The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-20 00:00:00

TIIAMES TUNNEL.

The works of the Tunnel are so far advanced, that the
shield is already in solid undisturbed ground, and there is,
therefore, every prospect of the work being pushed with the
usual vigour. .
We understand that upwards of 400 plans had been
sent to Mr. Brunel for mending the. hole made by the
river ; and, that of this number there'were.2so by letter,
from England, different parts 'of Europe, and even -from
America.

Since the water- has been 'stopped, several of these con-
tributors have applied to Mr. Brunel for pecuniary com-
pensation; under the impression that there could he but o,
way of stopping the hole, and that 'way as pointed out by
themselves. Some of the claiMants, we understand,, have
been extremely.. troublesome,, and as' there ,is no knowing
how .many more claims.may be set up of a similar nature,
Mr. Brunel has hit upon the expedient of collecting all
the plans, :and arranging them under their' different heads,
that the parties themselves may know the claim they have
to remuneration. This number is exclusive. of. confidential
communications.

PLANS FOR STOPPING THE lIOLE MADE BY THE RIVER-A
HOLE WHICH HAS REQUIRED 40,,090, ENTIRE FEET OF
GROUND'IrO FIJI. ITUP.
Ist. A covering with sails, tarpanling, hides, mat-.
trasses, or matting...
2d. 'A spacious lid, made of cast iron, wrought iron,
copper, or lead • - 22

3d. Rafts,' differing hut little in tlieir forni or appli.

cation ' •
4th.. Barges, sunk close. to one another, or' inverted
vessels, operating as a 'cap, or as a diving-bell • 40
sth. Coffer dams • , 4
6th. Shafts 2
7th: 11u; of,suitable dimensions 5
Bth. Floodgates,6l applied in various ways some at
the bottom of the river, others to be shutlafter the •
men have walked-9f f,, and one in. particular to act
as a perytoes, to be shoved down from the top pf_
thce river
9th. Sheri Piling
10th. New Tunnel .
14th. A new Shield • 1
12th. Sundry schemes,.which are not. sufficiently well
delsned to 'be elassed.--among which, an arch of
ihasonr: across the river making the 'f nnnel under it 32
13tb. Offers-Of plans, of which the nature is not dis-
closed, and. only their infallibility confidently urged ;
indeed, of all projects on this occasion, these, we
are assured, set up the strongest claims to infailibi-
liiy. At the same time, they are distinguished by
an abuse and. reprobation of. every thing that has •
been done since -the accident, or that had been
done previously, as injudicious, and totally unfit for
the purpose. In others,. the pertinacity of ad-
hering to the course that has been pursued, of ,
throwing in Stuff, is strongly deprecated, when an •
effectual remedy for the present, and a certain pre-'
ventive for the futim,'.might be obtained—to be
compassed likewise in a minute or two, according
to some ; or in a few hours, according to others,
whilst the projectors offer to stake their honour,
their fortunes, nay, their very lives, on the Willi-
bility' of their plans ' 5B

lVlaking a grand total of 261

It would not be amiss, however, to apprise the claim-
ants, that. Mr. Brunel has alio a claim, resting upon the.
successful result of an experiment, .which originated with
himself alone. ThiN plan (a very valuable one, as the
result. has shown) consisted in throwing in. bags of clay,
studded through with hazel rods.; As to the tarpaulings,
Ole), were not used by Mr.ltrunel till after the water had
`been so far stopped that it could be 'easily kept dOwn by
the two pumps 'that are worked by the steam engine.
As he has nQW overcome the,worst that could happen, and
thus incontestibly proved the strength and fertility of his
genius, ,we are not surprised at the confident. hopes vliieli
gener,iny prevail of his accomplishing this magnificent un-
dertaking.