Sat 16 Mar 1776
From Thomas Dadford
To superintend execution of canal in 3 years for £500
Proposals made to y^e Committee of the Stroud Water Navigation by Tho^s Dadford.
March 16^th 1776. The above Tho Dadford will undertake & superintend the execution of the Stroud Navigation in the due execution thereof, till completely finished for £500, & bear horse hire and all his own expenses, and engage that it shall be completely done in three years, but proposes to do it within two years.
The Locks he will recomend, some part to be done by y^e Day, & some part by measure or agreement. The diging & Cutting Work by y^e Yard. The Bridges by Measure or agreement, Every thing to be done by Measure or Agreement, that he thinks, & that the Committee will approve of, to their own Advantage. He will make no material bargain or agreement without their Consent. He will be dependant on the Committee, & be accountable to them, and from then only receive orders.
He will make all agreements for them in letting the Work, and examine both it, & every bill for payment, be shall require that the allow a Clark under his directions at their Charge, to receive & pay money, and measure the Land & Cutting, as he cannott do that, but on Neglect of other parts of the Work.
He will attend all Committee,, if nothing Extr (?), & give them y^e State of y^e works. He must be allowed freely to give his opinion for y^e execution of which he will be answerable as a Surveyor & undertakers, but not bear the blame if he does contrary to his Judgement & recommendation, He cannot agree to be present himself the Whole of his time, till he has been at y^e Staffordshire Meeting, but will, during the execution of their Work, agree to present himself in the Works more than half of the time, and in his absence, leave his Son, or some other capable Person, he & they shall approve, at their own charge, as Undertaker & engineer. He shall expect his pay at the rate of 13 pounds per Month if demanded, till y^e Account is settled after it is made perfectly Navigable.
Tho^s Dadford
