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Document 35, P 25

76 Stands that the present Bridge should be attempted to be reinstated or
a new one built at Hexham.
This question is indeed of far the most material import for it is of little
Consequence to the Publick in the present state of things whether Mr Smeaton
misjudged of the subject, whether he was decieved himself or was deceived
by others or whether Mr Pickernel did or not do his best towards a full
execution of Mr Smeaton’s orders in regard to the driving of the Casing Piles
nor is it of any Consequence to know that in point of Art but without any
regard to or limitation of expence a Bridge is posible to be built the true
Question is, is it fitting for the County to undertake it supposing the
Treasurer in possession of whatever Sum can be recovered of Mr Errington in
Consequence of his Obligation Will it not (like Sir Walter Blackett’s three
thousand pounds) be a temptation to the County to spend still much larger
Sums upon an unfruitful project and it may reasonably be suppos’d
that the whole County Stock is not an unlimitted Sum nor can it proper-
-ly expended in the Erection of a Bridge at one single Passage.
It is now known for a certainty what was not nor could not have been
known before the Erection of this Bridge, that there is a possibility for na-
-tural Causes to be so combined as to produce a flood so large and of so
sudden a nature as to produce a Velocity of the water exceeding one
thousand feet in a Minute And whether even this may or may not be the
uttermost limit of nature is not in the Power of any Man to calculate.
That the velocity of seven hundred and twenty feet per Minute arising
from a difference of two feet three Inches as P. flood of December One thousand
seven hundred and seventy eight was sufficient to tear up and remove the
natural Bed of Gravel that forms the Bed of the River in this place wherever
their was a particular set upon it but was not capable of moving or materially
deranging the defences composed of Oakwood Quarry Rubble.
That the Velocity of Nine hundred and thirty feet resulting from a differ-
-ence of three feet nine Inches in a flood of the first of December One thousand
seven hundred and seventy nine still made still made not the least alteration in the
Defences to any part of the Bed of the River Save that the Rubble Stones depo-
-sited at the third Pier where the Current had torn up the natural gravel in the
25 flood

Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial P 25

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Transcribed by CTW and KS