Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/347

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prietors, in either case, binding themselves, under the penalty of £40 for each offence, to keep a supply of coals sufficient for the consumption of the town, at a wharf in or near the same.

There are few private works of more real utility to the public than Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal, which has added considerably to the interests of the inhabitants of Newcastle, by the regularity wherewith they are supplied with coal at a moderate charge.

GRIMSBY PORT OR HAVEN.

36 George III. Cap. 98, Royal Assent 14th May, 1796.

39 George III. Cap. 70, Royal Assent 12th July, 1799.

THE wet docks in Grimsby Harbour or Haven are connected with the mouth of the Humber, in the tideway of that river, by one of the largest cuts in the kingdom, being calculated to admit ships of as much as one thousand tons burthen. The length of the canal is inconsiderable, being only one mile and a half, with one lock 126 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 27 feet high within the walls; which lock, independent of the charge for piling and foundations, cost upwards of £14,000. Mr. Rennie was the engineer employed upon this useful undertaking; the first act for which was put in execution soon after the royal assent thereto had been obtained. The wet docks at Grimsby having proved insufficient, an addition thereto of three acres was made and completed in 1804, under the powers of the second act obtained in 1799. The direction of the canal is south-west, and the depth of water in it 20 feet.

When Grimsby obtained the privilege of becoming (independent of Hull) a port for the purpose of Foreign imports and exports, the extent of the port was precisely defined by his Majesty's commissioners; and, by the act of parliament, and the powers and privileges granted to the port, certain dues can be charged upon all shipping which enter the same. But the enumeration of such charges could answer no purpose, except to lengthen this article; we therefore think it better to refer parties immediately interested in the port dues, to the act of parliament under which they are imposed.