Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

September 22. King George III. crowned (1761.)

23. Equal day and night.

29. Michaelmas.

Tu. 30

THE

THE

Scots Magazine,

AND

EDINBURGH LITERARY MISCELLANY,

FOR AUGUST 1806.

Description of the PLATE.

A Work, in the highest degree curious and important, is now in contemplation for the improvement of this part of the united kingdom. This is no less than a Tunnel, or subterraneous communication, under the Frith of Forth, to be formed at a little distance from Queensferry. The want of a land communication between the metropolis and the northern districts is one of the greatest inconveniencies to which Scotland is at present exposed. Travellers are often subjected to great delay in crosing; few post chaises cross, and no stage coach except the mail. Great quantities of cattle, which are driven South, must either go round by Stirling, or cross with considerable risk and inconvenience, and always with delay. For all these purposes, the projected improvement would be found of the greatest advantage. It would open too an agricultural in. tercourse between Fife and the Lothians, and would facilitate the pas sage of the military. The number of persons who, in these different ways, would find it their interest to make use of this communication, could not fail to produce a rent amply sufficient, not only to reimburse the expence of the undertaking, but also to afford a handsome profit.

"At first, says Mr Grieve, one is led, in this investigation, to Queensferry, where, according to the latest chart of the Firth, published by Lawrie and Whittle, 12th May 1794, the breadth is only one mile. But we are obliged soon to abandon this place; for the metals there are whinstone for more than half way over, which could not be mined through but at an enormous expence. sides, the depth of the tide between the ferries is, according to the said chart, no less than 36 fathoms ; and a Tunnel here, to make an equally easy road through it, would be longer than at other places of lese depth of water.

Be

The west side of this whinstone ground reaches to within half a mile of Rosyth castle on the north shore, and to Springfield, Mr. Morison's house, on the east bank of the Linnmill burn on the south shore, and in á line between these points is the rock in the sea called Beamer, which is also whin rock.

Immediately to the westward of Rosyth castle comes in the limerock, which is also to be traced a cross the Firth. This lime-stone is worked at Duddingstone, on the south side of the Firth, and at the Mains of Rosyth on the north side.

The

The rock in the sea called the Dove craig, is in the line between these points, and this rock is also limestone. Miners choose to avoid limestone almost as much as whinstone. But there is an additional reason for avoiding this limestone; it happens to be only good in parts, and what is bad or bastard of it is as hard to work as whin, and equally good for nothing when it is wrought. To go to the westward of this lime-rock would be carrying the road out of its course, or farther from Edinburgh; besides, the Firth widens very much to the westward for 10 or 12 miles, and the expence of tunnelling under it anywhere there would be greater.

The distance between the whin. rock on the cast hand and the lime rock on the west hand is little more than half a mile. The metals, in this distance, consist of free-stone, and what the miners call passable metals; these are the desirable me. tals for cutting the Tunnel in. The present quarry at Rosyth, which supplies free-stone to the wet docks at Leith, is in the middle of this distance. Rosyth castle, to which the northern roads come easier than to any other point, is about 400 yards to the westward of the quarry, and about 50 yards to the northward of the castle; there is an old free-stone quarry, where the Tunnel may enter the ground, and be carried eastward parallel to the shore with such a declivity, that by the time it enters the wet dock quarry, it may have cover enough over it for proceeding to sea with.

This necessary cover will be ascertained by the borings to be previously made at that point, and all along the intended line of the Tunnel.

In like manner, on the south side of the Frith, the Tunnel may enter the ground immediately on the west side of the Linn-mill burn, and proceed westwards parallel to the shore, till, by its declivity, it has taken on

a cover proper for proceeding to sea with.

These covers will not need to be very thick, for there is a sleech upon each shore which of itself supports water, while the metals below the sleech are of the same kind with the metals at Whitehaven, which support water without having any sleech upon them. The distance between Ro. syth and the opposite shore is, both by Mr. Ainslie's map of Fife, and by the chart above mentioned, called 2 miles, but call it 1800 fathoms.

The greatest depth of water in the middle of the Frith there, is stated in the chart to be 11 fathoms beneath high water-mark, and 9 fathoms more will probably be found to be cover enough for the Tunnel, Suppose the Tunnel 15 feet wide, and 15 feet high arched, with a foot path on each side of three feet broad, to keep carriages in the middle breadth of 9 feet.

Suppose the parallel entries to the shores to be each 250 fathoms long, and to descend 1 in 25, so as the Tunnel may have a cover of 10 fathoms above its sole, or 7 fathoms above its top, before it proceeds to sea. Then its descent to the middle of the Frith, or for 900 fathoms on each side, will only be I in 72. Even supposing the depth from high water to the sole of the Tunnel in the middle of the fair way to be 30 fathoms, the descent would only be I in 45. By the chart, the tide seems to ebb half a mile from each shore, and the fair way at low water is a mile broad. If a moated pit was sunk at low water on each side, and the Tunnel carried on from north to south, as well as from south to north, it could be finished in 4 years; for the fair way or longest part of it, being 900 fathoms, two fathoms of each end of this could be done weekly. The expence of making the Tunnel, would probably be about 160,000l. or 170,000l., viz.

Pre

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

But to make the passage complete, there should be two Tunpels, one for comers, the other for goers. The other Tunnel would cost

69,000 o o

"Of the practicability, says Messrs Taylor and Vazie, of the execution of such a work, we have no doubt whatever. This is confirmed by the report of five other eminent minera logists; and they all agree, that the place pointed out by Mr Grieve, op posite to the Castle of Rosyth, is the most eligible for the undertaking. Upon the whole, they conclude that the capital required will be about 150,000l. and that the work will require about four years to execute."

In Messrs Taylor and Vazie's report there is a letter from R. Bur don, Esq. proprietor of the noted. iron bridge at Sunderland, stating that in 1793, when this bridge began to be built, the toll of the ferry over the river Wear was 410l. a-year; that from the certainty which the bridge has given of a speedy and safe passage at all times, the intercourse has so much increased since the bridge was finished, in 1795, that the toll of the ferry now (1806), lets for 660l. a year, exclusive of 2c30l. ayear, the toll which the bridge lets for this a seven-fold increase, and there can be no doubt that the intercourse at Queensferry, will, by means of the proposed Tunnel, increase in the same ratio.

;

From an Advertisement appended to a printed publication of these reports, we are happy to see that this undertaking is in a state of great forwardness, and that a number of noblemen and gentlemen, of the first respectability, and scientific character, have organized themselves into a regular body for the purpose of carrying it into effect.

NATIONAL DEBT.

AN account shewing, what has

been redeemed of the National Debt, the Land Tax, and Imperial

.164,000 0 Loan, to the 1st August 1806

[ocr errors]

Re

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The late pitched battle between two eminent literary characters, has furnished a frivolous public with a great fund of curiosity and amusement. But I confess I view the matter in a more serious light; for to me it appears to be aiming a mortal blow at the great palladium of the British constitution, the liberty of the press.

For only consider, Sir, what would be the consequence, were every dispute between an author and his critic, like law suits of old, to be thus brought to the decision of single combat. Because a man is skilful in

futed? Upon this system a single author, of strong body, and dauntless courage, might strike terror into whole phalanxes of reviewers. Few of these gentlemen would choose to attack a work, knowing that a champion was ready to defend it, sword in hand; and however thick may be the covering of many of their brains, few, it is to be feared, would be impervious to a pistol-shot. In short, Sir, though there ought no doubt to be some check upon the licence of critics, this check ought certainly to be the fear of censure, not bodily

fear.

Though not fully prepared to form a judgement on the subject, I certainly feel disposed to espouse the cause of our countryman, whose eloquence, and keen satirical powers, seem never to have been better employed. The appeal to arms too on the part of his adversary, seems to imply his conviction of the inefficacy, in this case, of other weapons. Yet I must complain that, by accepting the challenge, he has given a sort of sanction to the validity of this new kind of criticism. I would call therefore upon all the friends of literature, and of free inquiry, to unite in puting a stop to this rash and dangerous innovation in the republic of letters, and in inducing a recurrence to the old and established system of pen, ink, and paper, which, for several thousand years, has been found, by authors and critics, a most commodious vehicle for the gall, which those two hostile tribes take such delight in pouring upon each other.

M.

drawing another's blood, does it fol- CELESTIAL PHENOMENA for SEP

TEMBER 1806.

Wednesday, September 3d.

low that his judgement must be sound, and his taste correct? Is there any necessary connection between muscular strength, and critical acumen; or when a reasoner is shot o'clock in the evening the third through the head, is he thereby con- and fourth satellites of Jupiter will

45

minutes after seven

ABOUT
A clock in the

[ocr errors]

be

« ZurückWeiter »