King’s Wells at Sheernefs, @e. it 
ried my orders into execution with the greateft zeal for the 
fuccets of the undertaking as well as judgement. The men- 
tioning thefe gentlemen’s names is, as well asa juftice to their 
conduct, to recommend harmony and mutual exertion in any 
future work of this nature, as, without an equal attention in 
every one, I fhould greatly doubt fuccefs, even admitting the 
fame plan to be in all other refpects {trictly attended to, as 
there would be great difficulty and danger to the lives of the 
workmen if carelefsly carried on. 
The work was begun the 4th of June, 1781, and finifhed 
the 4th of July, 1782. | 
A circle of twenty-two feet diameter was firft marked out 
on the ground, and the {pace excavated to the depth of five 
feet ; after which, pieces of wood, called ribs, upon the curve 
of a diameter twenty-one feet four inches, and about nine 
inches fcantling, were placed, to form a complete circle within 
the excavated part at the bottom, above which other circles 
of the fame nature were placed, and fupported by upright 
pieces of fcantlings, having fhort boards introduced by the in- 
tervals, which afterwards prefled upon the circles or ribs, be- 
tween them and the exterior parts. Thefe, when united, 
formed one frame of wood from the bottom to the top, or 
rather higher than the excavated fpace, and prevented the mud 
of the upper furface, which was very foft, from falling in upon 
the workmen. In proceeding deeper, care was taken to pre- 
vent the finking of the before-mentioned frame by its own 
weight, in excavating parts only under it till another circle of 
pieces like the firft, called ribs, was formed, and uprights, 
with boards behind, introduced. The diftance between thefe 
circles was in the firft, or upper part of the work, about three 
feet ; but as difficulties increafed they were placed nearer, and 
Ci2 in 
