8r

HISTORY OF

commissioners in the room of such as die or refuse to act, and the re-gulation of their meetings. Purchase moneys for lands, &c. in strictsettlement to be placed out in government’s funds, &c. &c. Fe-lony for any person to destroy or damage the works. The writings inpursuance of this act to be exempted from the stamp-duties, and noproceeding taken in pursuance thereof to be quashed for want of form.The navigation to be free upon paying the tolls. The duke, &c. em-powered to six the tonnage rates, which are not to exceed two shillingsand six-pence per ton; and rates neglected to be paid may be sued foror levied, and a farther allowance is to be made for goods remaining onthe wharfs above twenty-four hours. The owners of lands, &c. tohave free liberty to carry dung by the canal to their lands. Rights oflords of manors saved; and owners of vessels to be responsible fortheir servants. Vessels lying so as to obstruct the navigation to be re-moved, and funk vessels to be weighed up. The next clauses direct themanner of collecting and ascertaining the tonnage rates, the manage-ment upon differences, &c. Any person throwing ballast into thecanal, to forfeit twenty shillings. Persons giving false evidence in thepremises, to be prosecuted and punished as persons guilty of wilful andcorrupt perjury. The proceedings of the commissioners to be register-ed, and a clerk appointed. The next clause directs the recovery andapplication of penalties. Persons aggrieved may appeal to the quartersessions for the county of Lancaster. The commissioners may act asjustices. The former act mentioned in the preamble is repealed: ac-tions brought on this act must be commenced within six calendarmonths after the offence: the party convicted to pay treble costs, andthe act to be deemed a public act.

The second act enables his grace, at his own expence, to make anavigable cut or canal from or near Worsiey Mill, over the river Irwell,to the town of Manchester, and to, or near, Longford-bridge, in thetownship of Stretford, in Lancashire. The powers of the former actare extended to this, but the breadth of the canal and towing-paths notto be limited. His grace is empowered to make arches over the river

Irwell,