THough there be many more Obstructions and Difficul­ties to be met with, in the making of the Riverrs with­in this Island Navigable, then are familiarly in the Flat Netherlands of Holland, and the rest of the United Pro­vinces of Belgium: whose benefit may seem to allure us to the like Industry, nevertheless Englands fair Valleyes, and rich Inlets, through which many noble Rivers insinuate themseves, might, with the Imitation of our ingenious Neighbours, be made in many places docible of Navigation, to the inestimable comfort, ease and benefit of the Subject: wherefore, in all Humility, I make this my most Humble Address unto Your Most Renowned and Em­perial Majesty: And shew, That yet such an Enterprize in seve­ral places of this Island may with advantage be effected by di­vers and sundry wayes, of no less Importance to the whole Nation,

• First, Of a Wonderful Improvement to much Trade, and great relief to the Land, and most remarkably to be perceived, by the supply of many places with the great Benefit of Coal (which with­out [Page 2]out this means cannot be had) to the imployment of Your Majesties Subject in Mining, and otherwise about the same, and also the ad­vance of many from Low degree, becoming Merchants in the same, (by that sure Trade of taking in their Commodities at easy rates; ready returnes, and certain gaines, the Essentials of all Improve­ments therein) they thereby becoming ranked in the highest Capa­cities to serve their King and Countrey; and Excellent President whereof is to be seen in such of the Merchants of Newcastle, who have traded in that Commodity alone; at much greater ha­zard, delay and charge than in such Mediterranean Rivers (as is by this designed) becoming Navigable, may be effectually brought to pass.
• Secondly, To the great Ease of the Subject. for the Rivers so designed, being Navigable thereby, with lesser Charge, with fewer hands, greater Transportations from place to place and in shorter time may be made: Armies in time of Warre, in their primest Strength, by such Transport, fit for ready Service (which the ha­zardous Condition of a Souldiers Calling is dayly to expect) may safely, silently and without harrass of the Country in their goods and Carriages, be thus conveyed.
• Thirdly, Hereby a great Increase of His Majesties Revenue may be established upon the Crown from such a Publick Work, which the happy experience His Majesty hath had of the New-Castle Trade of Coal, were there no other Commodity then Coal to be trans­ported in such Rivers, may invite him to, and which may be setled with so great Chearfulness of the Subject, as that a great abatement of the Rates of the Commodities traffique'd in may he had thereby; notwithstanding such imposition for His Majesty upon the same, to the perpetual establishment of the Impost, as a just return to him for so Publique a good Work; to continue to him as one Diadem of his Crown for ever. The Publique proportionably enjoying the benefit thereof accordingly: By which mutual returnes unto each other, His Majsty and Subjects are naturally interwoven in the Pre­servation of each other: According to the Maxim, That by what the People, by the same the Government must grow: & vice versa: each of them in their several wayes and powers being to support each other.
• [Page 3]Fourthly, This Island will hereby be the better fortified, be­cause of the Increase of Watermen, the Walls thereof.
• Fiftly. By countenancing this work, Horse will be preserved: for­war, for Merchandize, or other purposes, as Occasion may offer, and the Wisdom of Your Majesty may think best to approve of.
• Sixtly, And what is well worthy of Observing, the High-wayes hereby will be much preserved, and become a very acceptable work to the Country, which now notwithstanding their great cost, is now a grievous Toil as well to man as beast, being now so unne­cessarily plowed up by Waggons of Prodigious Burthens, which in this Island are dayly travelling: And also to the insensible relief of this Island, by many other wayes and means to be discovered by us, as they shall be occasionally offered to us to understand.

And, indeed, the making of these Rivers Navigable, may be brought to pass, well nigh, at as easy a cost and charge as the Fen­ning works have been, though such great Works seemingly threaten great difficulties, which may not be foreseen or known till felt: Yet, re vera, the benefits are so innumerable and considerable which invites unto this Work in many places of this Island, as, at the very first sight, will shew such hazards to be too inconsiderable to put a Baffle, or occasion so Noble a Work, so feasable, and to so good purposes, and high ends, (where they are well ballanced, and ma­naged by well pondered resolutions) to be laid aside: there being in this Island, Sufficiency of all sorts of Provisions for undertaking of the same, which Prince or People, either are, or may be, unquesti­onably furnished with, being appointed of Council, in all wayes re­quisite for such an enterprise of the choicest stamp, and of hands and means (in this so populous and great trading Nation) so inexpres­sibly endless, as must indisputably admit them by a presupposed ac­cord of both, to be interpreted in an easy capacity, to act unto effect above the Level of such a work as this: especially being English spi­rits (who by their high Transactions almost of all kinds through­out the world) are deemed to admit nothing difficult but by them with Ceremony to be brought to pass, so it be but fit in Prudence to be undertaken, and the more the difficulty and greatness of the Work is apparent, let it be carried on with the greater Chearful­ness, as to the more atchievement of our Honours in the Success [Page 4]thereof, after the manner of Atlas who is decypher'd to have car­ried the World upon his Shoulders, without groaning.

Over and besides the Variety of great and constant charges which are to be expended in & about the effecting and continued fruition of this great Improvement, there will be pre-required a Purchase of, or other agreement for such Mills, and Parcels of Grounds, from the In­heritours of them or from such as have the same by Lease, or from both; which intervenes in and upon such Channels or Lands, which are so practicably capable amongst us (by the Industry of man for good purpose) of being cut, opened, cleansed and otherwise fitted for Navigation, and shall best accommodate such design: The Banks of such Channels where there must be Occasion for Towing of the Vessels to be Navigated with by the Assistance of Horse or man, being so necessary an appurtenant to be made use of, together with such River to be made Navigable: (as well as the frequent Occasi­ons, which may be expected to be had of the same Banks, for the Cleansing and other amendments of such Rivers) must obliege to agreements for the same, wherein let the Seller departing from his right at anothers Will, ever have advantage. All which sort of Pur­chases or Agreements (in every several place where the same are to be made) and Sasses therein to be erected, for the raising of the Water to a convenient depth for the Vessels to ride in, by the particular skill and prudence of knowing Surveyors in such works, be directed unto, after a strict Geometrical Survey of the several in­tervening Platforms of grounds in and about every such several place where such work is to be wrought, and Sasses to be planted, as the Nature of the place which requires such purchase for such Improve­ment shall direct such Artist unto, ever regarding (though the Cir­clings, windings of such Grafts for Rivers, made, or to be amended for Vessels to sail in, shall thereby much enlarge the worke in mea­sure.)

• I. As well to avoid the Injuring of the Neighboring Coun­tryes by the overflowing of the Banks, where such work is wrought, as to wave the insupportable charge of fitting a passage through craggy Rocks for a shorter cut, as a serviceable border, occasional­ly to be made use of for man or beast to tow in— And
• II. To make or appoint such graft (as designed for the [Page 5]safe and firm erecting or planting of each such Sluce or Sass in, as shall by such surveying Artist be judged requisite for such work) to be winding in the form of a Bow. Such a River as is so, to be taught the Use of Navigation, for diversion of the force of the Main stream, from off such Sass, in avoidance of rending up or breaking of the same, which by the Natural force and current of the Stream, especially in floods and Storms (if such Sasses should be planted upon the most current Streams of the River, which they are to be inservient unto) must reasonably be expected — And no other means, ever was, or is imaginable, for the fitting of a Ri­ver of great Streams in many places, oft times too shallow for the draught of a Vessel of Convenient Burthen, for good Use upon such River, or for the apting of one River unto another, by cutting a graft betwixt two Rivers, at such a Level as the Water of the one shal run into the other, so as a Vessel may sail, or be towed from one of the Rivers unto the other at arbitrement, except by such Sasses penning up, and thereby raising the water for use as by so ma­ny stairs or steps as is or may be wanting to become of convenient depth for the transport of Vessels of so good Burthen, as may be to good purpose, fit for the producing of a Comerce by Navigation between any one Country of this Island and another.

Nor can the pulling up of Corn Mills (the onely Obstruction, as being of a more publick service then any other intervening good) be a sufficient pretence to impede this Enterprize of making such Ri­vers Navigable, as by consideration of their Service to the Country, shall be found fit to made Navigable; seing that the Necessary Of­fice of such Mills may be performed at an easyer charge by Horse-mills, by Wind-mills, or by Mills termed River-Mills, which in the Low-Countryes, and some parts of Italy are familiarly made use of in flat bottomed Boates, and thereby conveyed to Service (as the Occasion of the Country may require) from one place unto ano­ther, which by reason of the Number and certainty of the Gryst of Corn at appointed times to be had, wrought by the Water-mills now in use amongst us; the advantage of which, is little more then a slight kind of Ceremony to man, an unfit Consideration to lay aside a real Improvement, as is this, of making apt Rivers in the aptest pla­ces Navigable, and the Right of Soaks belonging to the Inheritours [Page 6]of such Mills, as are so to be removed, are preadmitted to be reta­liated for with good advantage to the Owner: but if this great Consumption of Timber be still permitted, there will not be enough to build either Water-mill or Wind-mill.

Yet, if any Owner be of so morose a Spirit, as to bid a Contradi­ction to the worlds and his own advantage, for his supposed un­questionable Vineyards sake, Its reasonably to be understood a du­ty incumbent upon His Majesty and Parlament, in such a case as Guardian to all Subjects goods and rights (as his Catholique Ma­jesty in his Dominions of Spain, takes charge of all the Substance, and affaires of persons as are Lunatiques, governing their affairs sine sine, modo & mensura) that His Majesty and Parlament may dis­pose of the Estates of such persons (will they nill they) as to the Publique, shall seem best, without the concurrence of them.

In every place where the making of a River Navigable is de­signed to be enterprized, there is seriously to be considered what improvement may most probably accrew to the Land or any part of the Land thereby, viz. what charge may be sa­ved, and what profit may by means thereof be had, which else could not be had, and a conference of this must be had, with what must be expended for effecting of such work, a computation sufficiently easy, unto abundant satisfaction to be made, for where amongst other services, such Rivers shall become subservient to some certain great Staple Trade, the Profit both to King and Sub­ject being certain to be alwayes great (admitting the ordinary Pro­vidence of Heavens influence in the preserving of such Trade) And the the charge being but once, and that to be probably effected by one years profit, accrewable by such River, or well near there­abouts, reasonably to be computed by the necessary and great Trade of Coales, &c. unquestionably to be concluded upon, to be had upon such River by the Countryes great want of fuell bordering upon the same, all other Trades to be had upon such Rivers bear­ing their proper share, in the assistance of it, and considering fur­ther, that such works are alwayes to be wrought, where the grounds (which are to be so cut through) are to be found, or ad­mitted to be so favorable in their Scite and nature to the Work, as that of themselves they much lean to the doing of the same: where­by [Page 7]by the charge must be esteemed moderate and such River already had or to be made at, or well nigh, so moderate rates must, primo intuitu, be deemed properly worthy to be so fitted for Navigation, all other constant immergent charges of preserving the River, once made so Navigable being too Inconsiderable to out-weigh the Scales in this case.

By this Lesbian Rule, I have surveyed, examined, and found di­vers Rivers within this Island in apt places for such Trade practica­ble, with ease to be made thus Navigable, and more particu­larly,

• First, That the River Avon of Bristol, may be, by the prescri­bed means of Art, charge and power upon the premised, prudent Ballance of Charge and Profit, be made Navigable from Bristol to Calne, or to Mamsbury in Wiltshire, and by cutting a Graft of five Miles, or thereabout, in length onely, through a ground which I found favorable by Nature, for such purpose: the same River may take its Journey for the same use, (planting Sasses also aptly upon the same) from Mamesbury to Leshlade in Oxfordshire, and there salute the River Isis already Navigable, which so delivers it self into the Thames, and bring the Trade of Ireland, the Rich fruits of Corn­wall, Devon and Sommerset, Mendip Hills, and Wales, and any other Portage, as well as of the Intervening Countryes, to the Cit­tyes of Bristol and London, mentioned; and back again at will; by so much a shorter and safer cut; (as will appear more plainly by di­vers Maps, and other printed Papers, set forth at my own particu­lar charge) and so much lesser charge of Portage then else can be (one boat upon the same carrying as much as an hundred horse) as must exceedingly abate the price, by lessening the Char­ges of the Commodities of the same: and more particularly bring an Immeasurable Trade of Coales from Wales and Bristol, to the im­ploying of many thousand Subjects in Mines, and also about the River, and the great advance of many a man by Merchandize, in and about the same; to the incredible Relief of the bordering Countryes of Wiltshire, Glocestershire, Oxfordshire, and others ly­ing on or near the same, as far as His Majesty shall from time to time think meet in prudence to admit of; ever regarding the Pre­serve [Page 8]of His Newcastle Trade, the great support of His Navy, which by the Supplyes of the aforementioned Countryes from Bristol will not be endamaged: This proposed Trade of Coal, not clashing with the Newcastle Trade at all; so much more may His Maj [...]sties Coffers be enriched, then now they are, as well as by other Imposts; by an Impost upon this Trade of Coales in the River Avon of Bri­stol becoming Navigable, as is set forth, Insensible to those Coun­tryes, which are to be supplyed by the same, being they now pay thrice the rates for Coal to what the same may be afforded at by the Merchant, notwithstanding his discharge of such great Impost upon the same: and all other Commodities may be commerced in, upon this River, at half the Charge of what is paid for Land carriage or Portage, much to the Subjects ease and happiness, which also may afford a very considerable Return to His Majesty for the same, to be squared out, when the River shall become thus Navigable, as His Majesty and Parlament (by Ballance of the Gain of Portage in each particular Commodity to be thereby had above what is now had) shall deem most just to both. And its worthy to be consi­dered, how great a relief of Coal, in times of Warr at Sea, the City of LONDON may enjoy by this Atchievement, Let the Ci­ties incredible want of Coal, near to the hazard of an Insurrection, in our late Conflicts with the Dutch, and the great Ingredient, the Consideration of this want was of, to the Necessary contracting of that Speedy Peace with them, convince us: Were my Advises of Sufficient Interest to take place at the Helme, no earlier enterprize should be made, then this of making Rivers Navigable within this Island, as is above set forth, in Order to a secure Relief of this most famous City of LONDON, with all sorts of Commodi­ties, as, Timber, Stone, Lead, Iron, and all other Materials for re­edifying the same, (by a prudent Care) upon Occasion of such di­stress to be had, or threatned, by War or otherwise. And its well wor­thy to be considered of how great Relief this may be, by the Por­tage of an Army, as is above set forth.
• Secondly, I find, that after the like manner to the like Traffique of Commodities (when those tempestuous Seas, for want of con­venient Harbours upon the Borders of Lincolnshire, bids denyal [Page 9]to all safe Trade there, to the like great Imployment of Miners, and other men, and great enrichment of many a Merchant there­by: the like relief to His Majesty and Subjects, in the charge of Portage, as Occasion shall require an abatement of rates through divers Countryes thereby, and the like Return of Impost upon all Commodities, with the like amicable respect, by an equal ballance of what each Commodity will bear, by consent of Parlament, to be setled upon His Majesty for the same; as the River Avon of Bri­stol: may the River Waveney be made Navigable, by cutting of a convenient graft near Loppam Bridge, sufficient for Navigation, less then three Miles (through grounds, in their own Nature favo­rable for such an Enterprize) into Little Ouse which carryes it self unto Linn in Norfolk, and by Planting Sasses upon those Rivers, as shall be advised by the prescribed directions: any Commodities (as occasion shall require) may be hereby conveyed to the Use of Suf­folk, and Norfolk. These two Rivers so dividing those two Coun­tries from Yarmouth unto Linn, whence there is an open passage already had to Boston, with such Rivolets shooting out in Armes to Cambridge, the Isle of Ely and other places, provided by Na­ture to the convenient supply of those parts, so as any thing may by that means be transported unto Boston, and thence up the Ri­ver Witham unto the City of Lincoln, whence by opening the pas­sage (by neglect shut up) betwixt that City and York Sea, upon Trent, heretofore made Navigable, as Cambden reports, by our Henry the first, in a tender of his Subjects ease, in his Progresses of State which he first begun) a like transport, to the immediate great service of the Counties of Nottingham, Lincoln and Derby, may any Commodities be transported there, and thence for York, and all the Countryes adjacent to those Mediterranean passages, as the Maps and Histories of them, (shewing all these Intervening Ri­vers, then by Nature free for Navigation, unto York, and other neighboring parts) will best set forth, in which perhaps a King hath sayled. This way may be an interchange of all reliefs which any of the neighbouring Counties may supply each other with, betwixt York and Yarmouth, and Armies may occasionally, with incredible advantage to themselves and Country (as was said to be done by the same Prince) be conveyed upon the same.

But the Country then being Strangers to the Trade of Coal, a Commodity, then and for several Generations fully prevented by the ready supply of Wood for fewel, and all other Traffique of these Countries being much short of what now the same is; This New-cut River of seven miles betwixt Lincolne and Torksea, for want of Ʋse became sludg'd up and is grown into a Pasture, which the onely Trade of Coales (which it might be accommoda­ted with) from Nottingham-shire, Derby-shire or Yorkshire, were it now Navigable as then it was, as well to the great relief of all the aforemen ioned Countryes as the enrichment of Your Maje­stie would now preserve; And let these observations made on these two Rivers induce unto an Inquest, and Ballance of other Ri­vers within this Island: and bring those Parts into a flourishing Con­dition, all sorts of Commodities from the Eastern parts of the World being equally distributed to the North and East of England, (as by the former design of opening the Rivers between London and Bristol, to the Western parts is exemplifi'd) in and from abroad communicated to the West and South.