Trunk Drainage. 
65 
owners ;ilone could never have contended. The present navigation 
was made and authorised by Acts of Parliament passed in the 
13th of Anne, 11th of Geo. I., 29th of Geo. II., and, lastly, in 
the year 1794, and consists of two divisions — the western, from 
Northampton to Tlirapston ; the eastern, from this town to Peter- 
borough ; the latter again being parted into two subdivisions at 
Oundlc. Under these laws, certain commissioners, who are very 
numerous, Averc authorised to appoint persons, or undertakers, to 
construct and maintain the river Nene navigable and passable for 
barges, boats, keels, lighters, and otlier vessels ; to clear and 
straighten the river ; to remove trees, mills, and all other impedi- 
ments ; and to make locks, staunches, pens, and warehouses. 
The jurisdiction of the Court of Sewers is excluded, and their 
powers conferred upon the Navigation Commissioners. The 
trustees of that portion of the canal between Northampton and 
Thrapston, viz. Lord Spencer and others, are in favour of the 
present undertaking ; and the property has been purchased by 
the Nene Valley Commissioners for a no greater sum than 3700/. 
The owners of the navigation between Tlirapston and Oundle are 
unknown; from Oundle to Peterborough it belongs to a gentle- 
man of the latter city. A portion of the trustees of these two 
latter lengths of the line petitioned against the bill. The tolls 
are, from Peterboi'ough to Oundle, Is. Grf. per ton ; Oundle to 
Thrapston, Is. 6c/. more ; and thence to Northampton, 1.9. ^d. 
more ; being a total of 45. 6(f. per ton for the whole distance. 
From the description we have already given, it is evident that no 
adequate maintenance is bestowed upon the channel, the heirs and 
representatives of the first undertakers having legal powers but 
no funds for the purpose ; while, as we have before observed, the 
remaining part of the river, from Peterborough to Wisbech, has 
but little tonnage, and no conservancy. Tlie jwoposed ivorks in the 
Upper Valley will give a perfect facility to the water traffic. It is 
intended to cut off the dangerous bends, deepen the shoaled bot- 
tom, widen the river where necessary, augment the waterway of 
the bridges, remove the staunches, which are so clumsily obstruc- 
tive both to the navigation and the drainage, provide ampler 
locks, and broader waste weirs, and, in fact, adjust the size of the 
river according to the quantities of drain-water due to each part. 
There Avill be a perfect navigation, every day in the year, of at 
least 4 ft. to 4 ft, 6 in. depth of water. The tolls, moreover 
(which will all accrue in future to the Nene Valley Commission- 
ers), will be reduced to 2s. per ton between Northampton and 
Peterborough ; and, with 6c?. a ton more between this place and 
Wisbech, there will be a toll of only 2s. 6rf. per ton for an unin- 
terrupted navigation 85 miles in length, connecting a large sea- 
port with the Grand Junction Canal at Northampton, which, 
VOL. XV. Y 
