CHAP. V. RAMSGATE HARBOUR. 69 



the details of his design. He proposed to enclose two 

 spaces of four acres each, and to provide them with 

 nine draw-gates : four upon the westernmost, and five 

 upon the easternmost basin, the whole being pointed in 

 three different directions : two towards the curve of the 

 western pier, four towards the harbour's mouth, and three 

 towards the curve in the eastern pier. To give the sluices 

 all possible effect, he proposed to construct a caisson, 

 shaped something like the pier of a bridge, which, being 

 floated to its place, and then sunk, might be used to 

 direct the current to the right hand or the left accord- 

 ing to circumstances. Several experiments having 

 been made with a lighter filled with water and scuttled 

 when the tide was out, the efficacy of the scouring 

 process was thus ascertained. It was finally resolved 

 to adopt the general features of Mr. Smeaton's plan, 

 though it was riot carried out in the exact manner 

 designed by him. But it was shortly found that the 

 process of sluicing endangered the foundations of the 

 piers. Our engineer was accordingly again called in, 

 when he , recommended further improvements, including 

 a new dock, the first stone of which was laid in July, 

 1784. In the course of the excavations numerous springs 

 were tapped, which broke through the pavement with 

 which the dock had been laid, and Portland blocks 

 were then substituted ; but this not proving effectual, 

 the engineer was again sent for, and from that time for- 

 ward the execution of the further works in connection 

 with the harbour was placed entirely in his hands. 

 The dock was rebuilt, a timber floor laid in the most 

 complete manner throughout, and an additional thick- 

 ness given to the walls ; the east pier was rebuilt of 

 stone, and carried out into deep water to a further extent 

 of 350 feet. In carrying out the elongated pier, Smeaton 

 first employed the diving-bell in building the founda- 

 tions, making use of a square iron chest weighing about 

 half a ton. It was 4 feet 6 inches in height arid length, 



