and therefore it is unequally strained. This was found to be the case with an estuary embankment on the Scheldt, 2½ miles in length. The form of the slope has also to be considered, but all the principles that determine the best profile in each case of a pier or breakwater do not necessarily apply to an embankment in an estuary. The recoil of the waves washing away the ground in front and at the toe is particularly to be guarded against, and the action of spray or a broken mass of water falling upon the formation, as also the direct action of the waves. A concave form should not be adopted throughout, as waves roll up until they approach the top portion, when they turn over and fall upon the flatter portion and often breach it, but when the face is straight, excepting for a few feet at the toe, the waves are diffused in travelling up, although they proceed to a higher point upon a flat slope than a steep one, and the recoil is greatly diminished, but with the view of avoiding direct wave action, when the ground is inclined in front of a sea or estuary embankment, it is well to curve the lower part of the slope and to make it cycloidal to the surface of the ground and the slope for a little distance, so as to reduce obstruction to a minimum. The method of making a level terrace or stepping the slope instead of a curved face has the advantage of checking the rising of the sea up the face, altering its direction and acting as a wave-breaker, and also combines these effects with giving as large an area of the base as can be obtained by a curved face, and in bringing the centre of gravity of the cross section of the embankment nearer to the seat, but the face must be securely protected. The width of the cess should increase according to the degree of exposure. If an embankment consists of earth the slope of the cess should be from 6 to 10 to 1, or the system is better avoided and a continuous face adopted.