CHAP. XTTT. THE XOETH LEVEL. 409 



fered with the trade of Wisbeach, by leaving it out of 

 the line of navigation and drainage which he proposed 

 to open up, the corporation of that town determined to 

 employ another engineer; and Mr. Telford was selected 

 to examine and report upon the whole subject, keeping 

 in view the improvement of the river immediately adja- 

 cent to the town of Wisbeach. Mr. Telford confirmed 

 Mr. Rennie's views to a large extent, more especially 

 with reference to the construction of an entirely 

 new outfall, by making an artificial channel from Kin- 

 dersley's Cut to Crab-Hole Eye anchorage, by which 

 a level lower by nearly twelve feet would be secured 

 for the outfall waters ; but he preferred leaving the 

 river open to the tide as high as Wisbeach, rather than 

 place a lock with draw-doors at Lutton Learn Sluice, as 

 had been proposed by Mr. Eennie. He also suggested 

 that the acute angle at the Horseshoe be cut off and 

 the river deepened up to the bridge at Wisbeach, 

 making a new cut along the bank on the south side of 

 the town, which should join the river again immediately 

 above it, thereby converting the intermediate space, by 

 draw-doors and the usual contrivances, into a floating 

 dock. Though this plan was approved by the parties in- 

 terested in the drainage, to Telford's great mortification 

 it was opposed by the corporation of Wisbeach, and like 

 so many other excellent schemes for the improvement 

 of the Fen districts, it eventually fell to the ground. 



The cutting of a new outfall for the river Nene, how- 

 ever, could not much longer be delayed except with 

 great danger to the reclaimed lands of the North Level, 

 which, but for some relief of the kind, must shortly have 

 become submerged and reduced to their original waste 

 condition. The subject was revived in 1822, and Mr. 

 Telford was again called upon, in conjunction with Sir 

 John Rennie, whose father had died in the preceding 

 year, to submit a plan of a new Nene Outfall ; but it 

 was not until the year 1827 that the necessary Act 



