40 The Bridges of London. [|Jult, 



direct communication with the interior of the metropolis, such a magni- 

 ficent structure is of so little comparative utility. Wlien Canova, the 

 sculptor, Avas in London, the gentleman who lionized him to the dif- 

 ferent curiosities, and the various works of art in our city, told him that 

 he would first shew him a bridge constructed by the tradesmen of Lon- 

 don, and afterwards conduct him to one which had been built by order 

 of the government. Canova was accordingly first taken to Waterloo 

 Bridge. Astonished at the extent and splendour of the erection, he 

 pronounced it the finest structure of the kind he had ever seen, and 

 wondered, if this was the work of the tradesmen, what must be that 

 •which had been constructed under the patronage of the government. 

 His conductor, who no doubt had a little of the radical in his compo- 

 sition, then led him to the wooden Bridge, which at that time existed 

 across the canal in St. James's Park, as the work of the British 

 government. What a bathos in comparison of the magnificent appearance 

 of Waterloo ;' yet what a connect illustration of the character of our 

 country, where almost all the splendid public works of charity or art are 

 the produce of the people, and not of the government. 



How often when we pass this bridge are we led to regret that it is 

 still left in the hands of the speculators ; not only from the unprofitable 

 nature of a speculation whicli ought to have had, and which deserved 

 such a different result, but for the honour of our country. The govern- 

 ment ought to purcliase this bridge, and should pride itself in preserving 

 all the passages across the Thames free. 



What must Canova have felt at having to pay a penny before he could 

 enter upon one of the most splendid works of art which our metropolis 

 possesses. For om* own parts, we would have the government pay the 

 original cost of the bridge, and remunerate the speculators for a work 

 which does us so much credit. They could, however, at this period, 

 purchase it for one fourth of the money expended, and might thus, at a 

 comparatively trifling expense, conduce greatly to the convenience of the 

 inhabitants, and to the respectability of the metropolis, by abolishing a 

 toll which is really a disgrace to a city like ours. 



Waterloo Bridge is, indeed, a credit to the name of INIr. Rennie, the 

 engineer, who constructed it as it was originally projected by the unfor- 

 tunate Air. Dodd, who was destined to project, but never to accomplish — 

 who lived in the midst of splendid speculations, and died in the greatest 

 poverty. In point of science, this construction is surpassed by none, 

 and its flatness gives it a peculiarity, as well as a superiority, over the 

 other bridges across the Thames, thougli perhaps Blackfriars is the 

 bridge which exhibits the greatest pretensions to architectural beauty. 

 Its columns and ballustrades are lighter, and there is more airiness in 

 the construction, than in any of the other bridges. 



When Waterloo Bridge was finished, a long discussion took place in 

 the city about rebuilding London Bridge; but there were so many 

 dissentient opinions, and so much uncertainty as to the final accomplish- 

 ment of the work, that a set of speculators, of whom there are always a 

 sufficient quantity in London, were in hopes of superseding the necessity 

 of it, by the construction of Southwark Bridge. This is a composition 

 of stone and iron-work, and does much credit to us both in casting and 

 masonry. This bridge, however, like that of Waterloo, is nearly useless 

 from the want of a direct communication with Cheapside. 



In one of jMr. Nash's plans of improvement for the wrestern part of 



I 



