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14
with that could be left alone, for many reasons, and
as all old Drains and Sewers, and all old Watercourses
are not generally discovered, or any attempt
made to discover them, it naturally follows that in
the course of centuries most curious and baffling
combinations come to light, generally involving
much anxiety and no small amount of experience to
reduce them to the best condition that can be
attained, by which I mean simplicity and efficiency,
so that apparently trifling works become of more
importance than seems necessary to accomplish
their ends; even the stability of the neighbouring
buildings themselves requires to be taken into
consideration to a far greater extent than would be
imagined; and further than this, future inhabitants
deserve consideration, so that the same complications
shall not occur again, and a repetition of the
same trouble and expense be rendered necessary.
The greater part of all such works are explained as
they proceed, but the difficulties sometimes happen
so unexpectedly that prompt measures are constantly
required to avoid both actual danger, and
what is almost as bad—delay.
These matters are mentioned to shew that the
Works executed by the Vestry, though apparently
simple, involve heavy responsibility, and great care
is required that such responsibility is prevented
from culminating in accident; there is cause for
congratulation that hitherto this has not occurred,
and I trust never will Great credit is due to the
various Contractors and Tradesmen employed by the