1Panaro, which being confined between Banks, that it might go
into Po, this not being neither in its greateſt excreſcenſe, it broke
out into the territories of Final, and of Ferrara. And though
that might be done, it would thereupon enſue, that there being
let into the Chanel of Po, 2800, ſquare feet of water (for ſo much
we account thoſe of Reno and Panaro, taken together in their
greateſt heights) the ſuperficies of it would riſe at leaſt four feet,
inſomuch that either it would be requiſite to raiſe its Banks all the
way unto the Sea, to the ſame height, which the treaſures of the
Indies would not ſuffice to effect; or elſe there would be a neceſ
ſity of enduring exceſſive Breaches. To theſe two Heads are the
Arguments reduced, which are largely amplified againſt our opi
nion; and I ſhall anſwer firſt to the laſt, as moſt material.
into Po, this not being neither in its greateſt excreſcenſe, it broke
out into the territories of Final, and of Ferrara. And though
that might be done, it would thereupon enſue, that there being
let into the Chanel of Po, 2800, ſquare feet of water (for ſo much
we account thoſe of Reno and Panaro, taken together in their
greateſt heights) the ſuperficies of it would riſe at leaſt four feet,
inſomuch that either it would be requiſite to raiſe its Banks all the
way unto the Sea, to the ſame height, which the treaſures of the
Indies would not ſuffice to effect; or elſe there would be a neceſ
ſity of enduring exceſſive Breaches. To theſe two Heads are the
Arguments reduced, which are largely amplified againſt our opi
nion; and I ſhall anſwer firſt to the laſt, as moſt material.
I ſay therefore, that there are three caſes to be conſidered:
Firſt, Po high, and Reno low. Secondly, Reno high, and Po
low. Thirdly, Reno and Po both high together.
Firſt, Po high, and Reno low. Secondly, Reno high, and Po
low. Thirdly, Reno and Po both high together.
As to the firſt and ſecond, there is no difficulty in them; for if
Po ſhall not be at its greateſt height, Reno ſhall ever have a fall
into it, and there ſhall need no humane Artifice about the Banks:
And if Reno ſhall be low, Po ſhall regurgitate and flow up into
the Chanel of it; and alſo from thence no inconvenience ſhall
follow. The third remains, from which there are expected ma
ny miſchiefs; but it is a moſt undoubted truth, that the excreſcen
cies of Reno, as coming from the adjacent Appennines and Rains,
are to continue but ſeven, or eight hours at moſt, and ſo would
never, or very rarely happen to be at the ſame time with thoſe of
Po, cauſed by the melting of the ſnowes of the Alps, at leaſt 400.
miles diſtance from thence. But becauſe it ſometimes may hap
pen, I reply, that when it cometh to paſs, Reno ſhall not go into
Po, but it ſhall have allowed it one or two Vents; namely, into
the Chanel of Ferrara, as it hath ever had; and into Sanmartina,
where it runneth at preſent, and wherewith there is no doubt, but
that the perſons concerned will be well pleaſed, it being a great
benefit to them, to have the water over-flow their grounds once
every four or five years, inſtead of ſeeing it anoy them continu
ally. Yea, the Vent may be regulated, reſerving for it the Cha
nel in which Reno at preſent runneth; and inſtead of turning it
by a Dam at la Betta de Chiſlieri, perhaps, to turn it by help of
ſtrong Sluices, that may upon all occaſions be opened and ſhut.
And for my part, I do not queſtion but that the Proprietors
themſelves in Sanmartina would make a Chanel for it; which
receiving, and confining it in the time of the Vents, might carry
the Sand into the Po of Primaro: Nor need there thence be fear
ed any ſtoppage by Mud and Sand, ſince that it is ſuppoſed that
there will but very ſeldom be any neceſſity of uſing it; ſo that
Po ſhall not be at its greateſt height, Reno ſhall ever have a fall
into it, and there ſhall need no humane Artifice about the Banks:
And if Reno ſhall be low, Po ſhall regurgitate and flow up into
the Chanel of it; and alſo from thence no inconvenience ſhall
follow. The third remains, from which there are expected ma
ny miſchiefs; but it is a moſt undoubted truth, that the excreſcen
cies of Reno, as coming from the adjacent Appennines and Rains,
are to continue but ſeven, or eight hours at moſt, and ſo would
never, or very rarely happen to be at the ſame time with thoſe of
Po, cauſed by the melting of the ſnowes of the Alps, at leaſt 400.
miles diſtance from thence. But becauſe it ſometimes may hap
pen, I reply, that when it cometh to paſs, Reno ſhall not go into
Po, but it ſhall have allowed it one or two Vents; namely, into
the Chanel of Ferrara, as it hath ever had; and into Sanmartina,
where it runneth at preſent, and wherewith there is no doubt, but
that the perſons concerned will be well pleaſed, it being a great
benefit to them, to have the water over-flow their grounds once
every four or five years, inſtead of ſeeing it anoy them continu
ally. Yea, the Vent may be regulated, reſerving for it the Cha
nel in which Reno at preſent runneth; and inſtead of turning it
by a Dam at la Betta de Chiſlieri, perhaps, to turn it by help of
ſtrong Sluices, that may upon all occaſions be opened and ſhut.
And for my part, I do not queſtion but that the Proprietors
themſelves in Sanmartina would make a Chanel for it; which
receiving, and confining it in the time of the Vents, might carry
the Sand into the Po of Primaro: Nor need there thence be fear
ed any ſtoppage by Mud and Sand, ſince that it is ſuppoſed that
there will but very ſeldom be any neceſſity of uſing it; ſo that