270 EENNIE'S LAST WOEKS PART VII. 



the river, making borings at various points between the 

 one shore and the other. In the report which he made 

 to the Corporation on the 12th of March, 1821, a great 

 deal of new and accurate information was first brought 

 to light respecting the flow of the tide through the 

 arches, and the additional depth of water likely to be 

 secured by their removal. Although it was pronounced 

 quite practicable to carry out the alterations which had 

 been recommended, and the erection of four new arches 

 in lieu of the eight old ones, he was of opinion that 

 the cost would be very considerable ; and, after all, the 

 old foundations would still present great defects, which 

 could never be wholly cured. Mr. Rennie therefore 

 suggested the propriety of building an entirely new 

 bridge of five arches, with a lineal waterway of not less 

 than 690 feet, in lieu of the then waterway of 231 feet, 

 below the top level of the starlings, and 524 feet above 

 them. Besides the greatly increased accommodation 

 which would be provided by such a structure for the 

 large traffic passing between London and Southwark, Mr. 

 Rennie held that not the least advantage which it pro- 

 mised was the much greater facility which it would 

 afford for the navigation of the river to and from the 

 wharves above bridge ; for coasters and even colliers, 

 with striking masts, might then be enabled to navigate 

 the whole extent of the City westwards. The increased 

 waterway would also enable the waters descending from 

 the interior to flow more readily away, floods often 

 inflicting great damage along the shore, especially in the 

 winter months, when the arches of the old bridge became 

 choked up with ice. 



The report was felt to be almost conclusive on the 

 subject ; and the more it was discussed the deeper grew 

 the conviction in the minds of all that its recommenda- 

 tions ought to be adopted. The Corporation accordingly 

 applied to Parliament, in the year 1821, for an Act 

 enabling them to purchase the waterworks under the 



