THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECPS JOURNAL. 



77 



Emhaiilimvnt of the Rircr Thames. — At a late Court of Common Couucil, a report 

 was presented from tlie Navigation Committee, recommending the embankment of 

 the'fhamfs, and regulating the line of T^liarfs on both shores of the river The fol- 

 lowing letter, written at tlie desire of the lorporation by Mr. Remembrancer, and 

 addi-essed to Alexander Mylne, Esq., one uf the Commissioners of M'oods and 

 Forests, fully explains the objects sought to be attained :— 



"Guildhall, Sept. 17, 1838. 



" Sir, — I am requested by the Navigation Committee of the C'orporation of 

 Ix)ndonto state toyou.fortheinformatiou ofthe Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, 

 &c., that the great inconvenience occasioned by the accumulation of mud near the em- 

 bankment of the new Houses of Pajliament renders it necessary that some immediate 

 step should be taken to obviate the same, and that the Navigation Committee consider 

 tliat the annoyance can only bo efiectually removed by continuing tlie line of 

 embankment. Under these circumstances the Navigation Committee are uf opinion 

 that a survey and plan shouhi be made of the river Thames, for the purpose of 

 ascertaining the most dcshabh' line of embankment on both sides of tlie river from 

 London-liriilgc tu \ aiixliall-bridge, and also the expenses of making the proposed 

 embankment, and of excavating and deepenhig the bed of the river where required , 

 and that a bill should be brought into Pailiament in the next session for embanking 

 the river Thames, according to a plan to be agreed on ; in which power should be 

 given to the Commissioners of ^^'oods, kc, to embank the bed and soil of the river 

 opposite the crown property, and that power should be given to the corporation either 

 to embank themselves, or to permit the owners of the wharfs and property on each 

 side of the river to embank, under their directions, upon such terms as may, upon 

 consideration, be thouglit desirable; half of the expense of the suiTey and of the 

 act of Parliament to be borne by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, &c. 



" Alexander Mylne, Esq.'* (Signed) " Edwahd Tyebkll. 



The Lords of the Treasury have agi'eed to the above propositions, and have 

 appointed Mr. James Walker, of 23, Great George -street, M'estminster, to make the 

 necessary surveys and estimates. The Corporation have approved ofthe nomination 

 ol Mr. ^^'alker, and have given him, as a colleague, Mr. Stephen Leach, the clerk of 

 the works ot (he Thames Na\-igation. 



Artesian Wvlh At a meeting of the St. Pancras vestry, a motion, proposed by 



Mr. Vigors, was carried, to the efi'ect, that each member of the vesti"A' should sign a 

 declaration strongly approving of the plan of supplying the borough of Maiylebune 

 with water by means of Artesian wells. 



Hastings, — The project of forming a harbour here has, after many weeks' agitation 

 and excitement, been abandoned, so far at least as respects the idea of going to Parlia- 

 ment for a bill in the approaching session.— -B;-/^ /(/(>« Gazette. 



Moinil's Buy Bri\'J<u-ater. — A very numerous and higlily respectable meeting was 

 held at the J'own Hall, I'enzance, on Tuesday, the 1.5th January, to take into con- 

 sideiation the propriety of memorialising her Majesty's government for the protec- 

 tion of life and property, and the promotion of important natiojial objects, by the 

 immediate construction of a breakwater in the Mount's Bay. It was stated that the 

 breakwater would require 2,813,170 tons of stone, at Is., being 140,658/. 15s., and for 

 completing the slope, 1,108,529 tons at Is. 3d., or 69,233/. Is. 3d. — making tlie total 

 cost, with ten per cent, for contingencies, 230,itri5/. 18s. 3d. 



MfTuii Brhhje. — So many contradictory reports have appeeu'ed relative to this 

 noble structure, and particularly as to the degree of damage it has sustained in the late 

 storm, that we are glad to avail ourselves of the communication of a friend, who 

 visited the bridge on Thursday last. He writes: — " I have this moment returned 

 from \isiting the Menai Bridge, and have now the pleasure ol acijuainting you that 

 the communication with Anglesea is again open ; the mails, cars, and carriagos, 

 having passed over in perfect safety since Friday last. This applies, however, only to 

 the di\"ision of roadway least injured by the huiTicane — the other part is expected to 

 be completed in a week or ten days. It is intended to strengthen, considerably, the 

 vertical rods. The flooring, also, which wa,^ heretofore of common plank, four or live 

 inches in thickness, will now be twelve and eighteen inches, and of Baltic limber. The 

 broken vertical rods are being replaced, and part of the sunken flooring on the 

 roadway, which suflered most, are completed. The main chains, which prove the 

 stability of the suspension principle, have remained fli'm as the rocks in which they 

 are embedded. — Moniimj Chronicle, 



Portpairick- — The late dreadful gale has considerably damaged the extensive 

 works at Portpatrick, which our readers are aware hare been carrying on for a con- 

 siderable Uii.^th nf time at that place. In particular the pier head, on which the 

 hai'bour commissiuners had creeled a liy;ht-house, has been undermineil ; and the 

 light-house is in such imminent danger, that the light-keeper narrowly escaped, and 

 the light has since been transferred to the old tower, which is in a more sheltered 

 position, in the interior of the harbour. 



Scotch School of Entjincfrhuj. — In the Scottish Naval and Military Academy is a 

 professor of civil engineering and of the accessory branches. 



Improremtiit of Leith Harbour. — Our readers will leani with much satisfaction, 

 that the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury have been pleased to direct Messrs. Cubitt 

 and Walker, jointly furthwith to proceed to Leith. regarding the projected improve- 

 ment of the harbour ; and we anxiously hope that the report of two engineers of such 

 acknowledged abihly and experience will put an end to all doubts and dithculties on 

 the subject, iii the minds of well-informed persons, and that after the report of these 

 gentlemen is made, no farther obstacle from any quarter will be thrown ui the wav, 

 that no partial interests or local prejudices will any longer be suflered to retard an 

 immediate commencement of this long desired and necessary work for increasing the 

 trade of the port of Leith, and promoting the prosperity, not only ofthe city an<l 

 county of Edinburgh, but of a large portion of Scotland, that harbour being a great 

 transit port. It is much to be wished that such energetic measures may be adopted 

 by the engineers as will enable the commissioners to advertise in time for contractors, 

 so that the work may be begun early in the spring. Not a day should be lost in 

 securing the advantage of a low-water pier as near Leith as .^ay be consistent with 

 the general interests of trade and commerce. — Edinhurgh paper. 



Filtration nf Water on a Great Scale. — In a recent number of the proceeilings of 

 the Institute of France, it is mentioned that a trial has been made of FouvJelli's 

 filtering apparatus, working under the enormous pressure of 70 mitres, or nearly 230 

 feet of water Four sets of apparatus, each about five feet high by three feet eight 

 inches in diameter, have been set to work at Belleville and at La ViUette. The water 

 after passing tlirough them possesses perfect limpidity, and it does not appear that 

 this great pressure occasions any derangement of the liltering materials, wliether the 

 water be passing through tliem in the direction it takes in the process of filtration, or 

 when the current is reversed during the time of cleansing, which occupies only a few 

 fuiuutes. Xlie Uoii^ produce gf the fguj; filter:^ is 177,108 gfUlouu, 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS- 



<.'omt:cralion of the New Church at Chcadle. — On Saturtlay last the new parish 

 church at Cheadle was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Hereford. It is a very 

 splendid edifice, in the Gothic 8tyl«, containing nave, side aisles, chancel and tower, 

 at the west end, and will seat 1,-JOO persons. It is built by subscription. — Stajfford- 

 shire Gazette. 



The new staircase of Buckingham Palace is completed. It is more light and 

 elegant than the former one, and gives access to the magnificent picture gallery. 

 Some projected improvements have been deferred nine die, owing to the eaidy return 

 of the court to town. 



Hijde Park. — A quadruple row of elms, forming three distinct malls, has just 

 been planted, with mucli taste and judgment, at the eastern end of Hyde-park, and 

 will, in a few years, add greatly to tlie beauty of that favourite resort. 



St. Paul's Covent-ijardni. — The new school-house, erected in Hart-street, Covent- 

 garden, cost nearly 2,tMHl/.. towards which the Duke of Bedford has largely contri- 

 buted. The school will ojmfortably accommodate, on three sepai-ate fluors, 3lt0 

 buys, 200 girls, and 200 infants, on week days ; and 400 childi'en are instructed by 

 35 giatuitous teachers, on Sundays. 



The Late City of London Tarern. — The Wesleyan Methodists have purchased the 

 City of London Tavern. Bishopsgate-sti-eet, for the sum of 15,000/. A part of the 

 spacious building, which is freehold, is to be appropriated to meetings for business on 

 their missionary and other benevolent undertakings ; a portion being reserved for 

 public worship. 



The New NationalSchool of St. George the Martyr, Soidhwark. — The building is 

 of Gothic aj-chitecture, consisting of a centre and two wings ; the former comprises 

 two school-rooms, one for the girls, and the other for the boys,' calculated to hold 

 upwards of 800 childreu. The Mings will furin residence."! for the masters and mis- 

 tresses of the schools. The architect, Mr. White, spared no pains iu making it a 

 handsome and permanent building. 



A New Road. — Application, it is said, will be made to Parliament, next session, of 

 a bill for the purpose of forming a new road from Eaton-square tn Kensington. 

 The road is intended to cross Sloane-street, Alexander-square, and thence to the 

 gardens of Gloucester Lodge, the residence of the late Mr. Canning; thence to the 

 Addison-road : and tm terminate at Kensington. The length will be twii miles. 



Tlie Goldsmiths* Company, at their own expense, are about to erect a new church, 

 adjoining their almshouses at East Acton, for Uie accommodation of the company's 

 numerous tenants, and their aged poor in that establishment. The Bishop of London, 

 as Lord of the Manor, presents tht'iii with a ring of bells and an organ. 



Surrey Lunatic .h'/lum. — This luiiMing has been contracted for by Messrs. Baker 

 at the sum of i'3l).370. — William M.»/ely, Esq., is the architect. 



The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, which excited so much attention 

 at the Duke of Rutland's grand party at Belvoir Castle, was designed and modelled 

 by Mr. Edmund Cotterill, and was manufactured by Messrs. Gai'rards. 



Ascot Grand Stand. — The first stone of this building was laid on Wednesday last 

 by Lord Errol.one of the trustees, in the presence of a large and distinguished com- 

 pany. The conti'act is taken by a Mr. Cuthill, who is under penalty to complete the 

 structure by the 20th of May, sii that the public may calculate on finding ample 

 accommodation by the next meeting. The sum raised by 100/. shares is 10,000/., 

 part of which will be paid ofi" yearly, until the stand is free, when it will become the 

 property of tlie trustees for the benefit of the race fund. 



Chester. — In consequence of the falling of a part of the buttresses from the tower of 

 the venerable cathedral at Chester, the south transept was much injured, and the 

 timbers burst through and broken to pieces. 



Leeds. — A magnificent hall is to be erected in this town for the society of A'etv Odd 

 Fellows, from the designs of Messrs. Perkins and Backhouse, architects. 



Vork Castle, the barracks, and the venerable cathedral, were injured by the late 

 storm ; in the latter, some of the valuable windows have been partially damaged, and 

 such was the force of the wind tliat the lead roofing was driven a considerable distance 

 from the building. 



Birmingham, Storm.. — The top of the Town-hall is roofed with lead, nearly three- 

 fourths of which is torn ofl". A newly-erected chimney of the vitriol works, upwards, 

 of 300 feet high, was partially blown down. 



Dumfries, Storm. — Fl^e stones have been displaced from the spii-e of St. Michael's 

 and as it has long been ofl" the plummet line, serious fears are entertained for its 

 future safety. The same remark applies to the wooden top of the Mid-steeple, and all 

 the churches on both sides of the river have been more or less damaged, not excepting 

 St. Mary's. 



Dublin, Storm. — The ball which surmounted the spire of St. Patrick's Cathedral was 

 blown down, providentially without doing mischief. It had beeu out of perpendicular 

 a considerable time, and fell within the railing in the North Close. About 27 years 

 ago the former ball fell, carrying with it several feet of the spire. 



Ireland. — The Earl of Dunraven is completing a magnificent mansion at Adare 

 Abbey, upon which 40,000/. will have been expended. Lord Clarina is making an 

 outlay of 10,000/. upon valuable improvements at the hereditary seat, Ehu-park. 

 William Mansell, Esq., has commenced large improvements at the ancient mansion 

 and romantic demesne of Tervoe. General Lord Bloomfield, a beautiful mansion 

 and villa near Newport Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bart., still further embellishing the 

 splendid residence of his ancestors, at Dromoland. Mr. Barrington building a man- 

 sion at CaunercuUeu. — Limerick Chronicle. 



Tlie Juvenile Prison at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, being now finished, received its 

 fii-st fifty inmates in December, from the hulks at Portsmuutli. 



FOREIGN INTE LLIGENCE. 



Paris. — The commission which was appointed to examine and report upon the 

 new fire-proof machinery (consisting of Col. PauUn, M. Rohault, M. Maynich.aud 

 M Simonet) met on Friday, Jan. 11th. Their instructions are to furnish a report, 

 with a view to the introducliun of this perfect ionnetnent in theatrical mechanism, as 

 well into the })roposed new theatres as into tliuse afready constructed. 



The large paintings in the church of the Madeleine, by Messrs. Ziegler, Abel de 

 Pujol, -fcc, are nearly finished ; the sculpture, gilding, and incrustations in marble 

 are almost completed; the altars, pidpit, baptistry, and banc d'wacrc are nearly 

 placed ; and the great bronze doors are rapidly approaching to completion. It is 

 expected that the liuiltliBg wiU Ve iuauguratcd iii the fetes of uext Jid;^, 



