CHAP. V. ON DRAINAGE WORKS. 53 



originally executed by Vermuyden. The lower lying* 

 lands in the district had fallen into a wretched state 

 through neglect of the river outfalls ; and when Smeaton 

 was consulted as to a remedy, he advised the diversion 

 of the old river Torne, which was carried out, and it 

 was also widened and deepened. The result was on the 

 whole highly satisfactory ; though, many years after, we 

 find Mr. Rennie describing the drainage as still very 

 imperfect, and urgently demanding an effectual remedy. 

 It would occupy too much space to detail the works of 

 a similar kind on which Mr. Smeaton was consulted ; 

 but we may content ourselves with merely mentioning 

 the more important, which were these : the drainage of 

 the lands adjacent to the river Went, in Yorkshire ; the 

 Earl of Kinnoul's lands lying along the Almond and the 

 Tay, in Perthshire ; the Adling Fleet Level, at the 

 junction of the Ouse and the Trent ; Hotham Carrs, near 

 Market Weighton ; the Lewes Laughton Level, in Sussex ; 

 the Potterick Carr Fen, near Doncaster; the Torksey 

 Bridge Fen, near Gainsborough ; and the Holderness 

 Level, near Hull. These works, though of a highly 

 useful character, possess but small interest in a narrative, 

 and we therefore proceed to describe the undertakings 

 of a different character on which our engineer was about 

 the same time employed. 



Having fully proved his mastery of the art of construc- 

 tion, and his skill in overcoming the difficulties arising 

 from insecure foundations, by his erection of the Eddy- 

 stone Lighthouse, he was frequently called upon for advice 

 as to the repairs of old bridges, as well as the erection 

 of new ones. Thus, in 1762, we find him consulted as 

 to the repairs of Bristol Old Bridge ; and in the following 

 year he was called upon by the Corporation of London to 

 advise them as to the best means of improving, widening, 

 and enlarging Old London Bridge. Although con- 

 siderable alterations and improvements had been made 

 in it, the structure was in a very rickety state and a source 



