48 
which had recently been.a vast body of water bursting in upon 
them from the land, deluging the works, and putting a stop to 
them fora time. It may be mentioned that the water issuing 
from the Pennant proved to be decidedly salt, more than brackish ; 
hence the question, is this the result of the percolation of the Severn 
sea, some 30 or 40 feet overhead ; or is it derived from the New red 
marls and sandstones of the adjoining strata, which are known to 
contain salt? The members were finally drawn up to land much 
soiled as to the outer man, but none the worse for their under- 
ground visit. The air, owing to the admirable arrangements of 
the exhausting-tube which draws off the bad air to the surface, was 
fresh and agreeable, and notwithstanding recent blastings, com- 
paratively clear, and they felt much impressed with the 
importance of the works undertaken by Mr Walker—the 
magnitude, dangers, and difficulties in overcoming which the 
luxurious occupant of the first-class coach that hereafter may pass 
through will have but a faint idea—and wished him every 
success which his energy deserves. But if the hands which carry 
the work out are deserving of admiration, no less certainly must 
be the mind that conceived the idea. A tunnel 4} miles long, 
one-half of which length will be under the Severn, connecting the 
industries of England and Wales, was the idea conceived by this 
mind in the year 1862 or 1863, and finally wrought out, shall we 
say, in 1886 or sooner. All honour then to Mr. C. E. Richardson, 
C.E., engineer-in-chief of these works!. The members had the 
opportunity of seeing him at the shaft before leaving the ground, 
and from his paper given on a former occasion to a sister club the 
following section of the beds passed through in descending order 
at Portskewet is taken :—Sand, Yellow sandstone, Red marl, 
Conglomerate, Pennant, Clay shales, Coal shale (tunnel level), 
Millstone grit shale, Limestone. 
After returning above ground a walk was taken, under the 
guidance of Mr, Kenway, to the brickworks, where from clay dug 
upon the spot the bricks for casing the tunnel are made. Very 
