1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



99 



been favomed liy Cniitain ISeaufui't with tlio Ailmiralty survey of tlip harbour, 

 a copy of nhicli is now before me, I find the depth between the Annat Sand 

 and tl»o Leads, at low water of sprin*^-tides, from seventeen to eij^hteen feet, 

 whieh was confinned by the sounding I tool; : outside of tliis to deep water, 

 there is notliingless tluui fifteen feet; inwards, tlie deptli decreases gradually 

 to less than luilf the above,* until opposite the Iiow F-ight, when it again 

 increases to 13, 12, 11, K), 10, and 1 1 feet, whieh last is in the Stell, opposite 

 to, and not far fi'oni the entrance to the proposed lower Dock. Four feet 

 maybe added to all the above depths fir the low water of neap-tides; thirteen 

 feet for the hiiih water of neap-tides ; and ei(;hteen feet for tlie high water of 

 spring-tides. The length from the entrance to the harbour to that proposed 

 for the Dock, is upwards of a mile, nearly straight, with rocky ground on 

 the south bank, and sand on the north ; but no rocks in the channel of the 

 river: the bearing being N.W. by W. ^ W., and the width in the Stell, 

 opposite to the proposed entrance to the Dock, about IKK) yards. In this 

 place, the direction of tlie ilood-tide is thrown over towards the south side, so 

 that for about a widtli of 100 yards from the shore, there is scarcely un.V 

 curi-ent, 'J"he passage from sea, therefore, up to the Dock entrance, may be 

 jironounced decidedly good. 



SECONDi.r, AS TO TiiK ENTn.\NCE ^Ir. licslie has pointed the entrance 



down thu river, whicli, had there been any current to interfere with ships en- 

 tering, would have been objectionable ; but in the present case, it is, for the 

 reasons above stated, a matter of comparative indifference. This entrance 

 is proposed to be fifty- five feet in width, and fifteen feet si.^ inches in depth, 

 at the liigh-water of neap-tides, which I think sufficient, and was so considered 

 by the trustees when the subject was mentioned at the meeting. Mr. I^eslie 

 proposes one ]»air of gates at first, and shows by (lotted lines upon the 

 genera! plan, how this extension nuvy be nnide at any future ]»-rind into the 

 river, so as to fcirm liie entrance into a lock with two pair of gates. This 

 is the part of the ilesign, the idea of which, for the reason I shall presently 

 state, ought, I think, to be abandoned. The Dock is to be of the same depth 

 as the entrance ; the form a rectangular parallelogram, four hundred and 

 filty feel long, and three hundred feet brt)ad, — giving an area of three acreSj 

 which, for a Dock, I citnsidcr decidedly too small ; and that the plan would 

 therefore be objectionable, were it not for the great facility of extension upon 

 the links, — my opinion being that, in a very few years, the three acre Dock 

 will not be too large for a tide basin, with one pair of gates into the river, to 

 be opened before high-watci- ; and that then the lock witli the double gates 

 should be at the upper end of the basin, to lock out of it, up to the inner l)ock 

 or Docks, [trojierly so called, which may then be of a size thought exjjedient; 

 for what would, in respect of size, be considered extravagant if nH-onimended 

 now, will not probably appear so when the first Dock, which will afterwards 

 be the basin, shall be found insufficient. The sketch which accompanies this 

 report will better explain my meaning. I would not recommend more being 

 done at first towards the ulterior plan than simply returning the wing walls to 

 form the future entrance, and making the front of the l)ock or basin wall 

 between these returns nf timber piles or baulks to form a dam for future 

 works within, and to be removed when these works shall be completed. Willi 

 the above modification, I entirely approve of Air. Leslie's plan, the execution 

 of which does not appear to me to pitsent any peculiar difliculty which Mr. 

 Leslie has not provided for. 



Water — \\liat was said to me of the apprehension that there would be 

 great difireulty in keeping the works clear of water, led me to inciuire parti- 

 cularly respecting the wells that had been dug in the neighbourhoo<l, and the 

 nature of the strata. On these ]ioints, I bad information also from Charles 

 Gordon, an experienced well-digger, as well as from Mr. Leslie, and other 

 gentlemen. Tliere will be water undoubtedly, as the ground is sand and 

 gravel, witii silth below : this will have to be pumped out, and the springs and 

 wells round will be drained ; bnt, after this is done, the n ater will dimini^jh, 

 and the (juick-sanil lose its quickness. I feel assured, from expei-ience in 

 similar cases, that a moderate-sized pumping engine will overcome the diffi- 

 culty of watei-. The docks in the Thames are made in sand and gravel, 

 under a clay surface: the Hull docks are all in silth. Mr. Leslie having 

 furnished me with a copy of his working-plans, I have examined the same, 

 and find that great pains have been taken with them : they are very particular 

 and explanatory. I have also examined the estimate in detail, by taking out 

 the (piantitiesfrom the plaas, and find that the same care has been extended 

 to this. The sufficiency of the prices in some cases, particularly the 

 masonry, may be tested by those who have local information. From the 

 proximity to quarries, I think them sufficient ; but that the prices of the dams 

 and the excavation are close, considering the contingencies to which these 

 works are liable. On the whole, I would recommend an addition of 3,000/. to 

 the amount of 35,121/. uponthe worksdetailed in theestimati'. On examining 

 the detail, I do not find the following particulars to be included, viz : — The 

 Dock-gates, mooring and v\'arping buoys in the river, moorings or bollards in 

 Dock, pumping (with the steam-engine) while the works are in progress. 

 These will amount to 4,000/., making an addition of 7,000/. to the estimate 

 of35,121/.t 



** The Admiralty survey makes six feet only upon the Cross Dykes, the shoalcst 

 place, which must be a very low tide. 



t Mr. Leslie prepared two estimates ; tlie one being the parliamentary estimate, 

 romprehending the whole work, and amounting to about lO.eOO/. ; the other was gut 

 hy the Trustees, in October, 1837, along with workinj; plans and specifications for the 

 work, exclusive of Dock gates, in four department, and amounted to 3r»,0U0/. odds. 

 This last estimate, Mr. Leslie has explained, did include the cxpenst: of pumping 

 with the engine, liut did nut comprehend the Dock gates, stated in the parliamentary 

 estimate at '^,000/. Mr. Leslie did not view moorings a iiart of the Dock, properlv so 

 called. The workin" pLans, speciUcations. and estimate, got in October, 18if7, were 

 those sqbroitled to Mr, \Valker, 



The Harhoi k. — The Harbour is intimately connected with the Docks; 

 and, as ray attention was called, and several cinestions asked, at your meeting, 

 on the various points relative to the former, it cannot be considered irrelevant 

 if I repeat what I then slated. I have already referred to the principal fea- 

 tures of the entrance and river up to the Stell. The harbour is considered 

 hv vou, and probably with reason, as the best between the Forth and 

 Murrav Firth : it is therefoie very important in a ]Miblic view, although cer- 

 tainly not a perfect harbour of refuge ; for, with north-east winds, the Leads 

 stone, and otlier rocks, are upon the lee, close to the entrance, and nearly dry 

 at low water ; and, with south-east gales, ships are stated to lie uneasy in the 

 Stell ; vet, with westerly, which are the prevailing winds, the harbour afl'ords 

 good refuge. The number of wind-bound vessels that entered the harbour 

 last vcar was sixty -four ; and it was stated to me that twenty to thirty were 

 in tlie harbour at" the same time. Considering the harbour thus, even in a 

 public light, a good beacon should be placed at the entrance, upon the 

 dangerous rock to which I have before alluded ; and, judging from my ex- 

 perience in this (luarter, I think it more than proliahle that, if a proper repre- 

 sentation were made to the Commissioners of Northern Lights, they would 

 either undertake the work, or assist in it. 



The Basin. — .\s the harbour of Montrose may be considered the passage 

 through which the sea-water finds its way into the Basin* when the tide is at 

 flood, and out of it when the tide is at ebb, and as its depth and 

 width are proportioned to the (luantily of water that passes, so every 

 thing that diminishes that ipiantity, or lessens the basin, has the direct 

 efl^ect of lessening the width anil depth of the harbour. Therefore, 

 the basin, to the extent that is covered by a spring tide, should be 

 watched with jealousy, and every encroachment prevented. In the -Admiralty 

 survey, it is included as part of the hariiour ; it is part of the plan now before 

 me, and every encroachment upon it may, hy a special -Act of Parliament, 

 be the subject of prosecution ; hut your interests are more immediately con- 

 cerned, anil you have a better oiiportunity of guarding this, which may bo 

 considered the lungs of your harbour. 



HARBom TRU.ST.— A meeting of the trustees of the harbour took place 

 in the Town-Hull, on Jlondav, 28th January last. Provost Crawford in the 

 chair, when the clerk laid on the table the above report. The meeting were 

 highly gratified with the tenor of the report, and concurred in a unanimous 

 opiniim, " that the authority of so eminent an engineer as Mr. Walker, in 

 corroboration of Mr. I,eslie's views, completely removes all objections to the 

 plan, in regard to site, foundations, eligibility, or otherwise, — and also justifies 

 the trustees in concluding that the works can bo executed for a sum below the 

 amount warranted hy the rates lev ialilr under the --Act, which aliord the most 

 adequate security to lenders." The provost then stated that several gentle- 

 men interested in the improvement had resolved to advance 15,000/. to the 

 trustees, or to give their guarantee to that amount ; and thai he was appointed 

 to announce this to the meeting. 'I'lie trustees expressed their hearty appro- 

 bation of the proposed loan or guarantee, and agreed to accept of the same, 

 and to record their thanks to the gentlemen who had come so liberally for- 

 ward to promote the undertaking. The meeting afterwards appcinted com 

 niittees for arranging and disposing of sundry matters preliminary to the 

 commencement of the work, which will be contracted for without loss of 

 time. We understand that the outer wall of the Doclc, which is 600 feet 

 in length, and will consequently be of some temporary service to the shipping, 

 is to be first completed. — Ilfonirose lierktr. 



HISTORY OF PAPERHANGINGS. 



Extracts from a paper hy Mr. ('PACE, read before the Royal Institute of 

 British Architects. 



Paperhangings arc of comparatively nioilern origin, and although they ate 

 of such consequence both from tlie present extent of the manufacture, and as a 

 vehicle for the diflusion of taste, I believe that there has never yet been 

 written any detailed account of its lise anil progress in this, or as far as I 

 can discover, in any other eoiuitry. I imagine them to have been originally 

 manufacturod as a cheap imitation of the ric-h stuffs and tapestries used by 

 our ancestors to cover the stone walls and wainscoting of their apaiirnents. 



The English and Flemish were the first in Europe who excelled in ta- 

 pestry, anii are supposed to haye brought the art from the Cnrsades; tho 

 workmen in France, from this cause, were called Sarozins. 



The well known Bavcnx tapestry, rej resenting the invasion of tliis covmtry 

 by William the Conqueror, is supposed to be (he oldest existingspecimen. Tur- 

 ner, the historian, savs, that our .\nglo-Saxon ancestors had wall hangings, 

 some silken, some with figures of golden birds in needlework, others woven, 

 and some plain ; and in various illuminated manuscripts dating from the 

 Idth to tlic Ifjth centuries, I have found tliis material frequently introduced 

 as a covering for the walls, iind particularly as a canopy for thrones and 

 chairs of state. 



It is in the reign of Henry the Eighth that I haye been first able to trneo 

 the distinct maniifacture of the wove tapestry ; and Dugdale, in his War- 

 wickshire, affirms that it was iioie first introduced into England by William 

 Sheldon, Esq., who brought over workmen i'nim Flanders about 15-10, and 

 employed them in drawing Iiangings, of whicli I believe specimens still 

 reniaiii at Weston. Notwithstanding the autliority of Dugdale, I think 

 the art was merely then rc\iyed ; for Lord .Arundel, by liis will in 1392, 

 tempore Richard the Second, bequeaths to his wife Ph'ilippa the hangings 

 of his hall recently made in London ; and even ten years previously Richard 



« In the Admir»l»y survey the Basin is called the Slale, 



