26 REPORT — 1856. 



if we can preserve the same column of water and strength of current which 

 we now possess, I see no reason to apprehend the outer approaches of the 

 port sanding or tilling up. 



The scarping, or removal of rocks, in the river should not, I think, be 

 undertaken without due consideration of the effects likely to be produced 

 by so doing, and should, in my opinion, be avoided as much as possible. 



In conclusion, I would beg to remark, that I think the new dock proposed 

 to be formed to the westward of the Salthouse Dock, and the carrying out 

 of the river-wail in that quarter, so as to form a continuous line with the 

 other docks, will be a great and decided improvement to the navigation of 

 the river. 



I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, 



(Signed) Wm. Lord, 



Marine Surveyor to the Port. 

 To the Chairman of the Conservarwy Committee. 



(Copy.) 



No. 8.— Letter from Lieut. Wm. Lord to R. Radcliffe, Esq. 



Marine Surveyor's Office, April 3, 1840. 



Dear Sir, — Since I last wrote to you on the Conservancy affairs, it has 

 occurred to me that two or three piers judiciously run out between Garston 

 and the Dingle Point, might produce a good effect in preventing the great 

 oflPset of the tide from the Dingle Point, and conducting it along the line 

 of the docks, by which some portion of Pluckington Bank would doubtless 

 be got rid of. 



Havine had some conversation with the Dock Surveyor on the subject, 

 I may ad"d that he fully concurs with me on this matter, which may be 

 worthy the attention of the Conservancy Commissioners, should such be 

 appointed. 



The expense of the erection of such piers would not, I apprehend, be 



very great. 



I am, dear Sir, 



Yours very truly, 

 (Signed) Wm. Lord. 



R. Radcliffe, Esq., Town Hall. 



Report upon the changes in the Sea Channels of the Mersey, as recorded by 

 the Surveys tahen and published within the last fifty years ; and which 

 surveys have been laid before the Committee appointed to iiivestigate and 

 report upon the same, by the British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, at its meeting in Liverpool, September 1854. By Joseph Boult. 



The charts of the Mersey having been usually prepared when important 

 changes had taken place in the channels, the investigations of those changes 

 could not be arranged by epochs of time, and therefore the periods which 

 the charts themselves prescribe have been adopted. 



For the purpose of this inquiry it may be conveniently assumed that the 

 true mouths of the river are at the outward extremities of the sea channels. 

 The streams of tide running inland through these sea channels unite into one 

 great stream between the north dock-works of Liverpool and New Brighton. 

 After passing the towns of Liverpool and Birkenhead, through a narrow 

 gorge — which in places is as much as 10 or 12 fathoms deep, at low water 



