OLD THAMES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—Is not the reason that the Thames is not used for traffic that the distance from place to place is much longer, that the landing piers are not in convenient places, and that the tide is much more rapid now that the river is embanked ? In order to run a regular service of motor launches successfully, the ideal would be that they should be punctual to time all the day, which would mean high-powered engines to resist the strongest tide, in order that the time table could be adhered to ; these would be shut down suitably in the reverse direction when going with the tide. Mr. A. P. Herbert has advocated this system, but no commercial body has attempted it.
In the reign of Charles II, London Bridge was practically a number of sluice gates, and the river had much more room to extend itself at high tide ; hence the use made of it by small craft as the tide was not so strong. I am a great lover of the Thames, and know it well from Oxford to London Bridge, and would welcome a satisfactory service of motor launches.—
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