27 



Art. III. Observations on the Project of taking down and 

 rebuilding London Bridge, and on the Design for the New 

 Bridge by the late Mr. Rennie. By a Correspondent. 



[Continued from Art. VI., p. 267, Vol. XV.] 



It has at length been determined by an Act * of the Legislature, 

 that the hydrometer, by which the individuals possessing property 

 on each side of the Thames between London Bridge and Teddington, 

 have during many centuries regulated the height and strength of 

 their respective wharfs and shores, is to be removed ; and the 

 waters of this great river are to be let loose again by the demo- 

 lition of the dam of London Bridge, not to sap and overflow wastes 

 and desert lands, but fields, gardens, and towns thronged with 

 human beings. What will be the depth of the channel these 

 waters, ungovernable from their increased power, will hereafter 

 scoop out, and what they will carry with them? What will be 

 the declination, speed, and windings of their course, and height at 

 extraordinary high tides ? What the deceases from the damps, 

 aqueous vegetation and insects, which will arise from a frequent 

 saturation of the low lands with water? What will be the spread 

 of pestilent filth from the sewers of London on this river's flat 

 banks, at the ebbing of the tide ?— are questions to which no 

 answers have been ventured. The warnings of common sense, in 

 respect of the soil, site, and plan of the Penitentiary, now linger- 

 ing with its inmates, were contemned a few years ago ; as those 

 are at the present time in respect of the destruction of property 

 and human life, consequent on this intended revolution of the an- 

 cient government of the Thames t. 



Engrossed in the consideration of this adventurous speculation, 

 the writer of these observations took little interest in the conten- 

 tions relating to the designs for the new London Bridge, nor con- 



* 4th Geo. IV., SesF. 1823. 



f See Art. VI, in the July Journal, and Mr. Telford's Report m the F»8. 

 Magt, published the last day of July ul(. 



