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stone have been deposited in one week, and to supply this vast 

 demand, monster blasts of five or six tons of gunpowder were fre- 

 quently employed. These two great works are advancing very satis- 

 factorily ; and it is worthy of remark, that although the severe storms 

 which have repeatedly occurred on the exposed coasts where they 

 are situated, have done some injury to portions of the stages, and of 

 the temporary works, at Holyhead where the piles were not shod 

 with Mitchell's screws, which proved so successful at Portland not 

 a stone would appear to have been carried away from the jetties ; 

 and the success of the system may be said to be complete, in spite of 

 the sinister predictions which prevailed before it was tried. 



Among the other works upon which Mr. Rendel was engaged, 

 should also be mentioned the constructions on the River Lea, and 

 the improvements of the Nene river ; the latter an undertaking of 

 considerable difficulty, and not yet completed. He was also employed 

 by the Exchequer Loan Commissioners to report upon the drainage 

 and other public works in Ireland. 



He was less engaged in railways than in hydraulic works, but in 

 England he executed the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 

 Junction Line, and in India he had the direction of the "East 

 Indian" and the " Madras Railways," the former projected by Mr. 

 (now Sir Rowland) Macdonald Stevenson, as the first of the vast 

 system now in progress which will doubtless exert a mighty influence 

 on the future destiny of the Indian Empire. The Ceylon and the 

 Pernambuco lines were also under his charge. 



It would unduly extend this sketch to notice in particular the 

 various hydraulic works upon which Mr. Rendel was engaged, as 

 there was scarcely a harbour or river of importance in the kingdom 

 with which he was not connected in some capacity. His advice was 

 also sought by foreign countries ; and he was engaged to report upon 

 works for the Brazilian, the Prussian and the Sardinian governments, 

 and was nominated by the Viceroy of Egypt a Member of the Inter- 

 national Commission for considering the construction of the Canal 

 across the Isthmus of Suez. 



He was a man of great energy, clear perception, and correct judg- 

 ment ; his practical knowledge was well directed, and he knew how 

 to make good use of the scientific acquirements and skill of all whose 

 services he engaged. His evidence before Parliamentary Committees 



