The corn sent coastwise in the year 1826 was about 121,000 quarters, with about 2240 quarters of rape seed. The coals brought coastwise were about 37,680 chaldrons, with about 7470 tons of other articles of merchandize. The imports, consisting principally of timber from the north of Europe, in the year 1825, amounted to 7093 tons, and in 1826, to 1824 tons: there are two bonding yards for the reception of this article.* The following names of the several collectors of customs are extracted from the custom house books: 1670 Thomas Buckworth 1689 John Arden 1716 John Ryland 1727 John Wooseley 1729 Edmund Cobb THE CANAL. About the year 1792, there was a rage throughout the kingdom for forming canals, and on the 30th October in that year, a very numerous meeting of merchants and others interested took place at Wisbech, in order to consider of proposals for making a navigable cut from Wisbech river to join the old river Nene at Outwell, and for improving the navigation from Outwell church to Salter's Lode sluice. The meeting was fully attended, not only by the inhabitants of Wisbech, but by numbers Since the repeal of the prohibition laws respecting wool, there has been no separate account kept of that commodity. The Hon. and Rev. C. Lindsay was in the chair, and Mr. Watté, the engineer, delivered in his report and estimate. from the midland counties, who shewed great anxiety to obtain shares. The intention was, to open a communication by water between Wisbech and Outwell, and thus to form an inland navigation from the great river at Wisbech, to the Ouse, commencing at the old sluice in Wisbech, and taking a straight course, in the same direction for part of the distance as the old navigable river from Wisbech to the Nene, called Elm Leam,* which had been for many years grown up and become totally useless, not only for navigation, but for drainage. It was considered that such a plan would be of great public utility, and open a safe and easy communication between the port of Wisbech and the several counties of Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and other parts, which would be the means of extending trade and commerce. The subscribers were accordingly formed into a company, who were empowered, by an act of parliament passed in the year 1794, to make the navigation, and all necessary works. The price of each share was originally fixed at £100. and was afterwards extended to £120.† However convenient the communication and intercourse have been found, very little benefit has yet resulted to the shareholders and proprietors. See page 39. + 12th March 1794, a temporary road was opened, to continue until the sluice bridge was made nearer the Bell inn, and piles began to be driven; but so great was the obstruction occasioned by the waters, that they did not begin to lay down the timber to form the floor of the sluice until the first of November following. On Tuesday, November 11th, they began to open the old leam; on the 14th, the frame was fixed for one of the doors, and the next day the brickwork was begun. THE WORKHOUSE. This receptacle for the helpless poor is situated at the entrance of the town by the Lynn road. It was built in the year 1722, at the expense of £2000. borrowed by the capital burgesses on their seal. This house, as a parochial concern, excites respect. The general arrangement reflects credit on the overseers, and may be viewed on application to the master of the house, on any proper occasion, and it is at all times in neat and comfortable order. A workhouse, it is said, should never be without a manufactory, and it must be acknowledged that it would be beneficial if one were attached to this building and properly managed. The cost of the poor is about three shillings per head per week, upon a scale, according to the price of wheat, which, when above fifty shillings, and under sixty shillings per quarter, is three shillings per head per week, and above forty shillings, and under fifty shillings -per quarter, two shillings and nine pence. The usual assessment to the poor rates is about six shillings in the pound; the actual rent of the parish is about £20,000. from which there are several deductions, so that the sum raised for the poor rate may be calculated at £5,000. per annum; the county rate falls very heavy, being not less than £360. per annum.* In the summer months, about forty are relieved out of the house, and sixty within; and in winter, about sixty out of the house, and eighty within. The relief afforded to the out-door paupers is very considerable. The law expenses do not exceed on an average £90. per annum. By the return for the year ending Easter 1804, published by parliament, the money then raised was £3,304. 16s.7d. at six shillings in the pound. At that time the number of paupers was estimated on an average of years, to be one hundred and thirty nine, after the rate of £9. each per annum, or about three shillings and sixpence per week. PUBLIC CHARITIES. Benevolence, like the river that watered the garden of Eden, scatters blessings as it flows: so powerfully diffused are its salutary streams, that they are frequently known to convert a wilderness of sorrow into a paradise of bliss. Many benevolent individuals have left considerable benefactions to this town. The Rev. Jeremiah Jackson, M.A. late of St. John's College, Cambridge, and vicar of Swaffham Bulbeck, and of Elm cum Emneth, in the county of Cambridge, published an account thereof about five years since,* and every person to whose management any charitable concerns are entrusted, either public or private, would do well to peruse it. It would be a detraction from the merits of that work to make any partial extracts, but we cannot refrain from stating one short observation: "That of "whatever nature the property may be, whence the funds "of any charity arise, it is unquestionably the duty of "those entrusted with it to make the most they fairly "can of it, and conscientiously to apply the whole proceeds according to the declared purpose of the "founder. Every person, that undertakes the manage"ment of any estate of this description, must be "understood to pledge himself to both; and to be "deficient in either of them, is a fraud upon the charity "in all cases, though of greater malignity in some than The work is entitled Some Account of the Principal Public Charities of Wisbech St. Peter's, &c. by Jeremiah Jackson, M. A. |