Company, both of whom feared that the tolls raised would interfere with their receipts, were also its opponents; though, as regards the Canal Company, nothing could be more shortsighted. The bill was introduced into Parliament in the session of 1837, and was opposed on standing orders, but passed these successfully. The most urgent efforts were then made by the Gloucester interest to defeat the measure on the second reading, and with but too much success. Captain Winnington moved the second reading on the 12th of April, and Captain Berkeley moved that it be read on that day six months; the principal argument he made use of was, that it would _be imposing a tax on a free river_! The bill was supported alike by the Government and by the leader of the opposition, Sir Robert Peel; but the private influence brought to bear by interested parties was not to be outweighed by the arguments of statesmen, or enlarged considerations of national benefit. The bill was thrown out by a majority of 149 to 124. The Gloucester people were characteristically grateful to their two city members for their “unwearied exertions” in opposition to the bill. The shareholders met again in September, 1837, and a very able report from the committee was laid before them, in which it was stated that the whole plan had been laid before the most eminent engineers of the day, and some trifling alterations in detail agreed to; but they could not recommend the shareholders to seek any less depth of water than twelve feet: and as steps had been taken to conciliate the landowners, they thought another application might be made to Parliament with every prospect of success. £15,000 had been received on the shares, but on the call which had been made £4,000 were still in arrear. The expenses had amounted to £11,700. The shareholders almost unanimously agreed to form themselves into a new Company for the further promotion of the undertaking, and a provisional committee was named for that purpose. This committee, however, were not able to raise sufficient capital to proceed with the ship project, and they therefore called another meeting of the subscribers to the old Company, where Mr. Cubitt gave an explanation of a plan to increase the depth of the river to six feet six inches up to Worcester, and to six feet from Worcester to Stourport. This, he said, would cost £150,000. After discussion, this plan was adopted; and the necessary number of shares having been taken, preparation was again made for application to Parliament. In order to get rid of every pretext for opposition from the Gloucester interests, all thought of weirs and works near that city was abandoned; and from Saxon’s Lode downwards it was proposed to deepen the river by dredging only. By way of diversion, however, another scheme was started conjointly by the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and Gloucester interests, which was to procure a depth of five feet in the river between