164 DAGENHAM BREACH. 



Perry in his book (pp. 84, 86), gives various details and computa- 

 tions of the cubical contents of the dam, and calculations of pressure 

 to prove " that the Weight of Earth of which the Dam was compos'd 

 was more than six times superior to the Weight of Water pressing 

 on the Outside of the Breach on the Day when the Accident 

 happen'd, without taking notice of the Wall of Earth rais'd upon 

 the Dam, or the Counter-pressure of about twenty-six foot depth of 

 Water which was on the Inside." 



Altogether these labours, including the repair of the walls, 

 removal of sandbank, etc., took five years, and were not accom- 

 plished without failures. In 171 7 a high tide almost demolished 

 the work done, and on two subsequent occasions inundations 

 occurred; but at last, in 1720, he completed the contract, having 

 spent the sum of ^^40,47 2 iSs. 8|d, Of this he had received the 

 consideration money, ;^25,ooo, agreed in the covenants, and later 

 on a sum of ^15,000 was granted to him by Parliament; but still 

 he was a considerable loser by the transaction. 



During the v/orks they came upon the Moorlogg, a vein 

 of different kinds of wood, partly rotten— yew timber, not 

 decayed, brushwood and hazel-nuts — -doubtless a, portion of the 

 submerged forest of which remains have been found in the Plum- 

 stead Marshes. Stags' horns were also found. ( Vide plan, 

 marked I.) 



From some printed papers dated 1724-25, proceedings at law 

 appear to have been contemplated, in which John Perry was the 

 appellant and Boswell respondent ; but of this I know nothing 

 further. 



From first to last this memorable Breach must have cost at least 

 p^8o,ooo, and took thirteen years before it was stopped effectually. 



The repair and upkeep of the river banks after this time was 

 performed under the control of the Commissioners of Sewers, who 

 made periodical visits of inspection, and then used to dine at a house 

 which had been erected here. 



This ultimately gave rise to an association of noblemen and 

 gentlemen for the purpose of fishing in the enclosed " Gulf." 

 This club was founded on the 13th of June, 1792, and from 

 the "Articles of Agreement for the Government of the Dagenham 

 Breach Co.,"^" we find the six original members were Sir Thomas 



t6 The unpublished original of this is in the collection of Mr. E.J . Sage, of Stoke Newingtoii, 

 and for this and other information I am much indebted to him. 



