to be the most proper place for the canal to com- 

 municate with the river, for the reasons there given. 



" With respect to the latter part of my instructions, directing me 

 to make an estimate of the expense of improving the river, it is 

 impossible for me to make an estimate with any degree of accuracy. 

 I can only say, that whatever sum is thought proper to be laid out 

 suppose 10,000/. in contracting, &c. in the best manner, the 

 river may be made much better than it is, or perhaps ever was ; 

 but if twenty times that sum be laid out, it would not make it a 

 good and permanent navigation. 



" Upon examining that part of the river between Mortlake and 

 Eichmond Gardens, I find much time is lost, particularly in neap 

 tides, owing to the shoals and sand-banks arising on or towards the 

 towing-side between those two places, which cannot be passed over 

 for a great part of the tide of ebb, so that vessels not being able to 

 reach this place before high water must remain till the next tide ; 

 which they need not do, as the towing part begins at Mortlake, 

 could they have a sufficient depth of water to float them up. To 

 remedy this inconvenience, I would propose a dam to be made 

 across the river, somewhere between Mortlake and Kew Bridge, 

 with a lock at each end. This would receive all vessels from 

 London that could save their tide to this place, and by being come 

 to the towing-path would proceed up to the canal or towards 

 Kingston without hindrance or delay. 



" Also all vessels coming down would, for the whole tide, have 

 deep water and an easy passage into the tideway. This would also 

 be very useful in another respect, as it would make Kew Bridge a 

 convenient landing-place for all passengers, and would preserve a 

 pool of water large enough to receive commodiously all vessels 

 which must wait during the flood-tide before they can proceed to- 

 wards London. The river being thus sufficiently raised, will render 

 the navigation to the mouth of the canal and towards Kingston 



