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Document 29, p 2

facts & Materials, on which he established his plan of Operations
A Great Mind is often deceived by its own Virtues. Habituated to give on all Occasions
the genuine & honest Productions of its faculties, it often relies too much, & implicitly, on that
which appears to be the same of other Persons.
The Existence of a Sand below, & a supposed hardness & concretion of 5 feet, or any
such measure of the upper parts, seems to have precipitately & fatally determined the
Plan of Operations, at first setting off, & appears to be equally the Cause of the present
precipitate Opinion, for abandoning the Proposition as Impracticable.
Art furnishes the Means, I humbly presume, of going to a sufficient depth with
all the foundations & that too, on the spot, notwithstanding the Damage which this
Scite* has received
To compare the Eligibility of this Situation, with that of any other near to
Hexham, & the Direction of the Alemouth Road, is perhaps useless to discuss at present,
But in my Opinion if nothing had hitherto been done (as too much has unfortunately
been done) I wod have recommended a place of deep Water, & fixed elevated Banks, like
to that opposite to the West End of the Dwarf Wall of the Spital Green within Mr. Wastells
Inclosures.
To enable me to form the Opinions which I have now the Honor to report to you,
I have seen, & examined all Mr. Smeaton’s Papers, I have heard all the particulars &
History of his proceedings, & Motives for the Method of Operations, which he adopted: I
have examined every part of the Works, & many Persons concerned, & employed in the
detail of its Execution; and it was my Lot to pass here in August 1778 when I viewed
the Effects then produced in those very foundations, by Floods previous to that time
making for my own Instruction, Minutes of what then I saw. – I mention those things,
to enable you to Judge, of that Reliance, you & all other parties, interested in this Business,
may be pleased to give to the Opinions & Report which is made
by your most obedient
And very humble Servant
Robert Mylne

Note: Report from Robert Mylne to Northumberland Magistrates, p 2

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Transcribed by KS and PF