THE CASE OF THE Corporation of the Great Level of the fens; RELATING TO A BILL Depending in Parliament, For the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of Kings-Lynn; which Bill is for taking away the sluice at Denver-Dam, upon the River of Great Owze, in the County of Norfolk.  
FOR Draining the Great Level of the fens, called Bedford-Level, the said sluice was in the Year 1652. begun and set down at Denver-Dam( which is Fifteen Miles above the Town of Kings-Lynn) whereby the Tides were then stopped, as now they are.  
At the same time a New River was cut One Hundred Foot wide, and Twenty One Miles long( the Mouth of it adjoining to the said sluice) which does most effectually receive the Tide as many Miles up into the Country, and in as great Quantity, as the River of Great Owze did before: And the Tides at Lynn flow as high as ever they did, which shows that the Flow and Reflow of the Sea, are the same as formerly; but with this Advantage' to the Harbour of Lynn, that more fresh Water now comes thither compressed between Banks, than ever they had before the Draining.  

Navigation is not prejudiced by the said Works, but made better: For,  
I. The Navigation in the New Cut River to St. Ives, Huntingdon, and St. Neots, is much quicker than before; by which means, the Counties of Huntingdon, Bedford, Buckingham, and part of Northamptonshire, are far better accommodated than formerly.  
II. As to the Navigation of the River of Great Owze, above the said sluice, there are fresh Doors at the sluice, by which all the Waters upwards, are( when low) held up, whereby the Navigation is maintained at all times in the Year; which before, was by the Lowness of the Water, perfectly obstructed for some Mouths in dry Seasons, so that by means of those fresh Doors, the Navigation to Cambridge, Norfolk, and Suffolk, through the Level, is much more certain than formerly, which does more than Compensate the not flowing of the Tides in those Rivers: And if Boats, or Vessels, be at any time stopped by the sluice, 'tis for want of observing the times of the Tides, which being observed, the Navigation is free and open.  
III. As to the Navigation from the said sluice at Denver-Dam, to Germains-Bridge( being about Ten Miles downward, where the Banks of the River of Great Owze stand near) it is at Low Water in some places Ten Foot, and in others Twelve and Fourteen Foot deep, and the Navigation very good.  
IV. As to the Navigation between Germains-Bridge and the South-end of Kings-Lynn, and below Lynn to the Sea, it was always uncertain and dangerous, by reason of the shifting of the Sands, Pilots being ever used in steering all Vessels navigating there: And if it be now worse than formerly, it is occasioned by the removing the Banks on Marshland side, both above and below Lynn, to that great distance( they being about a Mile asunder) that the Reflux of the Sea cannot sufficiently operate to grinned out the Silt and Sand in the Channel, although the Reflux is followed by more fresh Waters than formerly, which run through the Level with a stronger Current than ever before the Draining; for no Channel can be preserved deep, where the Banks are so far asunder.  
V. The Inhabitants of Kings-Lynn, by laying much Rubbish on their side of the Channel, all along their Town, for about a Mile in length, where the River was narrow, have forced the Channel on the opposite side upon Old Lynn, which has destroyed several Houses, and made the Channel there much wider than it was before the sluice was set down at Denver-Dam; by means whereof, a far greater quantity of Silt or Sand is brought in by the Tide, which chokes up the Channel between Lynn and Germains-Bridge, where the Banks are so wide asunder: All which Banks, from the said sluice to the Sea, are out of the Level, and are to be maintained by the adjacent Inhabitants.  
VI. These fens were Drained, by means of the said sluice, and other Works, at the Charge of above 200000 Pounds, laid out before any Possession or Perception of Profits. In Consideration of which, the Act of 15 Car. II. Passed, for making the Duke of Bedford, and others, a Corporation for the Government and Preservation of the Works of the Level; and thereby vesting 83000 Acres of the said Level, and the said Works, Banks and Drains in the Corporation, and 12000 Acres in the Crown. Since which, great Numbers of Persons depending upon the Security of the said Act of 15 Car. II. have purchased of the Corporation, and others, great quantities of Drained Lands, and have enjoyed them quietly, and made Settlements thereof, which are the sole Maintenance of divers Families, Widows and Orphans, whose utter ruin will ensue, in case the said sluice be pulled up; which inevitably will occasion the Drowning above 100000 Acres of Ground, and in consequence the Destruction and Loss of the whole Level, containing above 300000 Acres; All which is now well Cultivated and Peopled, to the vast Advantage of the Kingdom: And that the taking up of the said sluice will not remedy the Silting and Sanding up of that part of the River Owze between Germains-Bridge and the Town of Lynn.    

THE CASE OF The Corporation of the Great Level of the fens, AGAINST The Bill relating to the Port of Kings-Lynn.