4f)2 THILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1/84. 



smaller circle was described at the bottom of the well, on the hard clay above- 

 mentioned, of" the diameter of S feet in the clear, round which a curb, or circular 

 frame of wood, was laid, and a brick steening, of 2 bricks thick in terris, raised 

 gradually towards the top of the well, while, as it proceeded upwards, the space 

 between the back of this steening and the wooden frame was filled with good 

 tempered clay, 4 feet thick, and carefully rammed. During this operation, and 

 raising the brick-work, with the clay behind it, the water continued to run over 

 them into the centre of the well, now reduced to 8 feet diameter, and was con- 

 stantly drawn out, to leave the workmen on the sides sufficiently dry to raise 

 their work till they had reached the top, and consequently as it was water-tight, 

 cut off the filtration from the sea, precautions having been taken to prevent the 

 danger of blowing at the bottom. 



The next proceeding appeared more simple ; but great care was still necessary 

 to avoid damaging the foundation of the works already done, as the least crack 

 might have again introduced the salt water. A smaller circle than the last was 

 therefore described, and ribs, forming circles of wood, raised some feet within 

 the brick-work ; and others, of the same form, were sunk to the depth of 8 

 feet below the bottom, on which the several works already described rested. 

 After this, a course of bricks was carried up within the lastmentioned ribs or 

 circles, on a diameter of 6 feet, by which they became inclosed and joined with 

 the firstmentioned brick-work, having the clay wall and wooden frame pressing 

 behind them on large diameters. In sinking lower, small curbs were at certain 

 distances placed to support the steening, which consisted of 2 stretching courses 

 of bricks, laid separately, and keyed into the clay or back part of the brick- 

 work by rough pieces of stone, flint, &c. to prevent a slipping or lowering of 

 the steening by its own weight. The work was carried on from this period, 

 without any material difficulty or difference in the clay (except the very extraor- 

 dinary discovery of a piece of a tree at the depth of 300 feet from the top of 

 the well, till the appearance of water at 328 feet deep, by a small mixture of 

 sand in the clay, with oozing of water from it ; and at 330 feet deep, on boring the 

 whole bottom of the well blew up, and it was with difficulty the workmen 

 escaped the torrents of water that followed them, which was mixed with a quick- 

 sand that rose 40 feet in the bottom of the well, at which height it still remains. 

 The water rose in 6 hours 1 89 feet, and in a few days within 8 feet deep of the 

 top of the well. It has since been carefully analyzed by a chemist, and found 

 perfectly good for every purpose ; and, it is presumed, the quantity will be equal 

 to every demand of public and private use at that place, as there has been, ever 

 since it was first discovered, a constant drawing of water, and it has hitherto 

 been found impossible to lower the well more than 20O feet ; tbere has con se- 

 uently always been a depth left in water of J 30 feet. The water is of a very 



