Of the Opening of Rivers for Navigation, &c.
IN these Papers we are not to reflect upon this Island, as capable of such Waterings as the flat Netherlands, whose Benefits may seem to allure us to the like Industry; Nevertheless Englands fair Valleys, and rich In-lets, through which many noble Rivers insinuate themselves, might, with the imitation of the industrious Netherlander, be made in many places docible of Navigation, to the inestimable comfort, satisfaction, ease, and profit of the publick, especially during the seven (which we call) Winter-months, when Waters abound in our Rivers, and the Sea-coasts so dangerous for Navigation: but with more charge Navigation may be maintained all the whole year, upon many of our Rivers.
The Objections of the differences of the Soyl, must not deterr us from so advantagious an enterprize, [Page 2] there wanting thereunto nothing but a Resolution of the powerful Undertaker.
And since that word Undertaker is fallen from my Pen, it must pass for a principle with me, That such great and publick Works are not to be attempted by private men, or any particular Corporation, But most fit it were, that the State it self should be the sole Undertaker, performing all at its own proper charge; and so may justly settle upon every such Passage, a Revenue to the Common-wealth for ever.
But before any particular Work in this kinde be Resolved upon, the Expence is to be weighed, with the Benefits to the publick; and these laid in equal balance, it will soon appear, Whether that one particular Design, will be profitable or not.
To clear this, a supposed Instance may be made in the Citizens of the noble City of Salisbury, as humbly making suit, That their Avon falling into the Sea at Christchurch, might be opened to small flat-bottom Vessels, Billanders of 30 Tun, which Loaden, draw only three foot and a half Water; and this as well for the Sea, and its Commodities to be imported, as for the easier carrying down the Fruits of Mendip-Hills, and of all that part of the West, to all those parts below, which stand in so much need thereof.
The Charge must be looked into with the Profits: and though the Expence might seem great, yet must it not affright the publick Undertaker: For besides the high Obligation this should lay upon [Page 3] the City of Salisbury, and all those adjacent parts, for so great and everlasting a Gift, which to a State ought to be a prevalent motive: The State it self might also reflect upon the benefit not only to the people, but also to its own Revenue accruing by that Navigable passage, settled upon the Commonwealth for ever: It being a known maxime of State, that by what the People, by the same the Government groweth rich.
Moreover, it must be thought that the desires of the people in the instance before cited, were grounded upon apparent benefits conceived.
This Example may serve for all other such passages by water aimed at, the which ought to be made as apparently beneficial, as feazible: the Charge, as hath been said, being fit for no Undertaker, but the State it self: and the more such Navigable passages should Meander and winde within the Land, still would the benefit more and more arise.
Rivers may be compared to States-men sent abroad; they are never out of their way: so they pass by great Cities, Marts, Courts of Princes, Armies, Leaguers, Diets, and the like Theaters of Action, which still contribute to the increase of their Observation; So Navigable Rivers, the more places of Note they pass by, the more they take up, or bring; still gleaning one Commodity or other from the Soyl they pass through, and are supplied by every Town they touch at with imployment
The Benefites which will evidently arise by opening of such Rivers in this Common. wealth [Page 4] as shall be found beneficially capable of Navigation, Bacon in his Natural History calleth these the richest Mines above ground. are numerous and great; of which some few we will her touch.
By this industry, as it increaseth, will be raised many thousand of Watermen, fit at any time to be taken into the service of the State, and what waterman will not think hemself highly advanced, to come out of a River into the Sea; out of a Billander, into a man of War, whose constant pay will be far greater, and whose imployment will be of much more credit, and carry it with more hope of preferment. Hence also many thousands of Horse, now only used for Packs and Burthens, would be spared, & our Studderies more capable for Warlike service, and the feeding of small Tits imployed upon improvable stocks.
The facility of Commerce from one place to another, and the cheapness of transportation of Commodities, without so much grinding and plowing up our high-wayes, which maketh them now in many places so impassable.
You shall see Western waggons, which they call Plows, carry forty hundred weight; insomuch as between Bristol and Marlborough, they have been enforced at a Hill they call Bagdown-hill, to put twenty Beasts, Horse and Oxen, to draw it up. This great abuse, by this means would be taken away, by keeping our High-wayes pleasant; and withal, by this transportation of Commodities by Rivers, the price of Commodities would fall.
The Imposition, though easie, laid upon every such Navigable passage, would, as Rivers by degrees are opened, amount to a fair revenue, without [Page 5] any grievance at all to the people, but rather with much comfort, as it is imbraced in other Countries, where they cannot live without the help of these Billanders, passing and repassing daily from Town to Town, from Market to Market, and from Coast to Coast; These are onely some few of so many benefits, which will result from the opening of our Rivers.
General Observations upon all Rivers, as they are thought fit to be made Navigable.
TO rise as high in opening the said Rivers as they shal be found feazible;See Rastal at large in his Havens & Rivers upon the 67 of Eliz. Let the head of the Avon wch falleth down from Rugby to Warwick, and so into the Severne, be examined with the Welland, which riseth neer to the head of the Avon, & falleth down to Stanford, and so through the Isle of Ely, into the Sea. there to make a Wharf, Magazine, or Warehouse for all such Commodities as are useful to those parts of the Country, both for Trade in Merchandizing, & service in time of War, with far greater expedition.
If any other River, practicable for Boats, lye neer the head, or side of the said River, and that the ground favour the opening of a still River to be drawn between them, then to joyn them with Sasses, alias Locks, or otherwise. But should the ground be repugnant, then a fair stone Cawsey, not exceeding one little daies journey for Horse, or Carts, to be raised between the said Rivers. Where the Navigation ends, a Wharf, or Magazine to be made as aforesaid, if these reach from Sea to Sea, not otherwise. For the example of Cawseys, let the head of Foy River, & that of Padston in Cornwall be examined, for a Cawsey to be made between them.Which would revive that Country with imployment.
By the like industry, many Mediterranen passages [Page 6] by Water, with the help of such Cawseys, would be found from one Sea to the other, and not to have the old Channel of any River to be forsaken to gain a shorter passage. For, as hath been said, Rivers are never out of their way; and upon these Navigable passages, our chief Manufactures should be set up, for the Commoditie of trasportation.
Object. These great Works alwaies bring forth great difficulties, though the benefit be never so apparent.
Answ. Can any thing of this nature seem difficult to a State resolved to do good to its peoole? Difficulties are the boundaries of narrow hearts, such is not to be the heart of a State, which should most rejoyce in difficult things, in the overcoming of which, so much honor is atchieved.
A business well pondered and seriously resolved on, by a powerful Undertaker, is carried like the World upon Atlas shoulders, without groaning.
Object. 2. Most of our Rivers in the Summer time will want water to carry a Boat, even our Thames sometimes is so shallow, as our Barges are gravelled.
These expresly forbidden in Magna Charta, cap. 2. See Henr. pri. mi, cap. 12. Also Walsingham, in Edw. 3 And Sir John Davis in his Irish Reports. Answ. Such Rivers as shall be judged fit for Navigation must not be debarred the Contribution which other Springs, Brooks, and Rivers would give them; wherefore all such Streams, great or small, which would willingly fall into our said Rivers designed for Navigation, ought to be free, and not to be bound up with Wears, Sluces, Pens for Mills, and the like imprestures, which keep up, stop, and divert the Waters from their natural Course, and fall into those Navigable Rivers.
Those Mills either the State should buy of the Owners of them, and erect for every Water-mill three Horse-mills, for the necessity of the Country adjoyning, or so agree with the Owners of them, that they pulling up their Water-mills and such apparent purprestures for the free Course of Waters, should themselves set up the said Horse-mills for the use of the Country in places more convenient, then to go in some place a mile or two to a Water-mill, which asketh a daies imployment for a man and Horse.
And truly, if the consumption of our Timberhold on but some few yeers more, there will be none left to build either Water-mil, or Wind-mil, they requiring the best and strongest Timber we have: so that of necessity we shal be driven to set up these Horse-mills, which are built with our meanest Wood, our Oak being little enough to maintain our Shipping, were it never so well preserved hereafter.
The Avon of Bristol made Navigable as high as Malmsbury and Calne, with the Profits for transportation of Coals, and other Commodities.
Which also may with facility produce a Mediterranean passage by Water ftom Bristol to London.
The Coal-pits in Kings-wood neer Bristol, and if they suffice not, those Colliaries upon the Severn side, to furnish that Country so much destitute of Fuel up to Malmsbury and Calne, in this manner may be looked upon: This River made Navigable for Billanders, flat-bottomed Boats of 30 Tun, [Page 8] which draw loaden but three foot and an half Water. The Work being feazible at a far less Charge than the yeerly profits will come to; these Colliaries are to be dealt with to bring Coal either out of Kings-wood, or from the Severn, to a place assigned them for Wharfage, they affording the Newcastle Chaldron at the said Wharf for 10 s. 2 d. being now sold at the Pitts at one penny the London Bushel.
These of Kingswood are upon the States own soyl.Those Colliaries in Wales, the State may take into its own hands, giving the Owners yeerly more for them than they now make of them.
These Colliaries setled, and the River of Bristol made Navigable,Fewer wil suffice should the Billanders carry 40 Chaldron the State to licence 300 of these Billanders, each bearing 30 Chaldron (onely London measure) and these to bring Coal from the Wharf up the said River as high as Malmsbury and Calne, paying 10 s. 2 d. the London Chaldron at the Wharfs, and 5 s. for every such Chaldron for the passage up the River, and sell them at Malmsbury and Calne for 18 s. 2 d. the London Chaldron, where now they are fold for much more.
There sold at 18 s. 2 d. London Chaldron. That is, 6 d. the Bushel.The Owner, or Merchant of the Wharf having for every such London Chaldron delivered, 10 s. 2 d. The State for the passage of every such Chaldron 5 s.
The Billander for his Fraight for every such Chaldron, 3 s.
The difference of Newcastle and London measure in the Chaldron,Surplus of measure to belong to the State. being the third Coal, two Newcastle Chaldron making three of London: The surplus of measure should be given to the State, to be landed neer the said Wharfs, upon a Wharf called the States Wharf.
The other Wharfs to be divided into six; every Wharf having its Squadron of 50 Billanders, belonging to the Owners and Merchants of the several Wharfs; which Wharfs may have their names from the Colours they shall bear.
These Wharfs to be kept by the Owners of the Coal which lieth upon them, who are to receive (as hath been said) 10 s. 2 d. for every Chaldron given out, London measure.
These Billanders are to sayl up the River, every Squadron by its self, having each his Admiral, and Rear-Admiral,Thus we may play upon Rivers. carrying their Flags of proper Colours, none of the said Squadron sayling before his Admiral, nor any behind his Rear-Admiral; and this to prevent disorder as they pass through the Country.
They are so to discharge both the duties at the Wharf, and the duties for the Passage, as to make no stay at all.
Every Admiral at the discharge of the duties for his whole Squadron (for he is to undertake it) is to receive a Ticket for his free passage through the River, without which they are not to pass the Block-house or Fort erected for preserving the States revenue, if any mutiny should arise.
These Wharfs aforesaid, are to have correspondent Wharfs at Malmsbury, and Calne, and to be regulated as the former, one Squadron not unlading at anothers Wharf; where each Billander is to receive for its fraight of 30 Chaldrons, 4 l. 10 s. every voyage; and two of these voyages may well be made in one month.
The Wharfs paying the Billanders their Salary, [Page 10] and keeping the Coal for all such as fetch it there at 18 s. 2 d. the London Chaldron.
As concerning the Coal before mentioned to be laid upon the States Wharf, being the third Coal gained in the Newcastle measure, that also is to have at Malmsbury and Calne a Wharf called the States Wharf, corresponding to the former, where that surplus of measure should be laid, and kept for the benefit of the State, in thankfulness for that great charge in making the River thus Navigable, for the benefit of the Country: And here both the benefit of the Coal, and Passage, cometh to the State (the fraight of the Billander onely excepted.)
| l. | s. | d. | |
| Every Billander fraight with 30 London Chaldron for the Passage only, Fruits to the State every voyage | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| Every Squadron of 50 of these Billanders, for Passage onely, fruits to the State every voyage | 375 | 0 | 0 |
| Every voyage of 300 Billanders for Passage onely, fruits to the State | 2250 | 0 | 0 |
| l. | s. | d. | |
| Every such Billander fraight with the Surplus of measure upon the third Coal, fruits to the State, both for Coal and Passage | 22 | 10 | 0 |
| Every Squadron of 50 Billanders, every voyage fraight as aforesaid, fruits to the State | 1125 | 0 | 0 |
| Every voyage of those 300 Billanders fraight as aforesaid, fruits to the State | 6750 | 0 | 0 |
| These in general from Bristol to Malmsbury, & Calne, making two voyages every month in 7 months, carry 126000 Chaldron, which fruits to the State in these 7 months, in this sole Commoditie of Coal, though much more Coal will be carried | 52500 | 0 | 0 |
The Coal as they are first brought to the Wharfs should be so ordered, as the third Coal be duly carried to the Wharf of the State.
As to clear what hath been said, If 20 Chaldron Newcastle measure be brought from the Pits to the Wharfs, they are to be divided into 30 Chaldron London measure, of which the State is to have ten Chaldron laid upon its Wharf, and so proportionably to all that are brought from the Pits to any Wharf, the third Coal being alwaies carried to the States Wharf. The Staple of Coal being thus setled for all that Country about Malmsbury and Calne, and Coal being sold there constantly for 18 s. 2 d. the London Chaldron to all that will fetch them, that is, at the price of 6 d. the London Bushel; No question is to be made, but that a marvelous great quantity will be thus vented, to the great blessing of the People, who now pay about Calne and Malmsbury not much under 12 d. the bushel, & commonly more, being carried by Horse from Bristol: [Page 12] Should 50000 Chaldron only be thus yeerly vented, it is a great Revenue, and would in the very
| l. | s. | d. | |
| Commoditie of Coal, unto | 20833 | 6 | 8 |
|
But there will be treble the quantity vented. That is, for Passage |
12500 | 0 | 0 |
| And for the third Coal gained | 8333 | 6 | 8 |
And no doubt Bristol, so great a place of Traffick, would make use of this River as high as Calne towards the Transportation of their Merchandize from Bristol to London, it being the worst and most Hilly part of the way, and lieth full in the passage to London.
| l. | s. | d. | |
| A Billander of 30 Tun, laden with Merchandize from Bristol to Calne, taking but one Farthing per pound, fruits to the State every Voyage | 62 | 10 | 0 |
It may well make two Voyages every Month.
This River being thus practised as high as Malmsbury and Calne, should our Seas be at any time infested with Enemy Fleets in such sort as without eminent danger, London and other parts of this Common-wealth, could not be served with Coal from Newcastle and Sunderland:
How facile a thing it were from Malmsbury, lying upon the said River, to open a passage for these Billanders of 30 Tun,Were the Billanders to carry 40 chaldron, 250 of them would carry 10000 Chaldron at one Voyage. which draw Water but three foot and half, loaden, into the River Isis, by Creek-lade and Letchlad, and so into the Thames, all that Land-passage being not fully 3 miles (inviting the Undertaker) being very low, and practicable ground, most fit for the Design.
This Passage opened, the proffits to the State, would rise to a vast Sum, and far greater then that of Coal.
By this means there would be a Mediterranean passage opened from Bristol to London by Water.
Not only for the supply of much Coal in time of necessity, but for all other Commodities brought into Bristol, which in time of Hostility London could not otherwise enjoy, but by excessive Rates for Land-carriages, or Convoyes by Sea: but by this Passage once opened, all Commodities may be brought from Bristol to London (even at one Farthing per ponnd) we now paying all the Winter-time for carriage by Land between London and Bristol, 4 s. per cent.
Our Forreign Vintage never permitting us to bring home Wines till the beginning of November when our Channel is very dangerous, the Merchant would be glad to secure his Voyage by this Mediterranean Passage by unloading his Wines at Bristol, without any further hazard.
The whole Charge of this Navigable Passage would be paid with the proffits of the first year: And as for Coal for 2 s. more upon the London Chaldron for Fraight, they also this way would be brought to London at 20 s. 2 d. the Chaldron, London Chaldron. Howsoever great Caution ought to be used, that during times of Peace no Coal should be brought to London this way, to the end our Shipping, which is much imployed in the Transportation of that Commodity, might still be kept up, for the safety, benefit, and honour of this State.
It were good that the 2 d. upon every Chaldron were paid towards the defraying of the Salaries of [Page 14] Officers upon the Wharfs, and towards the maintenance of the Passage yearly.
At Cardiff, the nearest Colliary to Bristol, that is upon the Severn, excellent Scotish-Coals, which also would drive a great Trade upon this Passage, being sold by the Tun.
This Passage in time of Peace might be used for Transportation of Merchandize to London, and from London to Bristol, only from the first of October to the first of April; partly not to obstruct our Navigation by Sea, all the Summer-time, when the doubling of the Cape of Cornwal is not dangerous, nor our Coasts so subject to storms: And partly by reason of the Avon, and Isis, and the Thames it self in those Winter-months will not want Water, which in the Summer they do, unless other Rivers be let into them, which cannot be done without more Charge: And for Coal, our Seas being not infested, none should passe higher then Malmsbury and Calne, not to hinder, as hath been said, our Navigation, for that Commodity by Sea, which must still be endeavoured to be kept up to the full.
Now who should be the Undertaker of this great Work, but the State it self? it being too great an Expence for any private man or Corporation to lay out; and of too great a Profit for them to receive, being effected.
This to be observed well by the Cities of Bath and Bristol, lest they labor in vain.Some endeavours have been used by that noble Patriot, Sir John Harrington, to make this River Navigable between Bristol and the Bath, which Work I have seen: but the Design being too narrow for this our great Proposal, it were in vain to [Page 15] be again set upon, either by any private man, or the said two Towns, unless they intend to make the River and their Sasses so large as the River to carry Billanders of 30 Tun, or more.
I went down to see Sir John Harringtons intended Sasse, some two miles below the Bath, and I found the Engineer to have much abused the noble Knight in his Work, making his Sasse upon the very Dam of the River, which would have been a perpetual and forcible Enemy to his Work. Besides, I found by Measuring his Sasse, that it would contain but one Boat of 8 Tun: which narrow Design would no way have served to this our Mediterranean Passage, but must have been again ript up and destroyed: The Sasse it self being to be otherwise placed, and made far larger, capable of a Boat of 30 or 40 Tun.
He who hath seen the Sasse, between Ipris and Vuerne in Flanders, will confesse it a noble Work, and capable of Publick Service (which this I spoke of no way is) yet much is the memory of that noble Knight to be honoured, in shewing himself to his Ability, a publick man, labouring so much for the good of his Country.
Many Sasses are to be made upon this River of Avon, it being so much a Falling-water, insomuch it is now forced to be kept up with many Dams, every one of which must have his Sasse, but not upon the Dam, but upon the side of it.
The Proposer of this Paper hath no other interest in this Design, then a true Patriot ought to [Page 16] have, a desire for the Publick good, to see it effected, and by it his Country served: And if he shall perceive it embraced, it will encourage him to offer up to the Publick Service of his Country other Improvements of greater Consequence.