258 
On the Farming of Huntingdon. 
the scanty population inliabiting its borders from the pestilential 
vapours generated and discharged from its stagnant waters. 
According, however, to Mr. Wells, in a paper contributed by 
him to a former volume of this Journal,* — 
" Whittlesca Mere, in its ancient state, comprised IGOO acres, but at tlio 
time when tlie works for its draining were commenced, tlie ordinary water- 
acreage had diminished to little more tlian 1000 acres. Around the shores a 
margin of silty deposit had been fonned, whicli, thougli often dry, was liable to 
submersion upon the slightest rise of the water ill the Mere. Beyond this 
margin of silt, which varied in breadth from 50 to 500 j-ards, and was valuable 
for tlie excellent reeds it grew, there extended, especially towards the south and 
west, where the level of the surrounding land was lowest, a largo tract of peat- 
moss, which, though generally free from water during summer, was constantly 
flooded in winter. On the north and east sides the level of tlie surrounding 
land was higher — sufficiently high indeed to be cultivated by the aid of wind- 
mills, and approaching more nearly to the borders of the Mere, left less room 
for either the inner circle of silty reed-shoal, or for the outer circle of peat-moss. 
"In addition to the area contained in the Mere, the reed-shoals, and the 
peat-bog, there was much adjoining low-land, more or less under cultivation, 
which would naturally be included in any scheme for the draining of the water 
and waste land on which they bordered." 
Various schemes for the drainage of the district had been 
from time to time propounded, and among others Parkinson, in 
his General Survey, furnished a plan and detailed particulars 
" of a new river to be made about 20 feet wide and 4 deep, 
which by carrying the Nene and other waters into the 40 feet 
river would drain the greatest part of the Mere itself." Sir John 
Rennie, on the other hand, proposed to effect the drainage* by 
means of the Nene, but various considerations ultimately led to 
the selection of the Ouse as the grand outlet for the waters. As 
it was impossible to obtain a natural drainage for the Mere and 
adjacent lands, it Avas not until after the passing of the Middle 
Level Act of 1844, and the construction or enlargement of the 
great marshland cut and other principal drains that the work, now 
so happily completed, was deemed practicable. In the summer 
of 1851, however, says Mr. Wells, it was felt " that the moment 
for emptying the lake had arrived, and accordingly a point 
nearest to one of the exterior rivers having been chosen, the 
bank was cut through, and the long pent-up waters allowed free 
passage to the sea." 
To keep the bed of the Mere free from water, more especially 
during the winter months, it was deemed necessary to erect a 
set of Appold's centrifugal pumps, worked by an engine of 25- 
horse power, and estimated to raise 16,000 gallons a minute, 
with a 0-foot lift ; and fortunate indeed was it for the spirited 
projector of the works that such provision had been made, for 
* ' Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, vol. xxi. p. 135. ; 
