lei ween Rot her hit he and Limchouse. 375 



the works, and of two premiums advertised by the direc- 

 tors for plans, according to which the tunnel may be 

 constructed. 



The Thames Archway Company was established by an 

 act of parliament (45 Geo. III.) "for the purpose of form- 

 ing a tunnel under the river Thames, either for foot passen- 

 gers or carriages, or for both ;" and by the unanimous opi- 

 nion of every engineer who had been consulted, it w?s 

 deemed necessary, as a preparatory step, to make a drift- 

 way to extend as far as the deepest part of the river; and ac- 

 cording to the original plan of this undertaking it was in- 

 tended then to begin to construct the tunnel, carrying it 

 forward in both directions from<the centre to the north and 

 south sides of the river : a shaft was therefore sunk on the 

 south side near the Horse-ferry, RedrifTe, and a drift- way 

 made to the point first proposed. It was, however, then 

 determined to continue the drift to the opposite shore, in 

 the line and direction of the proposed tunnel, for the sake, 

 amongst other reasons, of exploring the ground through 

 which that part of the tunnel was intended to pass ; and 

 thereby enabling the engineer to anticipate and guard against 

 difficulties. 



In pursuance of this determination the drift- way was 

 carried on to the extent shown in the accompanying plan, 

 at A, when the engineer proposed another mode of executing 

 the tunnel, and, in his opinion, much less difficult and less 

 expensive, and for which the further extension of the drift 

 would be useless; the directors, being convinced that there 

 are many methods of accomplishing the object, and that it 

 is their duty to procure the best in their power, thought 

 proper, before this or any plan were adopted, to suspend the 

 works, and to invite ingenious men of every description to 

 a consideration of the best means of completing so useful 

 and so novel an undertaking. 



With this view the directors are induced to offer the fol- 

 lowing premiums, namely, 



Tivo hundred pounds to the person whose plan shall be 

 adopted and acted upon 5 and a further sum of three hundred 

 pounds if it be executed. 



A a 4 The 



