106 EAU-BRINK CUT. 
fifteen feet, on an average ; so that the outfall sluices of the drains on 
each side of the river, and the beds of the drains may now be lowered to 
a corresponding extent, and the expense and uncertainty of windmills 
may be in a great measure avolded. Advantage, however, has not been 
taken of the improved means of drainage afforded by the Eau-Brink 
Cut in the interior of the Middle and South Levels, so that there are 
nearly as many windmills as ever, but their efficiency is increased by the 
more rapid discharge of waters resulting from the improved outfall. 
In regard to the town and harbour of Lynn, the effects of the new 
cut have been very different from what was expected by the alarmed 
inhabitants ; for the new river, instead of undercutting the wharfs on 
the town side, has taken a direct course to sea, and thereby deposited 
a great body of sand and mud in front of the warehouses and quays, 
where the vessels formerly lay, which is felt to be a serious inconvenience ; 
and this has happened, although the channel has been considerably 
restrained and narrowed by jettees, projecting from the opposite or west 
side of the river; so that, unless the quays are widened and brought 
forward, the jettees must be considerably extended. 
The Eau-Brink works (previously to the last-mentioned enlargement) 
and the sluices on the South Level having all been set out and con- 
siderably advanced previous to my appointment, and the drainage 
Commissioners having the chief management, it is to their engineer, the 
late Mr. Rennie, that the planning of those several works is due; and he 
had the satisfaction to witness the cut successfully opened in July 1821. 
But that able and eminent man, after a long and useful life, sank under 
a lingering illness on the 16th of October of the same year. His son 
(then a young man) succeeded his father as engineer of drainage, 
and was associated with me in the remaining part of the business.