216 



RENNIE'S DOCKS AND HARBOURS. 



PART VII. 



In his harbours, as in all his engineering works, Mr. 

 Rennie proceeded upon certain definite principles, which 

 he sought to arrive at after a careful study of the whole 

 subject. He was averse to all makeshifts and temporary 

 expedients. When he was asked to give his advice as 

 to the best means of rendering a harbour efficient, he 

 stated his views fully and conscientiously, holding no- 

 thing in reserve. He set forth the whole cost which he 

 believed would be incurred, and no less. He abhorred 

 setting traps in the shape of low estimates to tempt men 

 to begin undertakings when he knew that they would be 

 exceeded. He spoke out the whole truth. " You want a 

 harbour," he would say, " of such strength as to be safe, 

 with piers able to resist the greatest possible force of the 

 sea. Well, here is the plan I recommend : it is the best 

 that I can suggest. But I tell you the whole cost which 

 I think will be incurred in its construction. Adopt the 

 plan or not, as you think proper." He would never 

 consent to reduce the strength of his piers and retaining 

 walls under the limits which he thought essential for 

 stability. He would not risk his reputation and character 

 upon slop-work ; he would rather lose his chance of em- 

 ployment altogether. Hence so many of his large but 

 effective designs for the improvement of our most import- 

 ant harbours remained unexecuted, or were only carried 

 out to a limited extent, sometimes by engineers who had 

 not mastered the fundamental principles on which his 

 plans were founded, and in such a manner as occasionally 

 to lead to vast inconvenience and almost endless expense. 



In his report on the Earl of Elgin's proposed har- 

 bour at Charleston, on the north shore of the Frith 



(1806) ; Frazerburgh, only partially 

 carried out (1806) ; Charleston (1807); 

 Alloa (1808) ; St. Andrew's (1808) ; 

 Portnessock, Galloway (1813); Ar- 

 drossau (1811 and 1815) ; and Port- 

 patrick (1819). In like manner he 

 was consulted, and reported, as to the 



following Irish harbours: Westport 

 (1805) ; Ardinglass (1809) ; Dublin 

 (1811); Balbriggan (1818); Dona- 

 ghadee (1819); and Belfast (1821). 

 He was also consulted respecting dry 

 docks at Malta (1815), and a harbour 

 and docks at Bermuda (1815). 



