[73 3 
been wholly prevented if the banks had been 
placed nearer to each other ; because, if the 
upland water had been confined to a nar- 
rower channel, the bed of the river would 
thereby have been constantly scoured out 
by the sharpness of its current. The 'other 
evil is of a most formidable nature. In con- 
sequence of the expansion of the water be- 
tween the banks in times of floods, and at 
such critical moments should the wind rise, 
and blow for a given time in one continued 
direefion, the water acquires a sea-like lash- 
ing of surge against the opposite bank, and 
is frequently the means of destroying it. In 
a very short space of time, some hundreds 
of thousands of acres of ricli and valuable 
property are inundated, which most probably 
never would have happened, had the banks 
be^n placed so as to confine the river within 
its proper course. 
The estates of the 2;reatest magnitude, 
which remain in this perilous condition, 
belong to tfie Duke of Bedford and Lord 
Eardley. 
I. 
