The first act relating to this navigation was obtained in the 16th of George III. and entitled, An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal, within and from certain Lands belonging to Thomas Talbot Foley, Esq. in the parish of Dudley, in the county of Worcester, to join and communicate with the Stourbridge Navigation, at a place called Black Delph, upon Pensnet Chace, in the parish of Kingswinford, in the county of Stafford. The original subscribers to this canal were only twenty-one in number; amongst whom, however, was the Right Honourable John Lord Dudley and Ward. They were incorporated by the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Dudley Canal Navigation," with power to raise among themselves the sum of £7,000, in seventy shares of £100 each; and an additional sum of £5,000, either among themselves, or by the admission of new subscribers. By this act were also granted the following
TONNAGE RATES.
| Iron, Iron-stone, Coal, Timber, Stone, and all other Goods, Wares, and Merchandize, (for the whole Length, or any part of it) | 6d per Ton. |
Wharfage to be charged for any Goods lying more than Twenty-four Hours.
EXEMPTION.
Lime and Lime-stone to pay only One-third of the above Rates; but Paving-stones, Gravel, Sand, and other Materials for the repair of Roads, (except Lime-stone) Dung, Soil, Marl, and all Sorts of Manure for the improvement only of Lands belonging to Persons whose Lands may be taken for this Canal is exempt, provided they do not pass a Lock, except at such times as when the Water flows over the Lock Weir.
Forty Feet of Round, or Fifty Feet of Square Oak, Ash, or Elm Timber, and Fifty Feet of Fir, or Deal, Balk, Poplar, and other Wood, shall be deemed a Ton; and Six Score Pounds Avoirdupois shall be deemed a Hundred Weight for the Purposes of this Act.
Boats under Fifteen Tons not to pass Locks without leave.
Owners of lands may erect wharfs, and are allowed the following rates.
RATES OF WHARFAGE.
| For Coal, Lime, Lime-stone, Clay, Iron, Gravel, Timber, Stone, Brick, Tile, or Slate, which shall lie on the Wharfs more than Six Hours during the Day | 1½d per Ton. |
| Any other Goods or Merchandize which shall not continue more than Six Days | 3d ditto. |
The second act was obtained in 1785, for the purpose of opening a communication with the Birmingham Canal, which they were prohibited from doing by a clause in the former act. It is
