245 



On the 13th of September, the water passing down the river 

 was confined to a width of four and a half feet in another part 

 of the river further up. The depth and velocity were carefully 

 taken, and I found that about seven millions of gallons were 

 descending in the twenty-four hours; the river having decreased 

 nearly half in volume in twenty days. 



On the 8th of October, the water passing down the river was 

 confined to a width of three feet, a little below the bridge at 

 Water Eaton. I again carefully ascertained the depth and 

 velocity, and found that rather more than one million gallons 

 were descending in the twenty-four hours. In the morning of 

 this day I had ascertained that no water was passing down the 

 Thames at the bridge at Cricklade ; there was no water in the 

 river there except in the hoUows in the bed of the river in a few 

 places. I examined the Churn, which flows into the Thames 

 near Cricklade, and found that river completely dry at South 

 Cerney ; and on descending the stream to where the water from 

 Boxwell Spring joins the Churn, I observed a considerable 

 quantity of water flowing into the Churn from Boxwell Spring. 

 On visiting Boxwell Spring, about a quarter of a mile up the 

 brook from this junction, I found it discharging about the usual 

 quantity. I had some time before ascertained the flow of this 

 spring, and did so at this time, and found the discharge to be 

 about 1,100,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. The fact is, that 

 the water passing Water Eaton was from the Boxwell Spring, 

 and in passing over about three miles of porous Grravel and 

 somewhat peaty soU, there was a loss of 100,000 gallons per day 

 at that time. This loss would eventually find its way into the 

 Thames lower down the vale. 



It may be observed, that from the middle of August to the 

 middle of October, there was scarcely any rain fell, and that 

 which did fall was absorbed immediately, and made not the 

 least difference to the water in the Thames. Our obsei-vations 

 extended over forty-five days — from the 24th of August to the 

 8th of October, — and during this period the entire supply of the 

 Thames above Water Eaton ceased, except what was supplied 

 by Boxwell Spring. 



