1:-- WHEREAS it is practicable to make and maintain a Canal for Navigation of Boats, Barges, and other Vessels, from the present Oxford Canal, in the Parish of Braunston, in the County of Northampton, through, by, or near the Towns of Daventry, Newport, Leighton Buzzard, Rickmansworth, and Uxbridge in the several Counties of Northampton, Buckingham, Bedford, Hertford, and Middlesex, to unite with the River Thames at or near Brentford, in the County of Middlesex, and also certain Collateral Cuts hereinafter described, to communicate with the said intended Canal, which said Canal and Collateral Cuts will open a certain Communication for the cheap and easy Conveyance of Goods, Wares, Provisions, and Merchandise, and all heavy Commodities, between the Irish and British Channels, and the Ports of Hull and London, and the several intermediate, populous, manufacturing Towns and places through, and by means of, several Canals already made in this Kingdom, whereby the Intercourse of Trade and Commerce between the several places aforesaid will be greatly promoted and facilitated, Manufactures encouraged and increased, and the Agriculture of the Country, throughout the Line and Neighbourhood of the said Canal and Collateral Cuts, materially assisted, by being supplied with Lime and other Manure at a moderate Expense, and will tend very much to reduce the Price of Coals throughout the whole Line and Neighbourhood of the said Canal and Cuts, and will be in other respects of great public Utility; but the same cannot be effected without the Authority of Parliament.. . . . they the said company of proprietors, their deputies, agents, servants, and workmen, doing as little damage as may be in the execution of the several powers to them hereby granted, and making satisfaction in manner hereinafter mentioned, to the owners or proprietors of, and all persons interested in the lands, tenements, or hereditaments, waters, watercourses, brooks, or rivers respectively, which shall be taken, used, removed, diverted, or prejudiced, for all damages to be by them sustained in or by the execution of all or any of the powers of this Act; and this Act shall be sufficient to indemnify the said company of proprietors and their deputies, servants, agents, and workmen, and all other persons whomsoever, for what they or any of them shall do by virtue of the powers hereby granted, subject nevertheless to such provisos and restrictions as are hereinafter mentioned.

75: - And, to the end that the said navigation may be carried on with as little damage to private property as possible; be it further enacted, that the said Company of Proprietors shall, and they are hereby required, at their own proper costs and charges, to make or cause to be made such arches, tunnels, culverts, drains or other passages over, under, by the side of, or into the said canal and collateral cuts, and the trenches, streams, and watercourses communicating therewith, and the towing paths on the sides thereof respectively, of such depth, breadth, and dimensions, as shall be sufficient at all times to convey the water clear from the lands adjoining or lying near to the said canal or cuts, without obstructing or impounding the same, and likewise to make, or cause to be made, such back drain or drains as may be necessary.. . .

79:-- Provided always, and be it further enacted, that if the owners or occupiers of any lands, or other hereditaments, through which the said canal and collateral cuts, or any of them, shall be made, do or shall, at any time or times hereafter, choose to erect other gates, stiles, bridges, passages, arches, tunnels, drains, back drains, trenches, or other passages, watering places, and other conveniences respectively than such as the said commissioners shall have so directed or appointed to be made by the said Company of Proprietors, then and so often, or in any such case, it shall be lawful for all or any such owners or occupiers, with the consent and approbation of the said committee upon request made to them for the purpose, or in case of their refusal for the space of twenty-one days after such request, then with the consent and approbation of the said commissioners, to make, fix and erect, at their own costs and charges, one or more gate or gates, stiles, bridges, passages, arches, watering places, or other conveniences, of the same or the like constructions with others made and erected by the said Company of Proprietors, in, over, or near to the said canal and collateral cuts, or the towing paths thereof respectively, in such places as the said owners and occupiers shall judge most necessary and convenient for the better use, cultivation, improvement, or occupation of such lands and other hereditaments, and to repair and support the same, at their own like costs and charges, as occasion shall require, so as that the navigation of, in, or upon the said canal and collateral cuts, or any of them, be not prevented or obstructed thereby, for any longer space of time, or in any other manner, than the same would necessarily have been, if such gates, stiles, bridges, passages, arches, watering places or other conveniences, had been made or erected by the said Company of Proprietors as aforesaid.