e completed the erection of new lighthouses
at Spurn Head at the mouth of the Humber: he built the fine bridge
over the Tay at Perth: he laid out the line of the great canal
connecting the Forth and Clyde; and made the river Calder navigable; a
work that required great skill and judgment, on account of its
impetuous floods. On the opening of the great arch at London Bridge by
throwing two arches into one, and the removal of a large pier, the
excavation around and under the starlings was so considerable, that
the bridge was thought to be in great danger of falling. Smeaton was
then in Yorkshire, but was sent for by express, and arrived with the
utmost dispatch: on his arrival the fear that the bridge was about to
fall prevailed so generally, that few persons would pass over or under
it. Smeaton applied himself immediately to examine it, and to sound
about the starlings as minutely as possible: his advice to the
committee was to repurchase the stones which had been taken from the
middle pier, then lying in Moorfields, and to throw them into the
river to guard the starlings. This advice was adopted with the utmost
alacrity, by which simple means the bridge was probably saved from
falling, and time afforded for securing it in a more effectual manner.
'This method of stopping the impetuous ravages of water,' says Mr.
Holmes, 'he had practised before with success on the river Calder; on
my calling on him in the neighbourhood of Wakefield, he shewed me the
effects of a great flood, which had made a considerable passage over
the land; this he stopped at the bank of the river, by throwing in a
quantity of large rough stones, which with the sand, and other
materials washed down by the river, filling up their interstices, had
become a barrier to keep the river in its usual course.'

In 1771 Smeaton and Holmes made a joint purchase of the water-works
for supplying Deptford and Greenwich with water. On examining the
books of the former proprietors, it appeared to have been a losing
concern during many years; but the skill of Smeaton soon brought the
undertaking into such a state as to be of general use to those for
whom it was intended, and moderately profitable to himself and
partner. In noticing this subject Mr. Holmes makes a few general
remarks on the character of Smeaton:--'His language either in speaking
or writing was so strong and perspicuous, that there was no
misunderstanding his meaning, and I had that confidence in his