Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 13 Apr 1768

To Sir Walter Blackett Baro[ne]t at Wallington                                  Newca[stle] 13th April 1768

Hon[ou]r[e]d Sir

I met with Mr Smeaton yesterday at Hexham: who had pursuant to your Letter examined the plan & situation of the intended Bridge: & his opinion is that, if the Flood Marks shewn him by Messrs Gott & Brown are right, their is no doubt but their Arches will be high enough. he frankly owned he would not have made them so high. As to the Foundation of the piers he proposes two things. The first is, that instead of making them in six feet under low water mark they should without regarding the low water mark sink the foundation three feet under the Bed. that is the Bottom of the River; by wh[ic]h they will get so much hold of the Earth, with each Pier. This they agree to & are of opinion it will not cost more than their own Method. The other is, That instead of ramming down piles in a promiscuous Manner for the Frame to be founded upon, the should sink the 3 feet and then drive a compact Body of Piles, according to the Circumference of the frame so close to each other that no sand nor even water can pass through & so build within these Piles. But this Method I find they do not think so well of as their own; besides they say it will be a greater Expence & will quite alter the Contract. Indeed Mr Smeaton was candid enough to say to me that tho’ his practice is as above stated yet he believed their Method would be very near as durable as his provided they would sink the 3 feet under the Bed of the River, as mentioned above, & then drive piles of the length & in the manner proposed in the plan. I have received the inclosed Letter from Mr Darwin, since I came home about a Bill Mr Walter Trevelyan has drawn upon him by a Misnomer – Mr Trevelyan told me he would draw upon me for rent charge – but it may perhaps be more convenient for him to draw upon Mr Darwin for it, while he is at Cambridge: he may do which way he pleases, if he will give Notice to Mr Darwin or me of his intention; that I may, if he draws upon Mr Darwin, have time to send money to answer his draughts – if you please to send me a Frank for Mr Trevelyan I will write him to this Effect, lest he should suffer any inconvenience for want of Money. I hope you are better than Yesterday. Mr Bell & Mr Wray will talk with Mr Errington’s Steward about the Wood on the Ground to be exchanged. I am etc    HR