Edward III. the navigation appears to have been supported by a drainage rate; but in Michaelmas Term of this year, a presentment to the Court of King's Bench, having for its object the imposing of this burthen for ever on the owners of the adjacent lands, was unsuccessful, and it was then abandoned. Other commissions have, from time to time, been issued for improving the river; one in the 8th of Richard II. directed to John Duke of Lancaster, and others of the nobility; but it does not appear that much was done betwixt this period and the passing of the act of 23rd Charles II. entitled, 'An Act for improveing the Navigacion betweene the towne of Boston and the River Trent;' and by which act, the necessary powers were granted to the Mayor and Corporation of Lincoln, who were authorized, for this purpose, to receive certain tolls upon the Witham and Fossdike, but restrained from laying out monies derived from the navigation of the Fossdike on the improvement of the Witham, and vice versa. Notwithstanding this act, the corporation confined their operations to the restoring of the Fossdike only.
The act of the 2nd George III. is entitled, 'An Act for draining and preserving certain Low Lands called The Fens, lying on both sides of the River Witham, in the county of Lincoln; and for restoring and maintaining the Navigation of the said River, from the High Bridge, in the city of Lincoln, through the borough of Boston, to the Sea;' in the preamble of which act it is stated, that by the sand and silt brought in by the tide, the outfal to the sea had for many years last past been greatly obstructed, and that the navigation had in consequence been lost, or nearly so. The act appointed commissioners for the purpose of carrying its provisions into execution; and for defraying the necessary expenses of the navigation, they were empowered to collect, for every description of goods, wares, merchandize, or other commodities, passing up or down the river, the sum of 1s. 6d. per ton.
In 1808 another act was obtained, entitled, 'An Act for rendering more effectual an Act of his present Majesty, for draining certain Low Lands lying on both sides of the River Witham, in the county of Lincoln; and for restoring the Navigation of the said River, from the High Bridge, in the city of Lincoln, to the Sea,' by which the commissioners are authorized to build a lock
