It is satisfactory to find this great public undertaking at length progressing towards completion in accordance with the original plan of the promotors. After years of anxious struggle, and repeated parliamentary defeats, the commission, three years since, succeeded in obtaining powers to execute the required works; this success was, however, rendered nugatory for the time, by the influence of the war upon the money market, and the powers for purchasing land under the act had nearly expired, when the advent of peace enabled the Board of Works and Finance once more to proceed.

At the annual meeting of the commission held in the past month, it was reported that those tried and firm friends of the commission, the committee of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company, had unanimously resolved to recommend to a general meeting of their shareholders, specially convened for the purpose on the 2nd instant to guarantee the whole of the capital required for the proposed works. We are now able to state that the canal proprietors with the unanimity which characterises their proceedings, at once acquiesced in the recommendation of their committee, and the commission are secure of funds by the guarantee of one of the most wealthy and influential bodies in the kingdom.

In the meantime the required land at Tewkesbury Ham has been purchased, and Mr. Leader Williams, the engineer to the commission, has set out the work and taken such preliminary proceedings as are necessary to ensure the completion of the whole by the autumn of next year.

The works at Tewkesbury comprises a lock 120 feet long by 32 feet wide, with which is connected a pound 165 feet long by 80 feet wide, enclosed by a third pair of gates, so that the whole distance between the upper and lower gates, 285 feet, will as one lock chamber, and a steam tug, with her fleet of vessels, will be locked up at one lift without delay. the weir will be 500 feet in length, and of sufficient height to raise the low water at Tewkesbury 6 feet above its present level. Both the lock and the weir will be constructed in new channels, excavated for the purpose across the Ham, and hence the present very acute bend in the Severn at the upper lode will be cut off. The tenders, twelve in number, for the excavation of the new river course, were delivered on Thursday last, and at the meeting of the Board of Works on the following day the tender of Mr. William Tredwell was found to be the lowest, and being below the estimate of the engineer, it was accepted.

It is intended, we believe, that the lock and the weir shall be constructed under the more immediate charge of the engineer, and therefore they will not be executed under contract. Trial shafts have been sunk in various parts of the proposed lines of excavation, which prove that brick clay, of the finest quality, runs throughout the whole extent of the work, so that in all probability the cost of the cuttings will be covered by the value of the clay raised.

In addition to the works at Tewkesbury, it is proposed to complete the several embankments between that place and Gloucester, and to construct others where experience has proved they are required, and thus the whole of the navigation of the Severn under the jurisdiction of the commission will be perfected, except at the city of Gloucester, where much local improvement is required, the importance of which must eventually force itself upon the attention of the authorities having the direction of affairs there

Works at this place, undertaken by the Severn. Navigation Steam Navigation Company, for the improvement of this noble river, were opened yesterday (Tuesday). The plans were prepared by Mr. Leader Williams, the company's engineer, and were carried out under the immediate superintendence of his son, Mr. Alfred Williams. The object of the works is to render the Severn navigable for coasting vessels between Tewkesbury and Worcester, and for the purpose a large double lock has been constructed. In this lock a new principle has been introduced with great success by the ingenious engineer. He has added to the lock itself a large outer pool or " pound," to which is attached an extra pair of gates. By this simple contrivance a whole fleet of vessels may be sent through the
lock at once, by shutting the two outermost pairs of gates, and treating the lock proper and the'"pound" together as one large basin. A broad channel has also bean excavated, and across this is stretched obliquely, an enormous weir, 600 feet in length, and six feet in height. It is constructed of stone. The length of the lock is about 280 feet, and its width about 40 feet. The directors of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company, the Mayor and corporation of Tewkesbury, &c., proceeded down the river about twelve o'clock, in their state barges, to pass through the locks, and thus open them for traffic, but it was found impossible to complete the damming up of the river by that time, and the ceremonial had to be deferred. In consequence of this the state barges made a somewhat ignominious transit through the locks at a much later hour than was at first intended. The river presented an exceedingly gay sight.

Lock Opening.

These great works have been in course of constrution during the past two years; their progress towards completion has been watched with no little interest, and now that we have the consummation to which all classes amongst us have been looking forward, we must endeavour to make the utmost of the means of commercial improvement which they will place at our disposal. Tuesday's inauguration, properly followed up, cannot fail to prove the harbinger of good times for our Severn navigation.

The lock is truly of gigantic proportions, being capable of containing a vessel three hundred feet in length. It may almost be called a double lock; for manifestly convenient purposes the cutting is divided. At each end there is a pair of huge folding gates, and the ordinary construction is supplemented by the insertion of another pair of gates, the object of which is obvious. By this plan a single vessel will be enabled, without loss of time, to pass through using the single lock, while if a steam tug with a number of vessels should come up, the central gates can be thrown open, aqnd the whole fleet be taken at once. The depth of the lock id thirty feet. The walls are of brick on a substratum of concrete, while the bottom of the lock is formed of an inverted arch laid upon a bottom of concrete. The sill is of stone from the quarries of Upper Areley, and the copings of a hard compact grey stone from the Forest of Dean. The facing of the walls is of an excellent blue brick. Between the two locks there is this peculiarity, that while the walls of the smaller are perpendicular, the larger has a "batter" of from one to one and a half feet. In width the upper lock is 80 feet, and the lower 30 feet. The approach to the lock at each end is about 70 feet in width. The gates may be called a marvel in themselves. Each approaches a weight of 18 tons, while the aggregate cost of them is stated to be about 3,00l.

The great object of the works, as has been frequently mentioned, is to raise the level of the river to such an extent that vessels of considerable tonnage might navigate with ease between Tewkesbury and the city of Worcester. In carrying out this work it was necessary to make two great cuttings, the one for the lock, to which we have referred, and the other for the weir, which is formed of grey Bristol stone, deposited on a foundation of concrete. In length it is 500 feet, and its base is 36 feet. It is calculated that the water will flow over in a sheet of six inches deep at ordinary periods, though, on some occasions, of course, the depth will be considerably more. The depth of water will be sufficient to allow of the unimpeded progress of the fish over, while the construction of the weir itself is favourable to their free passage. The position of the weir is diagonal, and in consequence the action of the water is rendered feebler than if the erection were placed at right angles with the course of the river, while the weir itself obtains greater of resistance. Besides, the water leaves the weir in a direction favourable to its subsequent course, and in a manner less liable to wash the banks. In the new course of the river below the weir the banks have aq slanr "batter" of one and a half feet towards the bottom, and of four feet to one towards the top. Between Diglis and the Upper Lode the fall of the river before the erection of the weir was about four and a half feet. It is calculated that the raising of the water at Tewkesbury six feet, which has now been effected, will raise it from a foot to a foot and a half at Diglis.

The cost of the whole works, including the filling up of the old channel of the river subsequently noticed, and the erection of houses
and offices for the lock keepers will not exceed the original estimate, which was 34,750l. Up to the present time the expenditure has been from 32,000l to 33,000l, and, taking into account the value of materials and machinery which are to be disposed of after the whole of the work has been completed, Mr. Williams calculated that the original estimate will not be exceeded.

To Mr. Leader Williams, whose admirable plans have been so sucessfully carried out under his own guidance, and the able
management of his son, Mr. Alfred Williams, there is no small amount of credit due. When we consider the difficulties with which he had to contend at the very outset when we know the great obstruction which was presented by the loose nature of the subsoil, and the ingenious manner in which it was overcome, and reflect upon the extraordinary tact and talent displayed in combatting each arising difficulty, it is impossible to award Mr. Williams more praise than is justly due.

The opening of the lock was effected without accident, and, according to the opinion of others more competent than ourselves
in such matters to judge, with the most complete sucess. Ceremonial, properly speaking, there was none. The whole affair might
be summed up in half a dozen lines. there were people collected from all parts. Half a dozen boats and barges sailed down the old channel, which was then closed. the sail boats then got in the lock when the water became high enough, and they went in and came out again, and again did the same, and there were firing of batteries and loud cheering of the people, and "there's an end of it." But, following the usual custom, we must be somewhat more particular in our account of the opening and trhe proceedings by which it was accompanied, for although the ceremonial was so meagre in its character, still its signification was large and the thing signified, we dare say, more than the thing itself, was uppermost in the generality of reflective minds.

The Worcester party, which comprised many of our local authorities and eminent citizens, including the Severn Commissioners, was to start from the Esplanade at the bottom of Diglis street, at half past eight o'clock. Before that hour, their state barge wass in readiness, fitted up in proper style, and waited on by a steamer, the Enterprise, which was to tow her down to the works. At the same point there was also the trim little steamer, and the pretty looking barge of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company whose directory were to have sailed down the river but did not. They preferred the more speedy conveyance of the rail, and joined their state barge at the Ham. The Worcester party were as punctual as might have been expected. A few of them having been taken on board, the barge was towed up to the bridge to have the coplement completed. In the meantime, the Canal Company's steamer and barge started down the river, and by a long distance took the lead of the Enterprise --- which by the way is reported not to have been very enterprising in her progres --- and the barge of Messrs. Stalworth and Sons. The sail down, which occupied upwards of two hours, was of the pleasantest possible character. The sky was cloudy in the early period of the morning, and the heat was consequently less oppressive than it would otherwise have proved. Before the distance, however, had been half gone over, and shortly after the cathedral tower, from which the grey mist wass being gradually uplifted, had been lost to view, the sun shone out with full meridian power, and during the whole of the day the warmth continued excessive. Our (the Worcester party)
was not very numerous, but our enjoyment on our passage down between the willow-lined banks of the beautiful Severn was by no means small. The perfection of the natural scenery which has so often been descanted by everybody, the state of the river which has been praised by nobody, the importance of the new works not unacknowledged by anybody, and many other topics were passed in review, and the otherwise tedious sail was not only rendered tolerable, but very agreeable. At several points on the river banks, there were, as there had been at starting from Worcester, crowds of people who had foreknowledge of our intentions and had assembled to witness our aquatic progress. We didn't however, get many cheers nil we reached the Ham, and these, perhaps, were quite as much inteneded for the Tewkesbury party as for us. This party had also provided their "state" barge, which was gaily fitted out and fully freighted. It contained the authorities of Tewkesbury, including the mayor, the magistrates, and the town-clerk and some said Mr. Humphrey Brown, late M.P. for this "cannie" little town. Mr. Brown, for we had visual demonstration of the fact, but
whether he honoured the mayor with his presence on board the barge we cannot with certainty aver. The Tewkesbury boat awaited in the Avon the arrival of the Worcester party, which it followed up in its progress down the old bed of the river. Before coming to the spot where, for "unnumbered ages" the Severn has "flowed gently past," but will now flow no longer, the Canal Company's party had reached their barge.

The closing of the old channel was effected by Mr. Williams with extraordinary celerity. The place had previously been prepared. The channel had been narrowed to the width of seventy feet, and all that remained to shut out the stream for ever was from its time-honoured course was to sink a loaded barge and drive in the centre planks of the timber sheathing. The operations were witnessed with great interest by the crowd of well-dressed people who lined the banks. the boat was submerged in the most approved
manner, and cheers and the firing of guns followed; the last planks were inserted, and again there were cheers and firing, and sundry operations were similarly graced. Ladies and gentlemen, descanting on the singular success with which Mr. Williams had accomplished this portion of the day's work, now turned their steps in the direction of the lock, where, on board the various boats, lunch was to be served. The lunch over, there were entering and re-entering the lock by the various barges, that of the Canal
Company being supposed to pass through first. The performance was gone through as well as the state of the tide would admit, a
battery was fired, there were loud and repeated huzzas on all hands, and the lock was formally opened for traffic.

In Tewkesbury the day was kept as a general holiday. The shops and other places of business were closed, and during the proceedings at the Ham the town wore quite a deserted aspect. From an early hour in the morning the population had begun to move towards the scene of attraction. Many of them got on board ther gaily-trimmed small craft which floated on the bosom of the Severn, others took up positions on the banks and the gigantic mounds of earth around, lending to the whole vicinity a most animated appearance, enhanced not a little by the "fields of floating bunting," in their brilliant and variegated colours.

There was rejoicing in Tewkesbury in the afternoon. The rejoicing became Tewkesbury, for these works will make of Tewkesbury
what she has never been made before. Amongst other details of the Tewkesbury festivities, we may mention that 1,200 of the Sunday school children were feasted on ntea and cake, the funds for which had been raised by public conscription.

The commissioners and their friends afterwards dined on board their boat. After dinner, Sir Thomas Winnington, Bart., M.P., proposed, in a highly complimentary speech, the health of Mr. Williams, which that gentleman aptly and pertinently acknowledged.