The Historic Thames

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Historic Thames, by Hilaire BellocThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Historic ThamesAuthor: Hilaire BellocRelease Date: July 29, 2004 [EBook #13046]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORIC THAMES ***Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Project Manager; Keith M. Eckrich, Post-Processor; the PG Online DistributedProofreaders TeamTHE WAYFARER'S LIBRARYTHE HISTORIC THAMESHilaire BellocO.M. DENT & SONS Ltd.LONDONTHE HISTORIC THAMESEngland has been built up upon the framework of her rivers, and, in that pattern, the principal line has been the line of theThames.Partly because it was the main highway of Southern England, partly because it looked eastward towards the Continentfrom which the national life has been drawn, partly because it was better served by the tide than any other channel, butmainly because it was the chief among a great number of closely connected river basins, the Thames Valley has in thepast supported the government and the wealth of England.Among the most favoured of our rivals some one river system has developed a province or a series of provinces; theRhine has done so, the Seine and the Garonne. But the great Continental river systems—at least the navigable ...