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Document 66, p 3

133 (3)
of Connection for though the building of Bridges over large, and rapid
Rivers was by no means a new Subject to this Deponent, yet the being
engaged as an Agent to a private Undertaker was; he having before
always acted immediately under the Principals. But the Second; which was by
far the most weighty consisted in a full Consideration of the apparent
Difficulties that then appeared to attend the Subject: And as a full
Explication of those matters will very greatly lend to the illustration
of the future consequent transactions, this Deponent begs leave to
take the necessary Compass for that purpose.
The Proposition to build a bridge here or at any place near
Hexham, was in consequence of the total destruction of a Bridge that
in a Similar Situation
had been built a few years before ⁁ in a similar manner opposite the
upper part of the Town of Hexham: which Bridge was undertaken
and built at the Risque of the late Sir Walter Blackett; who in like
Manner had an Estate lying on the opposite Side of the River Tyne
and which Bridge was standing to appearance perfect at the close
of the day of 16th Novr 1771; and which at day break of the
17th was found to be totally thrown down and demolished by the
Occasion of a Flood that in the Night had rose to an uncommon
Height, which height was ascertained by the Marks it had left;
but as no one appears to have been Witness to the Catastrophe, no
Inference could be drawn as to the immediate Cause save the
uncommon Rise of the Water, and which from the great damages
done there, and in many other places, has since been known by
the Appellation of the Great Inundation.
3 Sir

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Note: Mr Smeaton's replies to Interrogatories p3

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Transcribed by CTW and KS