LONDON, MARCH 26, 1750 .

WHEREAS an Act of Parliament was made in the Third Year of His Present Majesty, for the Regulation
and Improvement of the Navigation of the River Thames Westward from London; and Commissioners
were therein appointed for executing the same But the Powers granted to the said Commissioners
being defective, and they having for Several Year [..] sed to act; the said Navigation is become very
chargeable, by the Owners of the Locks, I own [..] advancing their Prices, and by several other Ob-
structions that have of late Years arisen to the sa [..] at Prejudice of the Trade and Commerce carried
on between the Cities of London and Westminster , an [..] several Counties of Middlesex , Surry , Bucks, Berks,
Oxon, Gloucester , Wilts, Hants, and diverse other Par [..] And unless some Provision is made for removing
more effectually the Shelves, Sand-Banks, and Obstrucons in the Channel of the said River and moderating
the Expence of Navigating the same, it is to be feared that the said Navigation will soon become so chargeable,
tedious and uncertain as to be of little Use to the Public To the End therefore that the State of the said Na-
vigation may be fully considered, and some Method concluded upon for rendering the same more safe, easy, and
expeditious than it has been hitherto, a Proposal has be made, and approved of, by several Gentlemen well ac-
quainted with the State of the said Navigation, that an exact Survey shall be taken of the said River, Locks,
Towing-Paths, Etc. and a Plan of the same be drawn, to be laid before the Parliament next Sessions; by which a
clear Judgment may be made at is necessary to be do for compleating the said Navigation. The Public is
so much interested this Undertaking, the City [..] to the River
doubted but the same will meet with due Encouragement. And seeing the only Way at Prefer to raise Money for
defraying the Expence of the Survey, and of a new Act of Parliament, is by a voluntary Subscription; it is hop'd
that this Design, so useful to the Publick, will not be lot or rendered ineffectual, for want of the necessary As-
sistance. And when the Survey is compleated, and a Petition made to Parliament for a new Act, a List of the
Subscribers will be given in, and a humble Request m [..] that Part of the Money to be appropriated by Parlia-
ment for Improvement of the said Navigation, may be applied for reimbursing such of the Subscribers as shall
desire the same. We therefore, whose Names are hereto [..] Subscribed, being willing to promote to useful a Work,
have advanced the respective Sums under-mentioned, to be deposited in the Hands of Mr. Hugh Ross< no role > , Junior,
in Thames-Street , London, and applied for the Purpose abvoe-mentioned.