Regulations and Orders of the Governors, Bailiffs, and Conservators of the Bedford Level Corporation: with the lot book. Corrected to the present time by S. Wells, etc

Preface

. The Board having ordered the Register to prepare and publish a new Lot Book, con taining the division of the Adventurers' Lands within the Bedford Level, the standing Orders and Regulations of the Board, published in the years 1814 and 1821, being now out of print, and many additional Regulations and Orders having been made since those periods ; the Register has reprinted them, without alter ing the originals, and has only added those which have been passed since the year 1821. The Register has, however, ventured to in clude a few other subjects of information, which he trusts will be found (with the corrected Lot Book) useful for reference, and he hopes the whole will form a complete compendium, within a reasonable and con venient compass, for the information of all persons interested in the property and affairs of the Bedford Level.

Fen Office, Sergeants' -Inn, 20th Oct. 1840. TO THE MOST NOBLE FRANCIS, DUKE OF BEDFORD, GOVERNOR OF THE BEDFORD LEVEL CORPORATION THE WORTHY SUCCESSOR OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS MAX, WILLIAM, FIRST DUKE THE GREAT BENEFACTOR OF THE FENS ; ON WHOM THE DUCAL CORONET RIGHTFULLY AND GRACIOUSLY BESTOWED BY HIS SOVEREIGN, AS A REWARD FOR PUBLIC VIRTUE UNDER DEEP DOMESTIC AFFLICTION TO I J©0_,iL®W3[Ki© ©®iL[LS©¥D©Kl OF THE REGULATIONS AND ORDERS OF THE CORPORATION IS DEDICATED, AS A SMALL, BUT HONEST TESTIMONY OF RESPECT FOR THE PRIVATE VIRTUES AND UNBLEMISHED PUBLIC INTEGRITY WHICH ADORN THE CHARACTER OF HIS GRACE, AND ADD LUSTRE TO THE HONOURS OF THE HOUSE OF RUSSELL. The following Note wus placed at the commencement of the Edition of the Standing Orders and Regulations, printed in the year 1821. " The duties of the Superintendents, aud of the persons under them, and the proceedings of the Board as to several other matters of a public nature, are, in part, regulated by separate Orders and Resolutions made at different times ; which are here collected and arranged, with a reference to the Meetings at which they were passed.

The remaining Regulations, except a few alterations, are the same as were printed in 1814, and those alterations, with some explanations and notes added by the Register, were examined and approved at the General April Meeting, held at Ely, on Tuesday the 17th April, 1821." PRESENT. BAILIFFS. THE REV. GEORGE JENYNS. WILLIAM HENRY FELLOWES, Esa., M.P. THE RIGHT HON. PHILIP EARL OF HARDWICKE, K. G. JOHN THURLOW DERING, Esq. CONSERVATORS. HENRY SPENCER WADD1NGTON, Esa JOHN EDES, Esa. RICHARD ORTON, Esa. THOMAS SKEELES, Esa- THOMAS ORTON, Esq. JONATHAN PAGE, Esa. WILLIAM ROBERTS, Esa. JOHN FRYER, Jun., Esa. HENRY JAMES NICHOLLS, Esa TYCHO WING, Esa. Robert Bevill, Register. Fen-office, Temple, April 23, 1821. CONTENTS.

Part I. Pace

Introduction 1 REGULATIONS AND ORDERS. Section I. Divisions of the Great Level. The Middle Level 6 The South Level ib. The North Level ib. Section II. Particulars of the Works in each Division. Middle Level. — North Division 7 Banks ib. Sluices 8 Bridges ib. Rivers to Road ib. Gault Pits 9 Middle Level. — South Division ib. Banks 10 Sluices ib. Bridges ib. Rivers to Road ib. Gault Pits ib. Middle Level. — East Division ib. Banks li Sluices and Tunnels 12 Bridges ib. Rivers to Road ib. South Level ib. Banks I o Sluices and Tunnels ib. Bridges ib. Rivers to Road , . 13 Gault Pits ib. North Level 1 1 Banks 19 Rivers ib. Gault Pit 20 Public Roads ib. Private Roads 21 Private Drainages ib. Public Tolls ib. Private Tolls ib. CONTENTS. X Section II. (Continued.) PA0® Sluices and Tunnels 22 Ferries y Bridges, Public ly Bridges, Private *b. Officers 24 Taxes 25 Taxes purchased off ib.

Section III. The Corporate Body 27 The Board or Select Body 27-29 Governor 29 Bailiffs 27—29 Conservators 30, 3 1 Commonalty 32 Section IV. Officers of the Corporation and their Duties 33 Honorary Surveyor-General 35 Register 36 Duties of Register ib. Fen Office Committee 37 Regulations on the Death of a Register ib. List of previous Registers 38 Receiver and Expenditor-General 39 List of previous Receiver and Expenditor-Generals 40 The Auditor ib. List of previous Auditors 42 The Sergeant-at-Mace 43 List of previous Sergeants-at-Mace 44 The Superintendents ib. Orders, &c 47 Section V. Yearly Reports 49 Yearly Answers to printed Queries by the Superintendents 51 Section VI. Public and other Houses, Cottages, &c. —Orders as to 52 Public-houses ib, Cottages 53 Additional Orders as to Cottages ib.

Section VII. Gault Pits, Lands and Materials .. 55 Roswell Hill Pits ib. Orders 56 Section VIII. Rivers and Drains 58 Orders 59 Branghill Pits, near Mepal contents. xi Section VIII. {Continued.) rAGK Horseway Pits, near Chatteris 61 Stonald Pits and Bassinghally Pits, in Whittlesey ib. Materials ib. Lands ib. Section IX. Sluices, Tunnels, and Bridges 62 Orders 64 Sluices 65 Sluices, &c. in general 67 Bridges 68 Section X. The Tongs Drain ib. Form of Order for opening the Doors of the Tongs Drain 69 Orders as to running the Tongs 70 Fresh "Water through the Sluices "1 Orders as to admission of ib. Orders as to Banks thereof 72 Section XI. Floods and Breaches 76 Section XII. Receipts and Payments by Superintendents 81

Part II. Regulations And Orders Relating To Different Subjects

Section I. Meetings 87 General Orders 88 Committees of the Board 91 General Committee of Works and View 92 The Legal Committee 93 Section II. District Commissioners. Orders 93 Section III. Permission to build Bridges, lay Tunnels, etc 97 Section IV. Yearly Accounts, Finance, and Rents in Arrear 9S The Finance and General Expenditure Committee ib. Section V. The Corporate Seal 99 Section VI. Triennial Lettings 101 Orders ib. Public-houses 102 Banks, Fisheries, Tolls, Lands, &c. . . . 103 General Conditions ib. CONTENTS. Section VI. (Continued.) page Further Conditions as to Banks, Lands, &c 104 Fisheries 106 Tolls ib- Fees on Leases ib. Section VII. Arrear Roll, and Sale of Land for Taxes 107 Orders Ill Section VIII. Annual Allotments 112 Section IX. Cottages 116 New Cottages ib. Old Cottages, not underlet ib.

Old Cottages underlet 117 Section X. Registration of Deeds and Wills. .. . 118 Orders 119 Section XI. Tolls 121 Bridges 122 Payment of Tolls (Denver Sluice Bridge) ib. Exemptions ib. Tolls (Hermitage, Salter's Lode and Standground Bridges) ib. Exemptions 123 Banks and Forelands ib. Payments or Tolls at the Gate near the Hermitage, aud on the Old Bedford Bank ib. Exemptions 1 24 Payments or Tolls at Witcham Gravel . ib. Exemptions 1 25 Payments or Tolls at Welch's Dam . . ib. Exemptions 126 Yearly Payments or Tolls ib. Exemptions 127 Orders ib. Section XII. Bills before Parliament 128 Parliamentary Committee 1,34 Section XIII. The Adventurers' Lands ib. Section XIV. The Annual Taxes 137 Section XV. Eau Brink and the New Bedford, or the One Hundred Feet River 145 Section XVI. The Corporation and the Wisbech and downham turnpike Trustees 147 Concluding Note, by rtS-ffimxMiR Great Level. THE BEDFORD LEVEL.

PART I.

Introduction

.

The Great Level of the Fens was first denominated the Bedford Level, by the General Drainage Act, passed 15 Car. II., c. 15, and contains upwards of 300,000 acres of marsh land, fertilized by and (with subsequent artificial rivers or cuts made to facilitate drainage) passing their waters by three ancient navigable rivers, called the Nene, the Ouze, and the Welland, and discharging them through the ports of Wisbech, Lynn, and Bos ton, into the Great Estuary called "The Wash," and thence into the German Ocean. The Great Level is situate in the several counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cam bridge, Huntingdon, Northampton, and Lincoln, and in the Isle of Ely. It is supposed to have been originally drained by the Romans, whose gigantic works are still partially perceptible. The drainage was afterwards at tempted under the authority of divers inquisitions and commissions of sewers, which were continually issued during the middle ages, under the sanction and authority chiefly of those influential personages the Abbots of Ramsey, Peterborough, Thorney, Crowland, and Ely, who, with their dependents, were the principal proprietors.

B ■J The Bedford Level. 43rd Eliz. c. 11. Considerable portions of the Fens were, however, appendant or appurtenant to the Lords of Manors and inhabitants of adjoining parishes ofthe Level; being open commons, the drainage was not encouraged by the owners or tenants of common rights ; consequently, the land became a perfect swamp, applicable to fishing, fowling, and pursuits of that nature. Civilization, cultivation, and commerce making rapid progress immediately after the Reformation, in the 43rd year ofthe reign of Queen Elizabeth (c. 11), an Act of Parliament was passed, entitled — " An Act for recovering " many hundred thousand acres of Marshes and other "grounds, subject commonly to surrounding, within the " Isle of Ely, and the counties of Cambridge, Huntingdon, " Northampton, Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk, Sussex, Essex, " Kent, and county palatine of Durham."

This Act, after reciting that great improvement might be made between lords and commoners of great marshes in several counties, and persons undertaking to keep them perpetually dry, and that the draining and making dry and profitable those surrounded grounds was chiefly hindered, for that the greater part of them were wastes and commons, subject yearly to surrounding, whom divers had common by prescription, by reason of their residency and inhabitancy, which kind of common and their interest therein could only by law be extinguished or granted, to bind others which should inhabit them afterwards ; and in that it also appeared, that the commoners, in respect of their poverty, were unable to pay the great charges to such as should undertake the recovery of the same. The Act then proceeds to lay down the mode of effecting a bargain between the Lords and Commoners and the Undertakers.

The field was now open, and the obstacles to drainage at once removed by the proprietors, and particularly Lords of Manors, Commoners, and Commissioners of The Bedford Level. Lynn Law Indenture of fourteen parts. Charter of Incorpora tion. Sewers, were enabled to enter into contracts; and doubtless this Act must be considered as the happy dawn ofthe drainage of the Bedford Level, having called into action those great energies which, after a lengthened period, terminated in the accomplishment of what has been justly and em phatically called — " a noble work." In the year 1630, after an ineffectual attempt on the part of King James the First, that illustrious and patriotic nobleman, Francis, first Earl of Bedford, at the earnest solicitation of the country, individually entered into a contract (called the " Lynn Law ") with certain Commis sioners of Sewers for the execution of this great and noble work, in which his Lordship was subsequently joined by other eminent and wealthy personages, as co-under takers, upon terms mentioned in a certain document, dated 20th day of February, 1631, called " The Indenture of fourteen parts."

For the performance of the undertaking, the Earl and his co-undertakers were to receive 95,000 acres, part of the said 300,000, and a Charter of Incorporation was granted by the Crown in the year 1637; but which Charter subsequent events have rendered obsolete at the present day, although it undoubtedly contains many beneficial and wholesome provisions, some of which have been made available in modern times. All was proceeding satisfac torily when, suddenty, a claim was made by his Majesty King Charles I., and ultimately conceded, for 10,000 acres, part of the said recompense ; and the Lord Trea surer or Prime Minister, Weston, Earl of Portland (of a family in no degree connected with that of Bentinck, from which the present Duke of Portland is descend ed), also made and sustained a further claim for 2000 acres, as a kind of bonus for his Lordship's powerful mediation: thus reducing the original recompense to b2 The Bedford Level.

Saint Ives! Law. Pretended Act 15 Car. II c. 17. 83,000 acres. This great reduction, the constant hos tility of the Crown (notwithstanding the concession), and of parts of the country, with the great excess of expenditure beyond the original calculation, greatly occasioned by the difficulty of finding highland earth for the banks ; and also, it must be added, the de sertion of some, and the ruin of others of the ctf-under takers, compelled the Earl to abandon the undertaking, with considerable loss ; and, consequently, all the works went to decay. Providence did not, however, totally desert so meritorious a work. That incomparably great and good man, William, first Duke and fifth Earl of Bedford, although labouring under the severest public disappointments and domestic afflictions, finding that the 95,000 acres had been duly set out by metes and bounds to the late Earl and his co-undertakers, by Commissioners appointed for that purpose, who had executed their award, bearing date the 12th day of Oc tober, 1637, a]id called the " Saint Ives' Law," applied to the Parliament of the Commonwealth, and in the year 1649 obtained an Act for carrying the original plan into execution.

This Act has been erroneously called the " Pretended Act," inasmuch as it was re enacted immediately after the Restoration. Under the authority of this Act, the original works were renewed, and other important ones devised, all which continue without material alteration to the present day ; which being thus happily accomplished by the persevering efforts of this excellent nobleman, he concluded the great work, by obtaining from King Charles II. and the Parliament of the Restoration, an Act for the general Drainage of the Bedford Level, passed in the fifteenth year of the reign of that monarch, chapter 17, and which carefully sets out the entire boundary of the Bedford Level : the The Bedford Level. provisions of which Act now form the Charter and guidance of the present Bedford Level Corporation.* In concluding this brief Introduction, it may be said with great truth, that from the earliest to the latest period, the House of Russell has been the uniform, constant and strenuous supporter of the interests of the Fens, and the welfare of the Corporation.

It is well known that Francis, first Earl, and William first Duke, of Bedford, under went pecuniary sacrifices (independent of personal exer tions and bitter disappointments and desertions), which had a serious effect, even upon their princely resources. Wriothesley, third Duke, by his will remitted a debt of 2000/. due from the Corporation. John, fourth Duke, at the time of passing the North Level Act, gave up a debt of very large amount ; while the magnificent Nene Outfall and North Level Drainage Works present a splendid monument of the noble spirit of improvement which animated the late Duke. In matters of less mag nitude, too, the liberality of this illustrious family has been constantly displayed. The first Duke of Bedford, as the first Governor, presented the Corporation with their valuable Mace.

The late Duke gave the sum of 100/. towards the costs of the Corporation Barge ; and Francis, the present Duke, soon after his recent election as Governor, presented to the Corporation eight beautiful engravings of the Portraits of his ancestors (the bene factors of the Fens), which now adorn the Board-room of the Fen-office. Surely it would be unjust not to record these noble and generous acts, however humble the tablet on which they are inscribed. Fen Office, 20th October, 1840. * The whole of the Documents and Acts of Parliament referred to are fully set forth in Wells' History of the Bedford Level, vol. 2.

Section I. Divisions Of The Great Level

The Great Level of the Fens was separated into three principal Divisions, called the Middle, the South, and the North Levels, and their respective boundaries were defined. At a Meeting held at the Fen Office, on the 10th March, 1698, Resolved : That this Corporation is of opinion, that the three Levels are to be bounded as fol lows : — (London Orders, p. 33.) THE MIDDLE LEVEL. All that part of the 95,000 acres which lies on the north side of the Old Bedford River and the south side of More ton's Leam, as that part of the 95,000 acres belonging to the Middle Level, comprising about 150,000 acres. THE SOUTH LEVEL. All that part of the 95,000 acres which lies on the south side of Old Bedford River, as that part of the 95,000 acres belonging to the South Level, comprising about 120,000 acres. THE NORTH LEVEL.

And all that part of the 95,000 acres which lies between the north side of Moreton's Leam and the south side of Welland River, as that part of the 95,000 acres lyino within the North Level, and comprising about 40 000 acres.

Section II. Particulars Of The Works, In Each Division

THE MIDDLE LEVEL. At a Board, held at Ely, on the 21st December 1813, — Resolved, That the Middle Level and the works attached thereto be divided into three Divisions, and called the North, South, and East Divisions. THE NORTH DIVISION OF THE MIDDLE LEVEL. That the following be the southern and eastern boundary of the North Division of the Middle Level. From the end of the Forty Feet River near Ramsey, along that river to the Sixteen Feet Drain ; from thence along the Sixteen Feet Drain to Popham's Eau at the Black Sluice ; from thence along Popham's Eau to Well Creek ; and from thence along Well Creek to the River Ouze, at Salter's Lode Sluice ; and that whatever concerns the Corporation on the east side of the Ouze, and northward and westward of the above boundary, and westward of Ramsey Town, whether within the Middle Level or out of it, be considered as within or attached to the North Division of that Level ; including Moreton's Leam Wash, and the outfall to sea through Wisbech, so far as the Middle Level is interested therein ; together with the Tongs Drain.

The following are the principal Works in charge, within and attached to this Division : Banks. The Barrier or south Bank of Moreton's Leam, com mencing near Standground Sluice, and comprising Stand ground Bank, Horsecroft Bank, and the Five Mile Bank, NorthDivi' sion, Mid die Level. ending at an old tunnel near the Boat public-house, at Guyhirn. The Banks of the Tongs Drain. N.B. Formerly the Corporation repaired certain parts of the Great Bank of the Ouze, at the east end of the Tongs Drain, also between the Old Bedford River and Well Creek Sluices ; but by an Act passed 7 Wm. IV., — " To raise Funds for the future maintenance and repair of the Banks of the river Ouze, between Denver Sluice and the Eau Brink Cut, in the county of Norfolk," — the Corporation are relieved from the charge of these repairs Sluices.

Standground Sluice. Salter's Lode Sluice. The Sluices at the top and bottom of the Tongs Drain. N.B. The Black Sluice, on the Sixteen Feet River, was taken up and the materials sold, by order of the Board, 9th Sept., 1834. Bridges. Pond's Bridge, between Whittlesey and Ramsey. The Three Holes Bridge, at Popham's Eau. The Black Sluice Bridge, on the Sixteen Feet Bank. Rivers to Road, i.e., Weeds to be annually Cut. The Nene, from Standground Sluice by Raven's Willow and Conquest Lode, to Whittlesey Meer. The Nene, from Whittlesey Meer by Ugg Meer, and Ramsey Meer, and Benwick, to Flood's Ferry. Hieh Lode } . n -a-u t a fln Ramsey. Bill Lode. J Hook's Lode. Monk's Lode. Burbeach Stream. New Dyke. Ravclcy Drain. NorthDivi sion, Mid die Level. Bevill's Leam, from Whittlesey Meer to Whittlesey Dyke.

Whittlesey Dyke. The Nene, from Flood's Ferry, by Outwell, to Well Creek. Well Creek, from the Nene, to Salter's Lode Sluice. The Tongs Drain. Popham's Eau. The Sixteen Feet, called Thurlow's Drain. The Twenty Feet, called Moor's Drain, from Bevill's Leam to the river Nene. Bevill's Leam, from Duncomb's Corner to the Counter Drain. The Navigation Cut or Drain, between Moreton's Leam and Horsecroft and the Five-Mile Bank. The Counter Drain, from Basinghally to the end of Bevill's Leam. Gault Pits. Stonald and Basinghally in Whittlesey. Mr. Harry Little, Eldernell, near Whittlesey, Superin tendent. THE SOUTH DIVISION OF THE MIDDLE LEVEL. That from the end of the Forty Feet River, near Ramsey, where it joins the River Nene, along the Forty Feet River, to the east side of the Drain in the Wash called the Delph or Thirty Feet ; and from thence to the east side of the Old Bedford River, and along that side of the Old Bedford to Earith Town, including the site of the Old Bank on the Wash side of that river, with the Forelands, be the southern and eastern boundary ofthe South Division of the Middle Level ; and that whatever concerns the Corporation, south and west thereof, up to the hard lands east of Ramsey Town, be considered as within or attached to the South Division of the Middle Level ; and that the causeways across the Wash at Earith and Mepal, and the great Dyke and Sluice through the Wash, at or near Mepal, be considered as attached to that Division.

The following are the principal works in charge, within and attached to this Division : South Divi' sion, Mid die Level. Banks. The Barrier Bank on the north side ofthe Old Bedford, from Earith to the boundary-line at Welch's Dam, called the Upper Division. The Forty Feet Bank, from the corner of the Sutton and Mepal District to the River Nene Sluices. Welch's Dam Sluice. The Sluice at Mepal, at the end of the Great Dyke, leading through the Wash from the Old Bedford River to the Pits at Branghill Closes. The Sluice through Old Bedford Barrier Bank, below Earith. N.B. This Sluice was first erected in 1825. The Seven Holes Sluice at Earith Town's End is re paired by the Wash Commissioners, although the Sluice keeper is annually appointed by the Corporation. Bridges. The Bridges at Sutton Gault and Mepal over the Old Bedford River.

Welch's Dam Bridge over the Forty Feet River The Forty Feet Bridge near Ramsey. Rivers to Road. The Forty Feet River. The Delph and Drain in the Counter Wash, from Earith to Welch's Dam Gault Pits Horseway. Branghill Closes. Mr. John Owen, Mepal, near Chatteris, Superintendent. THE EAST DIVISION OF THE MIDDLE LEVEL. That the following be the boundary of the East Division of the Middle Level : From the point on East Diri sion, Mid die Level. the east side of the Drain in the Wash, called the Delph or Thirty Feet, where the line of the South Division turns southward along the Forty Feet River, to opposite the Sixteen Feet Drain ; and from thence along the Sixteen Feet Drain to Popham's Eau ; and from thence along Popham's Eau and Well Creek to Salter's Lode Sluice ; and from thence along the west bank of the Ouze to the One Hundred Feet River, and along that river to Well moor Lake Sluice ; and from Wellmoor Lake Sluice, including the Drain and Sluice, to opposite the corner called the Thorn Tree ; and from thence, along the south side of the Drain in the Wash called the Thirty Feet or the Delph, to the East Division of the South Level ; and from thence by the One Hundred Feet River to the Corporation stile in the Long Wash ; and that whatever concerns the Corporation lying within the above boundary, and not included in the North Division, be considered as within the said East Division of the Middle Level ; and that thecare of thenewly-erected Sluice at Wellmoor Lake, and the discharge of the waters of the Wash through that Sluice, be considered as attached thereto.

The following' are the principal works in charge, within or attached to this Division : Banks. The Barrier Bank, from opposite the Forty Feet River to the Thorn Tree. The Bank from the Thorn Tree to the One Hundred Feet River. The Bank by the side of the One Hundred Feet River and Long Wash, to the stile at the commencement of the late Mr. Gamble's Farm. N.B. The Bank from this stile to Old Bedford Sluice is repaired by the proprietors of that farm ; viz., from the Old Bedford Sluice to Denver Sluice, by the proprietor, under the Ouze Bank Act (7 Wm. IV.) ; and from thence to the stile at the commencement of East Dni sion, Mid dle Level. the late Mr. Gamble's Farm, adjoining the Long Wash, under an arrangement made with the Corporation and the Trustees of the late Mr. Gamble, in 1837- The whole is called the Lower Division of the Barrier Bank.

Sluices and Tunnels The Old Bedford Welney Tunnel. (Not used.) Wellmoor Lake Sluice, erected in 1825, in lieu of Wellmoor Lake Dam. Bridges. The Bridge over the Old Bedford at Welney. The Bridge over the Old Bedford at Welch's Dam. Boot's Bridge, leading from Manea to Wemblington. Rivers to Road. The Old Bedford, from Welch's Dam to the River Ouze. The Delph, from Welch's Dam to Wellmoor Lake Sluice. Mr. Joseph Sedgeley, Welney, near Wisbech, Super intendent. THE SOUTH LEVEL. That the whole of the South Level remain in one division, and be called the South Level Division ; except any part above described and attached to the South and East Divisions of the Middle Level. That the passage of the waters of the River Ouze and the outfall to sea of St. John's Eau, and the rivers discharging the waters of the Bedford Level into the Ouze above Denver Sluice ; also the passage of the waters above the Hermitage Bridge, including the Cradge Bank from Mepal Common to AVellmoor Lake Sluice ; and whatever concerns the Corporation not included in the Divisions of the Middle Level, whether within or out ofthe Bedford Level, be attached to the South Level.

The following are the principal works in charge and attached to this Division : South Lev el Division. 13 Bank. The Barrier Bank from Swavesey to Denver Sluice. Considerable additions have been made to the Forelands of the Barrier Bank, through Swavesey and Over Commons, under the late Acts for enclosing those parishes. The Cradge Bank on the north side of the One Hundred Feet from Mepal Common. (Vide Wash Act, 52 George III., c. 145.) Sluices and Tunnels. The Hermitage Sluice. Denver Sluice. Upware Sluice. Swaffham Sluice. Bottisham Sluice The Tunnels out of the Wash into the One Hundred Feet River, so far only as regards the running of the waters of the Wash through them. The Tunnels (not used) at the upper and lower ends of St. John's Eau. The Tunnel through the Great Barrier Bank at Over Cote.

This Tunnel, although under the control and jurisdiction of the Corporation, is repaired by the parties requiring the use thereof. Bridges. The Bridge over the Sluice at the Hermitage. The Bridge over the One Hundred Feet River at Sutton Gault. The Bridge over the same at Mepal. Roswell Hill Bridge, near Ely. Rivers to Road. The One Hundred Feet River. The Cam, from Clayhithe. SouthLevel Division. The Ouze, from the Hermitage to Denver Sluice (exclusive of the New South Level Cut). The Mildenhall River. The Brandon River. The Wissey. N.B. Sandys, or Sandell's Cut, near Ely, has been abandoned, and a magnificent New Cut, called " The South Level Cut," formed in lieu thereof, and other works executed, under the provisions of the South Level Act, passed 7 and 8 Geo. IV. chap. 47- The Governor, Bailiffs, and Conservators of tbe Bedford Level, have the privilege of appointing, under the Corporate Seal, a Commissioner for carrying into ex ecution the provisions of this Act.

Gault Pits. Roswell Hill, near Ely. Mr. Joseph Little, Littleport, near Ely, Superintendent. THE NORTH LEVEL. Although this Level is virtually or, more properly speaking, financially separated from the other Levels, by the provisions ofthe North Level Act, passed 27 Geo. III., c. 19 ; yet as the adventurers' lands in this Level equally qualify the proprietors for all corporate purposes, — its officers are elected by the Corporation, and its adventurers' tax collected by the same receiver and expenditor-general, — it is thought proper to insert some brief particulars of its works and internal arrangements, for general information, particularly as very important alterations have taken place of late years in its internal and external drainage, and which eventuallymay have very important effects upon the general drainage of the country, as regards the great improvement which has taken place in the outfall.

This Level contains all that part of the 95,000 acres which lies between the North side of Moreton's Leam, and the south side of the River Welland, and consists of 39,488 acres, 3 roods, 6 poles of land, liable to drainage taxes in general. In the year 1728, the debt ofthe Corporation amounted, forthe whole Level, to the enormous sum of 49,153/. 1 ls.9d. Wriothesley, second Duke of Bedford, was then in his minority, having for his guardian, the Most Noble William Duke of Devonshire. At this period, an agreement was entered into between the Duke of Devonshire, on the part of his ward, and Henry Earl of Lincoln (being the principal proprietors of the lands within the North Level,) and the Corporation, by which the revenues of the North Level were taken from the control of the Corpora tion, and applied by those two noblemen to the services of that Level.

Things continued in this state until the year 1753, when the first North Level Act passed. It appeared from a statement of the account at that period, that the Middle and South Levels were indebted to the Duke of Bedford and Earl of Lincoln, on account of the North Level, in a sum exceeding 18,000/. ; an amount, however just the demand, much beyond the ability of the Corporation to discharge. John Duke of Bedford in herited the anxious and earnest wishes for the prosperity of the Fens which had so eminently marked the charac ters, and guided the conduct of his illustrious ancestors. His Grace perceived the effects of this heavy and still in creasing incumbrance, and the possibility of its bringing the utmost ruin on the other two Levels. He perfectly understood the disease, and therefore readily devised the remedy.