Wed 15 Jul 1840
From T & S S Marling
Ebley Mills
Complaint that your servant Hooper is raising the paddles at the feeder near Ebley Mills for long periods to draw water from our reservoir to the canal, depriving the mills of water. Under what authority is this he doing this? (continued ...)
Copy of Messrs Thos & Saml S Marling to the Committee of the Stroud Canal Company
Ebley Mills, 15 July 1840.
Gentlemen
Your servant named Hooper is in the habit of lifting the paddles at the feeding place at Ebley, and thus drawing the water from our reservoir, and letting it into your Canal to our very serious injury.
This is done at all hours of the day or night, without our being consulted at all.
On Monday last at on o'clock PM. the paddles were lifted and a large quantity of water drawn into the Canal, while nearly half of our Manufactory was standing for want of water. We sent to him to request they might be put in, and the answer he returned was that he should not do so until the Canal was full, and we believe they remained out until Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday Evening he again came down to take out the paddles, when our Mr Saml S Marling met him and positively forbade his lifting them, but this was to no avail, the answer was "he was not to be frightened" and the water was again drawn off thill Wednesday Morning.
The object we have in making this communication is to enquire if Hooper in thus acting is obeying your orders. and if so to beg the favour of your informing us by what authority the water is thus taken away from our Mill.
If Hooper is acting without or contrary to orders, we have to request that he may be prevented from proceeding as heretofore.
We beg to say in conclusion, that we have not the least wish to question any right which the Stroud Canal Company possesses, or to put them to the slightest inconvenience, and we feel assured that the Committee as Gentlemen and men of business are not desirous of continuing to injure us so seriously as has been the case of late.
Your early attention and reply will oblige
Gentlemen
Your odedt Servt
(Signed) Thos & Saml S Marling/
