202 RENNIE'S DOCKS AND HARBOURS. PART VII. 



bonded warehouses ; and it still remains matter of sur- 

 prise that a system so clumsy, so wasteful of time, so 

 obstructive to rapid loading and unloading in dock, 

 should be permitted to continue. 



Shortly after these works were set on foot, and when 

 the great importance and economy of floating docks 

 began to be recognised by commercial men, another 

 project of a similar character was started, to provide 

 accommodation exclusively for vessels of the East India 

 Company, of from 1000 to 1800 tons burden. A com- 

 pany was formed for the purpose, and an Act was 

 obtained in 1803, the site selected being immediately 

 to the west of the river Lea, at the point at which it 

 enters the Thames, and where at that time there were 

 two small floating basins or docks, provided with wooden 

 locks, and surrounded with wooden walls, called the 

 Brunswick and Perry's Docks. These it was determined 

 to purchase and include in the proposed new docks, of 

 which, however, they formed but a small part. Mr. 

 Rennie and Mr. Ralph Walker were associated as engi- 

 neers in carrying the works into execution, and they 

 were finished and opened for business on the 4th of 

 August, 1806. They consisted of an entrance lock into 

 the Thames 210 feet long and 47 feet wide, with the cill 

 laid 7 feet below low water of spring tides. This lock 

 is connected with a triangular entrance basin, covering 

 a space of 4J acres, on the west side of which it com- 

 municates by a lock with a dock expressly provided for 

 vessels outward bound, called the Export Dock, 760 

 feet long and 463 feet wide, covering a surface of 8^ 

 acres. At the north end of the entrance basin is the 

 Import Dock, 1410 feet long and 463 feet wide, covering 

 a surface of 18 acres. The depth of these basins is 

 22 feet below high water of ordinary spring tides. 

 The total surface of dock room, including quays, sheds, 

 and warehouses, is about 55 acres. The original capital 

 of the East India Dock Company was 660,000^. ; but 



