King’s Wells at Sheernefs, &c. 13 
only, might have blown, whicli is ever (as has been obferyed) 
to be guarded againft with the utmoft caution. 
‘The frame being found of fufficient ftrength, and the work- 
men able, by con{tant drawing with four 36-gallon buckets, 
to keep the bottom of the well dry enough to proceed further, 
the greateft difficulty feemed to be overcome, The next procefs 
was to cut off or ftop the falt-water out entirely: to effe 
which, a fmaller circle was defcribed at the bottom of the well, 
upon the hard clay already mentioned, of the diameter of eight 
feet in the clear, round which a curb, or circular frame of 
wood, was laid, and a brick fteening, of two bricks thick in 
tarris, raifed gradually towards the top of the well, whilft, as 
it proceeded upwards, the {pace between the back of this fteen-- 
ing and the wooden frame (fixed fix feet higher) was filled with 
good tempered clay, four feet thick, and carefully rammed. 
During this operation,and raifing the brick-work, with the clay 
behind it, the water continued to run over them into the center 
of the well, now reduced to eight feet diameter, and was con- 
ftantly drawn out, to leave the workmen on the fides fufficiently 
dry to raife their work until they had reached the top, and confe- 
quently, as it was water-tight, cut off the filtration from the 
fea, precautions having been taken to prevent the danger of 
blowing at the bottom. 
The next proceeding appeared more fimple; but great care 
was till neceflary to avoid damaging the foundation of the 
works already done, as the leaft crack might have again intro- 
duced the falt-water. A fmaller circle than the laft was there- 
fore defcribed, and ribs; forming circles of wood, raifed fome 
feet within the brick-work; and others, of the fame form, 
were funk to the depth of eight feet below the bottom, upon 
which the feveral works already defcribed xefted, After this a 
courte 
