AN ANSWER TO Mr. Berners's OBJECTIONS and PROPOSALS.

Object. 1.‘UPON digging this New and long Tract, how various the Sorts of Earth will be; here a stuborn Clay, there a spewing Silt, at another Place a black Moore and the Red Earth, then Reed-roots and Hassocks, which will often Founder and slip into the Work.’

Answ. To which I Answer: If variety of Earths be an O [...]bection of any force now a Days, then it was an Objection of force in those Days, when our Ancestors cut the old Sewer out of the whole Ground: But, it is plain, that our Ancestors either look'd upon this Objection as altogether trifling and frivolous, or else it was never urg'd to 'em; because the old Sewer (for all the Objector knows) was cut through all these several Sorts of Earth without foundring or slipping into the Work. In short, the Objection will equally hold against all Undertakings of this Nature, and therefore cannot affect this in particular.

2d Object. ‘In so long a Drain the Sewer must have many Elbows and crooked Turns in it, running much slower for its length, and the Obsta⯑cles of so many Bridges, which must necessarily be made over it for the intercourse of the Inhabitants of the several Towns of this Country, which is to be cut into halves, (since 'tis eight Miles long and broad) not to men⯑tion the Difficulties of making the Brink stand, tho' never so well Sess'd off.’

Answ. This is also an Objection in Generals only against all Works of Sewers of this kind; yet because it seems to consist of several Articles which may be thought to have some Weight in them, when altogether, if not par⯑ticularly Answer'd, I will therefore beg leave to consider them distinctly.

And first it is Objected, This new Cut must have many Elbows and crook⯑ed Turns in it. To which I Answer; It may be made very near as strait as the Old one, as may be seen in the Map of Marsh-land hereunto annex'd.

[14]The second Particular contain'd in this Article is, that the length of this new Cut (it being design'd to be eight Miles long) will make the Waters in the Sewer run much slower. Or (as another Gentleman has put this Ob⯑jection to me) when the new Cut has run off five Foot, or five Foot and an half of Water, then it can carry off no more, because there ought to be six Inches Fall in every Mile to make the Water Draw. I desire your Patience whilst I Answer both these Objections as they are put: For a full and clear Answer to both, will convince Men how false their Notion is, who think, that the longer the Cut is, the more prejudicial it is to Draining, whereas the quite contrary is really True.

Now the Consideration of the Nature and Properties of Water, in reference to Draining, to express my self to every Capacity, will very much contri⯑bute to the true understanding of this Matter: And the Properties of it in this respect, are these two:

First, It naturally Descends when it has Vent and any Fall, tho' never so small, insomuch that the least Inclination, tho' in a Course of many Miles, will always bring the Waters to the Vent or Outfal.

Secondly, When penn'd in by stopping the Vent, it naturally comes to a Level.

That the first is true, is plain both from Experience and the natural Rea⯑son of the Thing. For Gool-Keepers, and those that live near to Gools and Sewers will inform you, that nothing is more common than for the Gools to run and vent Water, when there is but barely one Inch Fall. Nay, I can prove, that when the Water in a Drain has had no more than two Inches Fall into the River of Owse; yet that small Draught was discernible to the Eye near upon a Mile from the Outfal. And in this Case the Reason of the Thing is exactly agreeable to Experience and Observation; for when the River gives way, that is, when the Water in it is lower, than the Water in the Sewer, the Gool-Doors (not otherwise hinder'd) must of necessity fly open, because there is a bigger weight of Water on the Land-side than on the River-side. And when the Doors are thus open'd, the Waters next those Doors must necessarily descend to Sea, because it is the Nature and Property of Water so to do: And can any Man imagine but that those Wa⯑ters, next to these that march'd off first, must follow after, and so the next to those last till the whole Body of 'em be mov'd. And this natural Course of Water is so Constant and Regular, that it was never known to alter but by a Miracle. I am extreamly desirous to make every Thing plain, Gentle⯑men, and therefore, I hope, it will not be taken amiss, if, to illustrate in some Measure what I have already said (tho' perhaps the Parallel, in strict Criticism will not hold) I repeat four Lines out of Hudibras, which are these,

[15]The second Thing we were to Consider was, That Water pent up does naturally come to a Level.

Tho' they (as I said before) who live near Sewers and Gools, see this Proposition verified almost every Day; yet for the sake of those, and only those, who are really ignorant of taking the Fall of Waters, I shall describe it to 'em, because it will give 'em a true Insight into this Affair. At Low-water-Mark therefore we take a Pole of sufficient length for our Purpose, and drive it down into the Sewer on the Land-side of the Gool, but yet so as there shall be three or four Foot of it above the Superficies of the Water, then exactly Level with the Superficies we make a Notch upon the Pole: Immediately upon the shutting of the Sea-Doors, you shall perceive the Fen-Waters flow above the said Notch, and so they shall rise gradually, till such time as they come to a perfect Level in the Sewer: And so much as the Waters rise above the Notch in the Pole, so much is their Fall. It is observable too, that at Knight's-Gool, the Waters are above three quarters of an Hour before they come to a Level after the shutting of the Sea-Doors: So that it is plain, tho' they have no Vent all that while; yet they are mov⯑ing towards their Outfal, till they come to a perfect Level. Be pleas'd to take Notice, That the Drain leading to Knight's-Gool, is not much above a Mile before the Waters are expanded, and yet they move three quarters of an Hour, and above, to the very Outfal after their stoppage there: So that by parity of Reason, the Waters in a Drain of eight Miles long between the expanded Waters and the Outfal, must be moving forwards near upon six Hours after the closing of the Sea-Doors. I conclude therefore, that the great length of this intended Cut will rather be Advantageous than Hurtful to us, as to the business of Draining; because, by that Means the Waters will be almost in continual Motion to Seaward in one part or other of it, and so be more ready to discharge themselves as soon as the Sea gives way

The third Particular is, The Obstacles of so many Bridges which must necessarily be made over this new Cut for the intercourse of the Inhabitants of the several Towns of this Country.

To which I Answer, Bridges may be made over the Drain so as to have as much Water-way under them as in any other part of the Drain, and there⯑fore they can be no Obstacles in Draining. And as for Intercourse, if I mistake not, they always have been, now are, and hereafter will be built for that very End and Purpose, which is the Reason we always praise the Bridge we go over.

The fourth Particular is, an Insinuation of some Injury from the Country's being cut into halves: But this has nothing of Argument in it. 'Tis certain we have already lost near one half of it, and by cutting it into halves, we shall certainly regain what's lost. But if we do not cut it into halves, then we are in danger of losing the Whole. And supposing the Country should be thus halv'd, where is the harm of it? Are not two Six pences as good as a Shilling? This therefore can be no Grievance to any Man, provided Bridges be made in proper Places, and the Land cut through paid for.

[16]In the fifth Particular is insinuated, the Difficulties of making the Brinks stand, which, I humbly conceive, may be made to stand by leaving Shelves after the digging of three or four Foot Perpendicular. The Cut leading to Wigen-Hall-New-Gool does plainly Demonstrate, that the Brinks will stand (if well sess'd off, and a Table or Shelf left, as there is) tho' the Drain be cut through the highest silty Lands.

3d. Object. ‘The Time it will take to perfect this Work with the 8000 l. it will Cost, (as Mr. Bateson says) and an Act of Parliament to satisfie all Interests upon cutting away their Lands. &c. and making Droves to their Grounds; not that I think the Country would regret any reasonable Charge, upon the prospect of its doing Service. But grant it possible to Level Hills with Valleys, (for so 'tis in many Places) that almost an in⯑supportable Charge will be entail'd upon this Age and Posterity by this new Channel eight Miles long; since lately the diking out but a part of an old Sewer cost 8 s. per Rod, besides the Charge of throwing off the Earth.’

As did the second, so does this third Objection contain a great many Par⯑ticulars drawn together. I crave leave therefore to Examine them sepa⯑rately.

First, It is intimated, (if I rightly understand this Particular) that it will take a long time to perfect this Work. To which I Answer, If it be once set about in good Earnest, and with the Objector's Approbation, it may be finish'd in twelve Months, which is no great Time, considering the great⯑ness of the Undertaking.

Secondly, It is intimated the Charge will be very great, seeing I have said, it will cost 8000 l. In Answer to this, I have already said in my Paper of Remarks, That the Advantages will abundantly recompence the Costs, the truth of which will appear by giving you an Estimate of the Losses, which the seven Towns of Marsh-land have sustain'd as to their Commons only, computing from that unfortunate Aera, the last great irruption of the Sea to this Time. It is thought there may be about six thousand Acres drowned in the Fen and Smeth, which if Drain'd would, I reckon, be worth a Noble an Acre yearly; this comes to 2000 l. per Ann. which, multiplied by 38, the number of Years from the Date abovemention'd, wou'd amount to 76000 l. And if I was to set the Price, as a great many Commoners and Farmers affirm they give for worse Lands than most of the Fen and Smeth has been, and may be again, viz. a Mark an Acre, the Sum would amount in the whole to 152000 l. too great a Sum for the Commoners of Marsh-land to lose with⯑out doing the Publick any Service. And besides these immense Sums, the Losses of private Owners of Lands are to be consider'd, which it is impossible for me to recount in Particular, tho' it cannot be deny'd, that there are se⯑veral such, who have been great Sufferers during this Calamity. To my Knowledge some Persons have lost as much as would have purchas'd their Estates, were they now at this Time to be as good as ever they were known to be. These Things consider'd, Gentlemen, you will give me leave to say, 'tis high time to look out for such Means as may effectually put this Country [17] in Statu quo. Shall we grudge to lay out 8000 l. Prime Cost, when the Commons alone, at a Mark an Acre, as some reckon, will bring us in 4000 l. per Ann. and the private Estates, now lost, near upon as much.

Thirdly, It is objected again, [...]hat an Act of Parliament must be had to satisfie all Interests upon cutting away their Lands, and making Droves to their Grounds. As to the Charge of an Act of Parliament, I have already answer'd that in my Paper of Remarks; and as to private Owners Lands, there will be but few of them to Purchase, either for the Drain or Droves, because if my Design be put in Practice, the Cut is to run through Tilney-Drove, which is a Common that extends it self above half Way, and is also sufficiently wide for the Purposes abovemention'd. I am entirely of the Objector's Opinion, if he means, that the generality of the Country will not regret any reasonable Charge upon the Prospect of its doing Service; for I am very well assured from the great Numbers that have already Petiti⯑on'd this Court, (and are still ready with an addition to their Numbers to Petition again, when and where relief may be had) That the Country in general will heartily fall in with this Project, having long enough try'd the old Way to their great Costs, without answering their Expectations; tho' at the same time, I am very sensible there are, and ever will be in Cases of this Nature, some few, who do regret a reasonable Charge without any manner of Reason, Equity or Goodness on their sides. As to the Insinua⯑tion, that Hills must be level'd with Valleys, there is no manner of Occasion for it, only the Drain must be dug to a level Bottom both through Hills and Valleys, if the Objector will have those words applicable to one of the most level Countries in the World.

Fourthly, ‘This new Channel of eight Miles long, is Charg'd with al⯑most an insupportable Charge to be entail'd upon this Age and Posterity, since lately the Dikeing out of an old Sewer cost eight Shillings per Rod, besides the Charge of throwing off the Earth.’ I suppose by this old Sewer is meant the ^* Smeth-Load, which every one knows, had not been Dik'd for a great many Years past, till that dry Summer in which it was Scower'd: But who knows not that the long neglect of it was the Occasion it was fill'd full of Slough and Dirt? Which prov'd worse by far to clear, than if a new Sewer of the same Breadth and Depth had been made out of the whole Ground. But when our new Sewer is finish'd, it will never come to that pass, unless the whole Country be swallow'd up (as now near half of it is) with Waters. And I am really perswaded it will be a very easie Charge to keep it in good Order, provided every Town have its particular Allotment in it, to be done by their own proper Officers. I presume also to say, that whenever this Design shall be accomplish'd (as I am in hopes it shortly will) notwithstanding the unreasonable Opposition of its Adversaries, our Posteri⯑ty (if grateful) will bless their Fathers Memories.

[18]4th Object. ‘The gauging at Sea, and the Inland-Waters seems most doubtful, since the height of the Freshes is often succeeded by Droughts, and the Outfals even at old Lyn are deep or shallow, according to the sett of Ebb and Tide agitated by the Winds; besides the Marshes where this new Cut is Design'd, as I am told, and is visible, are above three Feet higher than the Level. So that the digging there, must be nearer the Antipodes than in other Places, or force the Waters up Hill.’

Answ. To the first part of this Objection, That my Method of making the Experiments by gauging the Tides and the Fenn-Waters, seems to be most doubtful; I Answer, It seems to be certain; because I have try'd it several times since I first offer'd my Remarks to this Court, and, both in the dry and wet Seasons, I found it to answer our Purpose. However, since I first inform'd this Court of my Experiments, this worthy Gentlman has had sufficient time to disprove 'em (if he could have done it) by some of his own Experiments. I leave it to your Judgments, Gentlemen, whether this be a fair Way of confuting Experiments, by objecting, Magisterially, it seems most doubtful. For at this rate a Man may avoid the force of the strongest Arguments, and most glaring Truths in the World.

To the Second; That the Outfal of old Lyn is deeper or shallower, ac⯑cording to the Wind's agitating the Waters. I Answer; Let the Winds agi⯑tate the Waters never so much, yet ever since Captain Wilshaw and my Self made these Tryals at Lyn and Knight's-Gool, they always answer'd Expectati⯑on: And besides, where I have design'd the Outfal to be (but always with submission to this Court) the Ebb and Tide both set continually, which will be a very great Advantage to the Outfal, by reason the Gool-Doors will always open, as Occasion serves, without any Trouble or Charge Ex⯑traordinary.

To the last part of this Objection, which shews the Objector's Tenderness towards our Antipodes. I Answer; The Cut is design'd to be carry'd with a level Bottom all the way through, and I have already shewn how the Brinks may be made to stand through the highest parts of Marsh-land; and if so, then I see no reason why we should be afraid of digging nearer the An⯑tipodes: Surely they will not hurt us, and sure I am we shall not harm them, and so pass we on to consider his Proposals.

1st Propos. ‘That it be the Care of the Officers of the Country, and that they be enjoyn'd and encouraged by their Winter Circuits, to keep out all Foreign Waters, which run without any Law into Marsh-land, which was constantly given in Charge by our Ancestors, and to reinforce the Law of this Court of the 20th of King James, for erecting two Houses at distances upon the old Po-dike for Labourers to live in, to prevent the cutting of it, by which the downfal of five thousand Acres run into the Fen continually, when as we can run out but four Hours in twelve at the River.’

Answ. This Proposal is consistent with my Design, only I must needs say, that the Dike-reeves of the several Towns of Marsh-land have ruin'd the old Po-dike by digging up the Skirts of it, to heighten it in the middle: So that indeed, it can no longer be call'd the old Po-dike-Bank, but the Stinting or [19] Cradgen belonging to the old Po-dike. To remedy which Abuse, I humbly offer this Method of repairing it, viz. That Wigenhall be first obliged to make Good that part of the old Po-dike belonging to it (if it be not already good enough) for Carts to carry Silt from the River at Slow-Bridge to the next Charge, which I think is Tilney, and so on to the other Adjoystments in Course. This Silt mix'd with the Moor, has been experienc'd to make a better Bank than any Earth whatever; nay it will be found to bind almost as hard as Gravel it self. Then the two Houses (as here propos'd) may be Built, but till then sufficient Foundations will hardly be found for 'em at due Distances.

2d. Propos. ‘That Lords-Bridge be lengthen'd by those who have Privi⯑lege to set one Net there, being the first Bridge through which the Freshes in a strait Line descend to the Owze, and that the great Letts, Stops, and Annoyances, by laying Gregs and Fish-Trunks cross the great Drain be removed, and the Nets with the divers sorts of Impediments upon Islington-Common be taken away.’

Answ. The former part of this Proposal is not well grounded; because it puts the Lady, the Owner of the Bridge, upon an unnecessary Charge, seeing there is twenty Foot Water-way there, and five Foot Water-way at Waterlesue-Tunnel, which is five and twenty Foot of Water-way in breadth at the very place complain'd of, when at the very same time, both the Gools themselves do carry off no more than fifteen Foot in breadth. As to the re⯑moving the other Letts, Stops, Annoyances, Gregs, Fish-Trunks, and Nets, the Laws already in being are of force Sufficient.

3d Propos. ‘That two substantial Engines or Mills be plac'd upon the great Load, which is very strait, and but a Mile and half from the Neck of Marsh-land-Fen to the two Goats or Gools, which by the Experience of our next Neighbours, and our Friends Abroad, has been very successful to ride the Waters at Sea, by raising and hast'ning the Freshes thither, for which a Law of this Court was to have been provided.’

Answ. To which I Answer, Si populus vult decipi, decipiatur; But I shall make it appear, that 32 Engines of 450 l. a piece cannot by far vent so much Water as a Cut of thirty Foot wide at the Bottom, with a natural Fall of eight Foot. An Engine of 450 l. price, shall have a Water-wheel of sixteen Foot Dia⯑meter, it shall dip four Foot, and raise four Foot, but will scarce carry off three Foot of Water from the Grounds surrounded. And it is known, that according to the Rules of Art, the Skuppets of such an Engine dipping so deep, ought to be a Foot and an half broad. Place then sixteen of these En⯑gines upon the same Height or Level, and then reckon what they will carry off, and you will find 24 Foot in Breadth; after this, count what height they can raise the Water, which I told you was barely four Foot. Now it must always be remember'd, that upon placing your Engines to gain an arti⯑ficial Fall, you put by your Natural one, by making your Engines do the work of Nature. So that these sixteen Engines will have but four Foot Fall, and can carry off no more than three Foot of Water from the Level to be Drain'd, because the Skuppets, when they have but one Foot to dip in, can [20] throw no Water at all. What then must be done with the remaining three Foot of Water in the lowest parts of Marsh-land? Why, you must clap down sixteen Engines more of the same bigness, to raise it to the first Sixteen: But still you must consider the Fall will be no more than you had before, viz. four Foot. 'Tis true, by this Means you may carry off six Foot of Water: But then let us compare this Artificial and my natural Fall together. The Artificial one will carry off a Body of Water of four Foot in depth and 24 Foot in breadth continually whilst the Engines Work, and no longer: But the Natural One, as propos'd, will carry off a Body of 30 Foot in breadth, (and more by reason of the sloping of the Drain) and 8 Foot in depth till such time as the Water shrinks in the low Grounds, and then the Fall, tis true, must decrease as the Water shrinks; yet still, for all that, this Natural Fall shall be better than your forc'd One; because the first will vent your Waters sleeping and waking, as they say, whilst the last must sometimes wait a Fort⯑night, perhaps a Month for a brisk Gale of Wind, during which intermission, the Waters in a wet Season must of necessity increase: And here I woul'd observe to you, that all these Engines thus dispos'd, cannot possibly ^* ride the Tide; for sometimes the Spring Tides shall rise at Knight's-Gool 13 or 14 Foot, and how will the Engines be able to Work against such a vast Head of Water: No, at such a time your Engines cannot run the Water out to Sea above 6 Hours, supposing a Wind, and 'tis confess'd, even by this Gentle⯑man himself, that the Natural Fall we already have, runs four. Again, when the Gool Doors are shut, and there happens (as it often will happen) to be a Wind sufficient for your Engines, you have not a Receptacle suffici⯑ent for your Waters, so that the Engines must be gentle Spectators till the Sea gives Way, and then perhaps there is a Calm. And we have but too much reason to fear the Winds will not be commanded when we stand in the grea⯑test need of 'em. The Sum of what I have said about Engines, Gentlemen, is this, That two and thirty of 'em, of 450 l. a piece, cannot possibly utter so much Water as a Cut of 30 Foot wide at the Bottom: And I am sure so many Engines will be much more chargeable than the Cut as Design'd: For the Prime Cost of these Whirligiggs will amount to 14400 l. whereas the Prime Cost of a natural Drain, will not much exceed half the said Sum. I shall not need to tell you, that such a number of Machines will require a great many Mill-wrights to repair 'em, a great many Millers to tend 'em, a whole Forrest of Wood to supply their daily Wants, abundance of Iron, Sails without Number: All which Clutter will cost the Country above 1600 l. a Year to maintain 'em, and may be avoided by a natural Drain. Before I dismiss this Argument, I cannot (no more than the Learned Object⯑or cou'd) pass by the Experience of our next Neighbours and our Friends abroad, which I think ought rather to induce us to accept of a Natural Fall, and to look upon it as a peculiar Happiness that we can have one to do our business Effectually. Amongst our Neighbours, consider the Engine at Tidd [21] St. Giles, which cost 450 l. has a vast Receptacle for its Waters, and but 2400 Acres to Drain, and yet cannot do it Effectually, the Land-Owners having since erected another for the same Purpose. What a wild Fancy is it then, think you, to propose two Engines to cope with 40000 Acres. Be pleas'd to take notice further, That both these Engines are not to cost above 400 l. according to the Proposal: For the sinking of the Gool will swallow up the other 400 l. I stand amaz'd to think, that an ingenious Gentleman, and one who understands the Affairs of Marsh-land, as well, if not better than his Neighbours, should publish these following Words in Print to the World, viz. ‘These Things being accomplished, i. e. The four Proposals, assisted by the South and South-West Winds, 'tis more than probable, that for the Expence of fewer hundred Pounds, than Mr. Bateson says Thousands, for a new Cut of 8 Miles cross the Country; this Angle may become (as for⯑merly) the Envy of some other Places, and by the soundness of their Commons, the Profits of their Severals, the Healthfulness of their Cli⯑mate, the goodness of their High-ways, and their ease of Acre-shots may attain to its former Credit and Prosperity.’ These are fine specious and amusing Things spoken, yet such as may effectually be brought to pass by a Natural Drain; but I think I have prov'd, that the Winds, and two Wind-mills, &c. can never accomplish 'em.

Now let us consider our Friends abroad, by whom, as I take it, are meant the Dutch: And can any Man think, that those industrious and thrifty Peo⯑ple wou'd have recourse to Art, if their Country cou'd be Drain'd Natural⯑ly? Dugdale says, That within the space of these last fifty Years (reckoning to the time he writ in) they had Drain'd sundry Lakes, whereof 16 were most Considerable, by certain Wind-mills devised and erected for that Pur⯑pose. The chiefest of which Lakes call'd the Beemster, (containing above 1800 Acres) is made dry by the help of threescore and ten Engines; which Expence we may be sure they wou'd never have been at for 1800 Acres, if they could have had a Natural Fall, as we may have for the whole Country.

4th Propos. ‘That the Sole of the old Gool be sunk 2 Foot, being its old Foundation; and that the new Jetty at Islington-shore be forthwith Rooted up, being set down for the particular Interest of one Town only, and that by an Order only; it having been exclaim'd against as the chief Cause of silting the String, and choaking the Mouth of the old Gool, and has made the new Gool very sickly and chargeable, at which Passengers Smile, as well as the Engineer from Portsmouth, when Complaint was made to him of the Outfals; asking what it did there.’

To this I Answer. The sinking of the Gool to the old Foundation, can be of no Service to the Country, unless the ingenious Proposer could find a way to scoure the River to the old Bottom: I say, it will be time enough in this Case to undo what others upon due Deliberation have done, when the River has actually regain'd its ancient Channel, which it is impossible ever to do, so long as Denver-Sluces are in being, and Jetties are wanting on each side of the River to straiten some Parts of it between German's-Bridge and Lyn-Haven. Surely the Country will never yield to this part of the Pro⯑posal, [22] whilst the River continues thus, when, 'tis plain, not one single Rood of Land in the whole compass of Marsh-land will be the better for so doing.

The second part of this Objection is, ‘That the new Jetty at Islington-shore be forthwith rooted up▪’ By all Means; let's lose no time, let us make all the hast we can to our own Destruction. For this new Jetty (as the Proposer is pleas'd to call a piece of the old Sea-Bank repair'd) is the Safeguard of the whole Country of Marsh-land, and it would be much more for the Security of it, if there were Jetties all along that Shore where the Bank anciently stood. Any one that knows this present Inbank, must own the Country to be but slenderly Guarded, seeing there is no Back to the Bank, but all a very low Country behind it. In short, this Jetty seems to stand upon the same Foundation with part of the old Sea-Bank, and if the Owners of the Jetty insist upon it as such, and it really proves to be so, I can see no manner of Reason we have forthwith to root it up. But granting it to be no other than a new Jetty, I will demonstrate to this Court (with your leave, Gentlemen) That long before the setting of it down, Knight's-Gool was liable to be often silted up an hundred Years ago, nay probably ever since it was a Gool. These are Dugdale's Words transcrib'd verbatim. ‘Af⯑ter this (says he) at another Session of Sewers, held on the 17th day of April, in the Year of our Lord 1610, (8 Jac.) It being considered that this Country of Marsh-land was subject to surrounding, as well by downfals of Rain, as by the overflowing of the Sea and Fresh Waters; and was there⯑fore kept drained by Sewers, descending to Knights-Gool (the common Out⯑fall of the great River of Owse) and that the said Gool, by the Flowing and Ebbing of the Sea, was then so silted up with Sand at divers times, especi⯑ally in Summer, that it obstructed the Waters in the said Sewers, to the utter surrounding of all the Fens and low Grounds in the said Country: And moreover, that the said Gool in former Time had been kept and per⯑fected, as also the Fleet from the same, unto the before specified River, by a certain ancient pair of Clows, placed up higher in the Sewer thereby: One appointed for the taking in of the Tides, and so holding up the Water between a pair of Clows, until the River of Owse was run Low; and then forcibly let go for the scouring of Sand out of the said Gool.’ So that, Gentlemen, you perceive 'twas said at that time, which was in 1610, that the Sewer, the Gool, and the Fleet were kept and perfected, and scowr'd from the Sand by forcibly letting go the Waters contain'd between a cer⯑tain Ancient pair of Clows. It is more than probable therefore, that this Misfortune of silting up has attended Knight's-Gool ever since it was a Gool or Goat. And therefore this Jetty may stand, seeing the pulling of it up will endanger the whole Country of Marsh-land; and besides, when it is rooted up (as the term of Art is) the String of the Gool will still be silted up, as is evident from my Author's Words, and the Situation of that Gool placed at too great a distance from the Channel of the Owse. I hope no one can say, that the Jetty is the Occasion of silting up the bottom of the River, nay, I dare say, this Gentleman, himself, will not give that as a Reason for the rooting of it up forthwith. Consider therefore, I beseech you, what small [23] Grounds and Reasons they had, who have so long exclaim'd against this Jetty. As for those smiling Passengers, and that smiling Engineer from Portsmouth, I shall only say, that if they laugh'd at the Jetty, they laugh'd at what they did not Understand: If they laugh'd at the poor old Gool for being Choak'd, or the new Gool for being very sickly, they were not only very hard-hearted, but very uncivil, seeing they have neither given us a Receipt for their Cure; nor shewn us some more effectual easy Way for the Draining of Marsh-land, which, I humbly conceive, I have since done.

☞ Dampson was imployd by Mr. Trafford for 9 or 10 Years together, in ga⯑thering the Rates for the Mill, and Gunthorp has liv'd for a great many Years near Shire-Drain-Sluce, and Buckworth's-Drain-Sluce.

1. It is observable from Dampsons Certificate, That one Engine alone has in 13 Years time, cost very near 3000 l. and that what belongs to both of them, as Repairs and Tendance, &c. will be a yearly Charge of 107 l. 10 s.

2. It is observable from Dampson's and Gunthorp's Certificates, that notwith⯑standing the great Height which three of these Engines raise the Waters in the same Drain: Yet they are forc'd to imploy great numbers of Men to open the String of the Drain to Seawards.

3. It is observable from Dampson's Certificate, That there are no more than 2150 Acres which pay to these Mills: and he told me that there might be about 200 Acres of Common Droves, &c. which did not pay; so that the whole Extent of Grounds to be Drain'd by two of the Engines is scare 2400 Acres.

Quaere, Whether (these Things considered) it be worth the while for the Country of Marsh-land to lay out 900 or 1000 l. upon two Engines, and 4 or 500 l. upon sinking the Gool, and to be at a yearly Charge of 107 l. 10 s. besides sinking the Interest of 14 or 1500 l. And all this Ex⯑pence to keep the said Country in the same Condition it is now in.

Quaere, Or whether it be better to lay out 8000 l. to Drain the Country Effectually, as the following Certificate of the Surveyors will make it appear a new Cut will, viz.

Novemb. 4, 1709. I Levelled from Knight's-Gool down about half a Mile be⯑low Old-Lyn, and there was better than 9 Foot Fall at Low-Water-Mark, and the People there did affirm, That the Low-Water-Mark, at a Spring-Tide, is deeper by 2 Foot: And I do also Certifie, that the Water in Marsh-land-Fen was but 5 Foot deep in the deepest part of it. Wit. my Hand, Will. Newling.

To conclude all, I do Affirm, and will Demonstrate it to any Man of com⯑mon Sense, that the Design of raising the Water, and so running to Sea at the same time, that the Water shall naturally run to Sea in the same Drain, is im⯑practicable. My meaning is, That the Water thro' the design'd penn'd Doors cannot Naturally run to Sea at the same time that the Engines do run, if the Engines do raise the Water above the Level of the Fen.