56 
Trunk Drainaijc. 
not existed in law any properly constituted conservancy with 
powers over this river, for the purpose of improvement. The 
Bedford Level Corporation, fulfdling the functions of the old 
Commissioners of Sewers, had the conservcancy of the water and 
banks given to them. But in this capacity they have no power 
either to make or improve a navigation ; they can only remove 
nuisances to drainage, and perform works tending to leave the 
river as it was before. As Commissioners they cannot lay rates 
or expend any funds in repairing it for navigation. The act 
(3rd and 4th William IV. cap. 22) giving additional powers to 
Sewers Connnissioners, and enabling them in some jneasure co 
improve as well as restore, had a special clause exempting this 
Corporation and the Isle of Ely (in which this part of the Ncne 
is placed) ; the river, therefore, being left as it were under the 
prior law of Sewers. Then the corporation privileges and powers, 
while giving them authority to open and cleanse it for draining 
purposes, shield them from being compelled to do it ; and as 
their water now flows to the Ouse they will not sj)end their 
money for the simple benefit of other parties. Tlie landowners 
interested have no power to meddle with the stream, so that 
absolutely nothing has been done for its preservation within the 
memory of man, saving that the above Corporation, of its own 
authority, took away a shoal near the Dog and Doublet, in 1825, 
levying a toll of Gd/. per ton on the navigation to defray the 
charge. 
At last, however, the Nene Valley Act of Parliament has 
provided the long-looked for improvement. The proposed works, 
which have not yet been commenced at this part of tlie line, will 
deepen the river between Petcrhorouc/Ii and Wishecli from 2 to 8 
feet, giving its bed a unifornr inclination of nearly 7 inches j>er 
mile. The sectional area will be enlarged and improved in 
form ; the bottom made more than 33 feet in width, witli sloping- 
sides of 2 feet liorizontal to 1 foot perpendicular, and £. foreland 
left 39 feet broad between the brink of the channel and the raised 
bank. A new bridge is also to be substituted for the present 
one at the Dog and Doublet. A new barrier embankment along 
its south side will inclose the now unfenced Wasli lands from 
tides and Hoods ; Moreton's Leam — a channel now running 
alongside the Nene — will be opened up as a main drain for these 
lands, and dischai'ge through a sluice or floodgate near Guyhirn. 
A tax of 8s. an acre is to be levied for this improvement, and a 
further sum of Is. Grf. per acre for smaller interior drains. 
For supplying fresh water to the Wash lands a tunnel is to be 
laid through the intended bank of the improved stream toward 
its upper end. As not only these lands will require a large 
sup])ly of fresh water, but the North and Middle Levels on each 
