Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - To dredge the River Ely - 1860's

In reference to my Contract for the diversion of the River Ely at Penarth, I beg to say that the Excavation down to the low-water proceeded with promptitude, considering the state of the weather and season of the year- and that your Company reaped immediate benefit from the improvement of the entrance of the Harbour from which I calculate 13,000 Cubic Yards were removed - but finding it impossible to perform the excavation below low-water without a Dredger - I endeavoured to find one, by visiting several Ports where such were used and after some delay succeeded in arranging with Mr Seader Williams the Engineer to the Severn Improvement Commissioners for one - but as your Engineer was anxious for Messrs Smith and Knight to dredge the tail of the Slip (slipway), to enable them to proceed with the Piling in the River - I gave the dredger up to them, on the understanding that they were to finish the remaining part of the Contract at one Shilling per Cubic Yard this was reduced to writing, but no legal Contract was entered into - and can only account for their nonfulfilment of it by fearing damage to themselves by the slipping of the Dock Bank which had these symptoms previously - As soon as I found they did not attempt to do my part and had sent off the Dredger - I entered into an arrangement with Mr. Mitchell, who was then building a large powerful Machine to complete my Contract - we met Mr. Dobson respecting it - who had an agreement prepared binding Mr. Mitchell to completion by a given time - bat as delays often occur, not only in building of Machinery, but also in the working, he therefore could not fix a time for the completion of the work - but was willing to enter into an agreement that the first work the Boat should perform would be that -