urpout on hydhaulics. — part ir. 477 



In 1810 the attempt was revived to effect a complete drain- 

 age of the Great Bedford Level, consisting of 300,000 acres. 

 The drainage here passes off by the I'ivers Ouse, Nene, and 

 their tributaries, vt'hich discharge their waters into the great 

 bay or wash, called the Msetaris iEstuarium. 



situation the fens were in every winter and spring prior to any works being 

 executed under the direction of Mr. Rennie. In the year 1 799 the whole of 

 the three fens, which contain 40,482 acres, together with the low-lands and 

 commons adjoining, containing about 20,000 acres, were under water, except 

 a small part in Wildmoor and the West Fen ; the whole of the East Fen, which 

 contains 12,664 acres; the lower part of the West Fen, containing about 

 17,052 acres ; and the lower part of Wildmoor Fen, containing about 7770 acres, 

 making together 37,484 acres, were evei-y winter under water. The East Fen 

 deeps, containing about 2500 acres, and the part of Wildmoor Fen called No 

 Man's Friend, containing about 1500 acres, were always under water during 

 the summer ; the former upon an average, in the driest time, about two feet 

 deep. The quantity of high lands draining through these fens is not less than 

 12,000 acres, which, in ordinary wet seasons, send down upwards of 40,000 

 cubic feet of water per minute, which, added to the downfall water upon the 

 fens and the higher lands in the East Holland towns, amounting to about 

 25,000 acres, soon overflowed the said fens and low lands adjoining. This great 

 body of water had to find its way to the sea through three small gouts, or 

 sluices, viz. Austin's Gout, which had an opening of fourteen feet ; Maud 

 Foster, an opening of thirteen feet ; and Tichloft, an opening of four feet: the 

 first were of little use, being so high up the river as to be overrode by the 

 most trifling flood. The whole drainage, therefore, of the fens and low-lands had 

 to depend upon the small sluice of Maud Foster, which sluice has three open- 

 ings of thirteen feet four inches each. 



From this it may fairly be said that what is now made of the fens since the 

 drainage is a total gain. The average value at which the fens are now let is 

 as follows : 



40,481 acres. 90,561 6 



'Tbw'landf!} !^^* 20s. per acre . . 20^000_0_0 



60,481 Per annum 110,561 6 



Money actually*] 



paid for the >• 433,905 at 5s. per foot 21,695 5 

 drainage . .J 



Ditto, upon the"j 

 division and > 146,800 at 5 per cent. 7,340 



roads . .J — — 



Interest per annum 29,035 5 



Increased annual income 81,526 1 



