66 Notes for the Month. [JULY, 



think, dying of hunger in the streets of Edinburgh ?" ' Why, I grant 

 that/' returned the party addressed; " but then look at the difference of 

 the two countries ! You don't consider the impossibility of starving a 

 Scotchman !" 



The leak which broke out some weeks since in the Thames Tunnel, 

 and which has, of course, for the time interrupted the progress of that work, 

 is reported, at length, by the engineers, to be entirely stopped ; and no doubt 

 is entertained (by the same authorities) of their being able to proceed 

 securely with the excavation to the other side of the river. When the 

 tunnel is completed if ever that event happens we take it that the work 

 will amount to a triumph of practical skill rather than to a production of 

 any real usefulness ; but it may fairly be doubted, even yet, we suspect, how 

 far its completion is to be relied on. 



If it should happen to be true that there was but one point in the whole 

 river on which the soil, was likely to give way, why then, no doubt (taking 

 all the matter touching the stoppage of the leak to be fully maintainable 

 that is stated), we have arrived at the point of danger and surmounted it ; 

 but what evidence is there we don't perceive that such is the case ? or 

 that our having come to a weak point at the spot where the present accident 

 has happened, is not rather an omen, that, as we advance, we shall be 

 likely to come to one or two more ? 



Tha1> - with all the assured statement which is now put forth, of " the 

 accident having been anticipated," &c. " not at all a surprise," but 

 " looked for" the managers of the undertaking are but very imperfectly 

 informed as to the real condition of the bed of the river, we think must 

 be pretty clear; because, had the late accident really been " foreseen," it 

 would be supposing them insane to believe that they would not have taken 

 the same steps to prevent, which they eventually were compelled to use to 

 repair it especially, as independent of getting rid of a horrible danger, 

 such a course would have saved nineteen-twentieths of their late expence. 

 It is impossible, therefore unless we are to assume that the engineers are 

 mad to believe that they did anticipate that, at the point just mended, tho 

 bed of the river would give way under them ; and, if they have been 

 misled in their opinion as to its security so far, there seems to be no 

 reason why it is impossible that they should find themselves in error again. 



As regards the value of the property, perhaps it would be a matter of little 

 importance whether the scheme were proceeded in, or left where it lies ; 

 because the work will probably do well, if, when completed, it pays the 

 charge of its own keeping up. A very great number of carts and waggons 

 must suddenly begin crossing where now no carts or waggons cross at all, 

 to pay the expences of a road, which will have to be lighted and watched 

 night and day, in addition to the ordinary burthens to which such enter- 

 prizes are subject. We recollect, that not long back, the Southwark-bridge 

 speculators were reduced to such economy, that, even in the winter, they 

 only lighted their bridge on one side. This is putting aside, too, the very 

 decided possibility for we argue a little uncertainly when we talk from 

 the surface of a river of all that is going on at the bottom that the same 

 cause which operated in producing the present mischief, may not lead to 

 damage of a similar description hereafter. If the soil in the centre of the 

 river be generally of a spongy, loose, oozy nature, and it is the action of 

 the tide that has made it thinner and looser in the place where the late 

 accident has occurred (which seems more than likely) what certainty is 

 there that the same action may not operate hereafter, so as to sweep the 



