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Document 35, P 24

the impost of the second Pier from the North, when at the east end
it was one foot three inches below it, so that the fall was then no
less than two feet three inches and which would produce a Velocity of
above seven hundred feet P. Minute.
After the water was subsided so as to afford a full examination
Mr Pickernel reported the Effects Videlicet* that there but very
few of the Rubble Stones removed from where they were throwed in
round the foundations, what were moved were from the West shoulders
but that from the third Pier from the North round which no stones
had been deposited it had torn up the Gravel from the Salient Point
and West Shoulders to the depth of three feet and that from thence to
the Stones that were laid round the second Pier it had deepened the
Bed of the River full eighteen inches (which before was too shallow)
but that all the other part of the Rivers Bed he could not perceive it
altered in the least.
The experience therefore of these Floods and particularly that of the
twelfth of December all concurred in proving that the Oakwood Bank
Quarry Rubble was a Sufficient defence against every Violence of the
Tyne so that it did not appear necessary to introduce any new mode
of defence, but only to apply the Rubble in the most effectual manner
and as the West Shoulder appeared to be the Parts that the greatest stress
came upon Mr Smeaton ordered that the Waters might not meet with
so sudden an opposition there but be more evenly slopenly and gradually
brought thereupon, that the West Salient Points of the Rubble should be
extended westward of the Salient Points of the Cases respectively to the
length of at least Thirty feet and which was accordingly executed by
Mr Pickernel upon all the Caisson Piers.
Fourthly we come now to the fourth and last question Videlicet
whether under all the Experience and knowledge of the subject as it now
24 stands

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Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial P 24

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Transcribed by CTW and KS