Document 35, p 5
| 66 | ||||
| continued till the latter end of the year 1776 in which Interval several | ||||
| Adventurers had in succession offered, but all of them on a closer view | ||||
| before the Completion of a Contract, started off. Several Expensive prepara- | ||||
| -tions having been made at the Expence of the County, and the materials | ||||
| laying upon their Hands, this work being therefore as will appear from | ||||
| what is proceeding, generally considered as a derelict Scheme, or at least a | ||||
| forlorn hope, some time in the latter end of 1766 Mr Donkin Agent | ||||
| of Mr Errington came to Mr Smeaton in Mr Errington’s name, to know if | ||||
| he would undertake the direction of Building a Bridge over the Tyne some | ||||
| where between the Low ford and the East boat at Hexham for Mr Errington | ||||
| Provided (he Mr Smeaton) could find a place for the founding thereof | ||||
| that he thought so sufficient that he would risque his Credit upon it | ||||
| as an Artist, in which case if it could be done upon a moderate estimate | ||||
| he (Mr Errington) would make a proposal for Building it to the County | ||||
| urging that as the County had been so long baffled in the Attempt, that as | ||||
| it would be an Advantage to his Estate if it could be done there, it was | ||||
| probable that if it could be done at a moderate expence, the County might | ||||
| accept of a Bridge there, rather than none, and if he Mr Errington was | ||||
| £200 or £300 out of Pocket on the above Account he would think it worth his | ||||
| while. | ||||
| Mr Smeaton being somewhat surprized at the uncommoness | ||||
| and newness of the proposal, desired time to consider of it as previously | ||||
| to that time he had studiously avoided to have anything to do with | ||||
| it, tho’ he had been frequently in that Neighbourhood for a Course of years | ||||
| comprehending and even preceding the first undertaking thereof by Sir | ||||
| Walter Blackett; but considering it on this occasion as a great advantage | ||||
| to the Publick if that could be done, that they then seemed unlikely to get | ||||
| done, he began to consider the Causes of failure in these that had preceded | ||||
| and thinking seriously of the Subject, there occurred to him a mode of | ||||
| construction, that could not only be executed for a very moderate expence | ||||
| 5 considering | ||||
Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial concerning Hexham Bridge, p 5
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Transcribed by CTW and TB