150 Mr. Taylor's description of the 



was known to be traversed by numerous lodes, which might be dis- 

 covered and worked by such an undertaking, and that while a tun- 

 nel should be carried in a direction to cross them all, it might make 

 a navigation practicable from the vicinity of Tavistock and the 

 adjacent mines, to the river Tamar where the produce of the neigh- 

 bourhood is shipped. 



In 1803 an Act of Parliament for cutting a canal from the town 

 jpf Tavistock to Morwelham^ a quay on the river Tamar, was ob- 

 tained, and the driving the tunnel was immediately begun. 



A canal from the north end of it to the town of Tavistock was 

 soon after cut, by which means a copious stream of water was ob- 

 tained from the Tavy, which was carried across a valley upon an 

 embankment 50 feet high, and afforded the means of working an 

 overshot water-wheel of immense power, which was required for 

 sinking the requisite shafts on the hill through which the tunnel 

 was to pass. 



It is unnecessary here to enter into further detail of the nature 

 of the works, as they may be understood from a collection of 

 reports on the subject, which I have formerly laid on the table of 

 the Society ; it is sufficient to remark that this tunnel, which was 

 to pass through hard rock for a length of nearly a mile and three 

 quarters, and for the principal part at a depth of about 130 yards 

 from the surface of the hill, was an undertaking of no small enter- 

 prize, and that difficulties of various kinds presented themselves in 

 its progress. 



The tunnel, as may be seen by the section, is not yet complete,* 

 but the obstacles are all surmounted, and nothing now remains to 

 be done but the simple operation of driving. The draining the 

 deep shaft in the centre of the hill, and the ventilation of the tun- 

 nel, having been some time since provided for. 



* See the Postscript to this Paper. 



