HC Deb 30 April 1860 vol 158 cc335-6
MR. ALCOCK

said, he wished to ask the Chief Commissioner of Works, Whether he will have any objection to allow a certain number of Thames Watermen to have Boats on the Serpentine and other Waters in the Royal Parks during the summer months?

MR. COWPER

said, the condition required of persons who wished to ply with boats on the Serpentine was, that they should have a licence, which was given to secure good management and boats in proper order, and boatmen capable of managing them. The ornamental water in Victoria Park was not well fitted for boating. It was so shallow that boats would stir up the mud, and would probably make the water disagreeable, which was not at present offensive; it was not so well adapted for the purpose as the Serpentine.