[ London and Cambridge Junction Canal. ] Five items: four printed circulars including 'Data upon which the Company have founded their Calculations' and 'Plan Explanatory', both with engraved maps, and ALS from director 'Lieut. Col. Duckett, M.P.'

Five items, the first four printed and the fifth an ALS. Four of them in good condition, with light signs of age; the fifth (Item Two below) somewhat aged and worn. An account of this abortive scheme – first proposed in 1758 – is to be found on pp.424-427 of Joseph Priestley's 'Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain' (1831). The scheme finally failed in 1832, when the bank of Sir George Duckett (see Item Five below) failed, and he became bankrupt. Only the Stort Navigation was completed. ONE: 'London and Cambridge Junction Canal. | Data upon which the Company have founded their Calculations. | June, 1813.' Printed by 'S. Goswell, Printer, Little Queen Street, London.' 7 + [1]pp., 8vo. On two loose bifoliums. Most of the first page is taken up with a 'Rough Sketch of the London and Cambridge Junction Canal. | The dotted Line represents the intended Canal and Branch. The black Lines are the present Navigations.' The text is divided into seven sections: 'I. - Length of the Canal', 'II. - Tolls', 'III – Present Trade', 'IV. - Expense of Conveyance', 'V. - Estimate', 'VI. - Profits', 'VII. Future Profits'. Four lines have been scored through (though still legible) in the final section. TWO: 'Plan Explanatory of the London and Cambridge Junction Canal.' Undated (circa 1811). Bifolium, the central two pages of which carry a 31 x 30 cm. map ('Engraved by G. Mills 51 Nelson Sqr. Blackfriars.') captioned: 'Plan shewing the Course of the Proposed London & Cambridge Junction Canal from Bihop Stortford to Clay Hithe Sluice near Cambridge intended to Unite the Ports of London & Lynn also of a Proposed Camal from the above near Cambridge to Bedford and the Grand Junction Canal near Newport Pagnell | Survevyed under the Direction of John Rennie Esqr, C.E.F.R.S. &c &c by Netlam & Francis Giles 1811.' THREE: Drophead title: 'London and Cambridge Junction Canal. | The Directors of this Company are | The Earl of Hardwicke, K.G. | Hon. Richard Neville, M.P. | John Julius Angerstein, Esq. | The Rev. George Jenyns. | James Searle, Esq. | Lieut. Col. Duckett, M.P. | Sampson Hanbury, Esq. | The Rev. James Geldard. | Mr. Atkinson Francis Gibson. | This Canal will connect the entire eastern-side of England (South of Peterborough) with London, [...]'. By 'Wm. Yatman, Chief Clerk and Secretary to the Company.' Undated (circa 1811). 'Printed by the Philanthropic Society, St. George's Fields.' 2pp., 8vo. Bottom half of second page carries an engraved map by'J. & W. Newton, Chancery Lane', captioned 'Blue Lines describe the Existing Navigations. | Red Line describes the London and Cambridge Canal and Branch to Whaddon.' FOUR: Headed: 'London and Cambridge Junction Canal Company, Incorporated by Act of Parliament, 9th June 1812.' 1p., 8vo. 'S. Gosnell, Printer, Little Queen Street, London.' Soliciting subscriptions to shares, 'before the 31st of August 1813'. The text begins: 'The state of public credit last year suspended the exertions of the Company.' FIVE: Autograph Letter in the third person from 'Mr Duckett', i.e. Sir George Duckett (1777-1856), MP for Plympton Erle (the 'Lieut. Col. Duckett, M.P.' of Item Three above), to 'Sir John Harrington [sic]'. From Upper Grosvenor Street, London; 24 June 1813. 2pp., 12mo. Duckett has 'consented to act as Treasurer pro tempore, with a view to take the concern, out of the former Solicitor's hands and to put it upon a better footing'. The person he sent 'to collect percentages, and distribute information' was 'told by Sir John, he has already paid 1 Per Cent', but since Duckett 'cannot find any memorandum amongst his papers of Sir John having paid, Mr Duckett would feel most obliged to Sir John if at his earliest convenience, he would acqiuaint Mr D. To whom, & when he paid it, that it may be regularly credited to his Acct.' Harington has docketed the document: '26 Jun. 1812. | Pd. by Messrs. Birch | L Chambers'. From the papers of the Harington baronets of Ridlington, the recipient of Item Five being Sir John Edward Harington, 8th Baronet (1760-1831).