34 Observations on taking down aiid 



rectlon of the mid stream of the Thames towards Pepper-alley 

 stairs, and the bank of gravel that directs it in that course; or 

 to some antiquary, who recollected King Canute's mode of con- 

 veying his fleet from the east side to the west side of London 

 Bridge; or the direction of the cut which was made in 1173, 

 when this bridge was rebuilt, — that an auxiliary cut and bridge, 

 round the foot of the present structure, north of Tooley-street, 

 might be a cheaper mode of obtaining the proposed object than 

 a new bridge ; especially upon finding, upon inquiry, that be- 

 tween the linear waterway (690 feet) required, and the abso- 

 lute linear waterway of the present bridge (545 feet), there is 

 only a deficiency of 1 45 feet ; and between the superficial water- 

 way of London Bridge, and that of the section of the whole 

 river, from Old Swan-stairs to Pocock's Flour wharf, at high 

 water, there is only a deficiency of about 4000 feet. 



Others, deprecating -the removal of the dam, but desirous 

 of rendering the navigation, even when intrusted to unskilful 

 and drimken lightermen, safe, and accustomed to view the 

 locks on other rivers, and even upon this, may surmise, that 

 the object might be obtained by locks *. 



It appears, that there are about 750,000/. in embryo 

 for the new bridge, squaring, of course, with the estimates ; 

 but, upon referring to the bill brought into parliament this 

 session, for rebuilding London Bridge, there seems to have 

 been originally some doubt as to the sufficiency of meansf ; for 

 it will be found, that the Commissioners of His Majesty's Trea- 

 sury were to be allowed to issue exchequer bills for the ap- 

 proaches, and they were also to be allowed to pay the expenses 

 of the act, and direct taxes were to be levied on the public, on 

 coals and. •wine impoi'ted into the city of London, for liquidat- 

 ing and paying the interests of these exchequer bills, under 



• Had the instructions to these candidates been unfettered, there might 

 have been a renewal of Messrs. Douglas and Telford's scheine for a cast-iron 

 bridge of 600 feet span, with a rise of 65 feet above high water, for vessels 

 to sail above London Bridge, and only at the cost of 262,289/. The practi- 

 cability and advisableness of this bridge was certified by twelve out of fif- 

 teen mathematicians and engineers, though, at that time, neither the de- 

 signers, nor the committec,nor any of the mathematicians or engineers, knew 

 the strength of cast-iron; and those who supposed they knew something of 

 the matter, thought it forty times stronger than it since has been found to 

 be : so easy is it to as'c and receive opinions. But where a favourite object 

 is to be carried, the data, upon which such opinions must be founded, are 

 kept out of sight or mis-stated, or an inquiry into them is refused. 



f The amended bill makes the doubt approach to a certainty; for it i» 

 said to contain a specific clause, that no one shall be entitled to compensa- 

 tion for any nuisance, obstruction, or injury, on account of the bridge re- 

 maining unfinished, in case the sum or sums of money, to be raised and ad- 

 vanced, prove insufiicient to complete the same. 



the 



