Document 35, p 4
| to prove that whenever Mr Pickernel had penetrated the Bed of Gravel | ||||
| that universally a Stratum of quicksand took place. | ||||
| Under the circumstances Mr Wooler attended at Hexham to Survey | ||||
| the Premises, and in the presence of some of the Magistrates assembled on the | ||||
| Occasion, repeated the Trial of the Barr both in the foundation Pitt near the | ||||
| North, and in the Shaft near the South end of the intended Bridge; and | ||||
| which succeeded as before mentioned.The existence of a Stratum of Quick | ||||
| -sand under a Bed of Gravel in this place then does not depend upon the | ||||
| simple Testimony of Mr Pickernell but is alike witnessed by very respect- | ||||
| -able as well as competent Judges. | ||||
| The result of which View and Survey was, that no other place ap- | ||||
| -pearing more eligible and likely than where the beginning had been made | ||||
| and being unwilling to go upon the principle intended and begun of | ||||
| pileing and planking under the Piers and the Magistrates not giving | ||||
| Ear to the Solid Wall proposed by Mr Wooler (across and under the whole | ||||
| Bed of the River from side to side as an artificial foundation whereon | ||||
| a Bridge was to be Erected) on Account of the Expence thereof which was not | ||||
| only likely to be uncertain but so great as to be very imprudent for even | ||||
| the County to enter upon, the whole undertaking was at that time | ||||
| given up or suspended; and Mr Wooler having been urged as too easily | ||||
| desisting from his Original plan; on going away, he very sagaciously | ||||
| and prophetically said whoever medled with a Bridge there would | ||||
| Burn their Fingers. | ||||
| After this the Gentlemen of the County unwilling to loose sight | ||||
| of a Bridge at Hexham, an advertisement soon after appeared in all the | ||||
| Newcastle papers, as from the Bench of Magistrates of the County importing | ||||
| an Invitation to all Adventurers to undertake the Erection of a Bridge | ||||
| taking the risque of making a foundation upon themselves and taking | ||||
| their own method of doing it, but building the Superstructure according | ||||
| to a certain design to be produced to them; and security for the permanency | ||||
| for the whole of the wonted time of Seven years. This Advertisement was | ||||
| 4 continued | ||||
Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial concerning Hexham Bridge, p 4
Abbreviations are underlined like this Wm. and the expansion may be seen by moving the cursor over it.
| An entry outlined like this has a note which may be seen by hovering over it. |
Transcribed by CTW and TB