292 L E T T E R X. 



lofeing as much in others upon that Coaft) and 

 that a Roman Veffel of War failing along over 

 it, one of the Mariners or Soldiers did by fome 

 accident di^p it over-board ; upon which it of 

 courfe funk to the bottom, where it lay unfought 

 for and unmolefted, till my Friend's Labourers 

 met with it. But alas ! m accident which hap- 

 pened that very afternoon, put an end to the 

 conjedlure, and fcemed to .point out the manner 

 wherein it came thither. The Workmen, in- 

 ftead of digging down flopeways (as they ought 

 to have done,) dug diredtly down in a perpendi- 

 dicular line, which confequently caufed the clayifh 

 Sides to crack and calve in. This calving waS 

 fo very gradual and gentle, that they had all 

 time enough to efcape out fafely ; though the 

 Bucket wherein the Earth was drawn up, (as 

 wqU as part of the Rope tied to it) was buried at 

 the bottom. By this time my Friend v^as grown 

 Aveary of his proje6l, and fo ordered the Hole to 

 be immediately filled up again. Now perhaps, 

 forty or fifty years hence, when this affair is en- 

 tirely forgotten, another Owner of the Place may 

 dig for a Well there ; and when the Bucket 

 and piece of Rope are difcovered, who knows 

 but that, they may be pronounced Roman ^ and as 

 a rare curiofity fent, either to Dr. Woodward'% 



CoL 



