66 
six fect in length, five feet in breadth, 
and five inches in thickness in the cen- 
tral parts ; but towards the edge, they 
diminish in thickness to two anda half 
inches. The ends of the chains thus 
fixed, are loaded with mound-stones 
and earthy matters, to the level of the 
roadway of the bridge. 
On the south side of the Tweed, the 
pillar or tower of masonry forming the 
abutment or point of suspension, is 
built upon a bench or foundation, ex- 
cavated in the face of a precipitous 
sandstone rock, and is only about 
twenty feet in height, but its other 
dimensions correspond with the upper 
part of the masonry on the Scotch side. 
The chains on the English side are 
made'to rest upon plates of cast-iron, 
included in the masonry, instead of 
rollers, as on the opposite side. Here 
the ballast-plates are of the same 
dimensions as those already described; 
but, instead of being sunk into the 
ground, as on the Scotch side, their 
position is rather above the foundation 
of the pillar, where they are set nearly 
perpendicular, but are placed so as to 
correspond with the direction of the 
strain or weight of the bridge. For the 
Literary and Critical Proémium. 
[Aug. 1, 
greater security of the position of these 
ballast-plates on the English side, they 
are connected with a horizontal arel of 
masonry, whieh is dovetailed into the 
rock. . 
The whole works of the Union- 
bridge, for masonry, carpentry, and 
smithery, were undertaken by Captain 
Brown for the sum of about 50001.; 
whilst the execution of a bridge of 
stone must have cost at least four 
times that sum. ‘The object of its 
projector, says Mr. Stevenson, (from 
whose paper we abridge this article,) 
was not the realization even of the cost 
of this bridge, but chiefly with a view 
to sliew the application of chain-cables 
to his favourite object of bridge-build- 
ing. ‘The trustees for this bridge have, 
however, presented Captain Brown 
with 1000 guineas since the completion 
of the work, over and above his esti- 
mated price. oth 
Captain Brown is at present at 
Brighton, engaged in the erection 
of a chain pier, a work of very pro- 
mising utility to the town, and of 
which we propose to give a view in 
our next. 
NEW BOOKS PUBLISHED IN JULY: 
WITH AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL PROEMIUM. 
Authors or Publishers, desirous of seeing an early notice of their Works, are 
requested to transmit copies before the 18th of the Month. 
— 
(UR pages are not often devoted to the 
review of those articles of polemical 
divinity with which the press, in all sea- 
sons, teems; but we cannot refrain from 
noticing so important an addition to the 
literature of the country, as the highly 
valuable and learned work of the Rev. 
THOMAS BELSHAM, minister of Essex- 
street Chapel,’comprising the Epistles of 
Paul the Apostle, translated, with an Expo- 
sition and Notes. Of its author, we ought 
on every account to think and speak with 
the greatest respect. ‘Throughout a long 
life, his exertions have been directed, 
with unwearied ardour, to the support of 
the most enlightened principles of civil 
and religious liberty ; and, although many 
differ from him on points of speculative 
opinion, there are none, we are persuaded, 
who will not bear the testimony of their 
admiration for his talents, and respect for 
lis virtues. The work before us is a 
suifable and honourable finish of the Ja- 
bours of sucha mind; and, while it esta- 
blishes, on a firm foundation, the literary 
reputation of its author, the circumstances 
under which it is published cannot but be 
highly gratifying.to his personal feelings, 
as a proof of the high value which so many 
individuals entertain for their instructor 
and friend. Whatever religious or lite- 
rary feelings are brought to an attentive 
perusal of the Epistles of Paul, no mind 
can pass them over lightly ; and they must 
ever be regarded as a singular literary 
phenomenon, an important branch of the 
history and evidences of revelation, and a 
striking picture of an original and singu- 
Jarly-gifted mind. Mr. Belsham is of 
that school of critics on the writings of the 
Apostle of which Mr. Locke was the 
founder, and which is graced by many il- 
lustrious names, With them, the first en- 
deavour has been to place the authority 
and extent of inspiration on rational and 
consistent principles. ‘Their general con- 
clusions are brought before the reader in 
Mr. Belsham’s preliminary dissertation. 
Under their sanction, he contends that the 
Apostles themselves claim no plenary in- 
spiration for their writings ; and that it is 
the province of reason and sonnd judg- 
ment to investigate the analogies, argu- 
ments, and considerations by which the 
sacred writers sought to enforce and ex- 
plain the doctrines which they had been 
commanded 
