3 803. IrnproiJemefii of Holm Land i?i Cutnberlafui. 3 1 ^ 



double wall, but only as a kind of rough facing, without ufing 

 any lime, and fiipporting the back of the ftones u ith gravel from 

 the old water-courfe, beginning the mound of gravel about 4^ 

 yards, or near 5 yards, wide at bottom, and Hoping it gradually 

 to the top, and covering it with green turf, to give it a fward ; 

 fccuring it in front with a row of itrong oak Hakes, drove near 

 3 feet into the gravel, and about 3 feet diitant from the (tone 

 lacing, and (illed with ftones in front of the bank. This was 

 thought fulhcient to prevent its undermining; but the hrll high 

 flood tore up the Hakes, undermined the (lone facing, and, in a 

 few minutes, laid the bank in ruins. Mr Nixon immediately 

 began a new bank, on the fame plan as the hrll \ but, inllead 

 of 25 yards in length, was obliged to make it above 50 yards, 

 owing to the flood tearing the upper part of the new cut, and 

 jjetting into the old channel. When it was finiOied, inftead of 

 Hakes, as before, it was fecured by a kind of pavement of large 

 niafl-y ilones, extending about 5 yards along the front of the 

 bank. The mod rapid Hood cannot now undermine the bank, 

 its fury being fpent, by running fmoothly on the top of the 

 pavement, as if an a folid rock. The bank and pavement have 

 Hood more than five years, and braved the fury of the greateH 

 floods. I am certain a bank of this conHru6lion will turn the 

 largeH river in Britain, if raifed above high flood-mark, as this 

 is. The river, now having a Hraight deep bed, never inundates 

 the holm as formerly ; £0 it can be cropped with fafety, befides 

 the gaining a confiderable quantity of land, by ftiortening its 

 ferpentine courfe. The expence of the whole was not extra- 

 ordinary high ; as the new cut, in fome places, fell into the 

 bounds of the old water-courfe, (fee fig. i.)^ and the cuts, though 

 not wide at firH, were foon made large enough by the floods ; 

 no wood being to purchafe for the Hrong bank, and the Hones 

 and gravel being near at hand. The prefent farmer, Mr Henry 

 Ewart, is at this time making great improvement on the hohn, 

 levelling the banks of the old courfe, taking foil to the gravelly 

 places, &:c. I have been particular in this detail ; as I have fecii 

 fome unfuccefsful attempts of the kind. An expenfive cut at Lau- 

 rieHon, pariih of CaHletown, county of Roxburgh, failed, merely 

 for want of a proper bank at its inlet ; alfo, a (hort cut, with a 

 bank crofs the river Irthin, in Cumberland, done at a great ex- 

 pence, by the county, to prevent the water breaking a new courfe 

 at the end of a bridge, is now fait going to ruin, though the 

 bank was made with Hakes armed with iron, and drove fome 

 inches into a folid rock. I am of opinion, if thefc banks had 

 been done upon the fame principles as Mr Nixon's, they would 

 have Hood for ages. I am yours, &C: J. D. 



Defcripthn 



