126 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[April, 



the bottom was unable to resist the pressure, and tlie least vibration caused 

 it to break through the crust, being engulphed amidst the lighter material, 

 which it forced up in II..- i!irection of the least resistance. The paper 

 treated at snme length on all the precautions necessary in this and similar 

 constructions in Holland, where such bad foundations are of very constant 

 occurrence. In the discussion which ensued descriptions were "iven of 

 the simpler methods employed in similar situations in England where 

 bridges of greater weight and space were constructed upon foundations of 

 nearly as treacherous natures— for instance, on one of the branches of the 

 Norfolk Railway, for a bridge of which the swinging portion weighed 100 

 tons, a series of It; piles, driven 50 feet deep into the silt in 12 feet water, 

 supported a cast-iron kirb, upon which a cast-iron close-jointed cylinder 

 was lowered and secured — within this, the centre foundation was built 

 and had stood perfectly. Other instances of raft, or floating foundations, 

 common in Linculusliire, were adduced, showing the simple means by 

 which snch local ditEculties were overcome in England. 



NOTES ON FOREIGN M'ORKS. 



The Russian Pompeii.— The emperor of Russia has ordered that the 

 efossioos, which have been made for several years past, near the town of 

 Zarewira, in the county of Zaratow, should be continued, on a large scale. 

 This town had been the capital of Tartar Chans of the golden tribe, during 

 their 200 years domination in Russia. Some ruins of houses have been 

 already discovered, in which divers utensils and 4000 Tartar coins have 

 been found. 



Great Adorning of the Banks of the Rhine.— Several of the olJ castles, 

 casting their shadows on the waters of the Rhine, are about lo be recon- 

 structed, which will spread an uncommon lustre over these fertile and 

 beautiful lands. Thus, Prince Frederick of the Netherlands has pur- 

 chased Castle Fiirstenberg, between Niederheimbach and Baberach, and 

 will have it completely restored. The castle in its present state dates from 

 the eleventh century, but a Roman post-tower previously existed on this 

 far-sighted elevation. Prince Albrecht,of Prussia, has purchased Castle 

 Schiinberg, near Oberwesel ; and the Prince of Prussia, Rheinfels, near 

 St. Goar ; all of which are to be rebuilt in an antique and most splendid 

 style. [We wish something similar were done with some of our English 

 and Scotch castles.] 



Moving mountain in Italy.— Vrom the embouchure of the Tronto up to 

 Fermo (near Grottamaie), extends a range of hills, of tertiary formation, 

 up to the shores of the Adriatic, and is mostly covered by olive and orange 

 groves. Some time ago, one of these hills moved to the extent of 125 

 paces, and passed into the sea to the extent of 25 paces. There were no 

 other phenomena observable, save the uprooting of some trees; but a 

 clayey substance Howed from the banks of the sea, and even, at times, 

 from the crevices of the soil ; and it appeared that an inward upheaving 

 force, acting transvesely upward, had caused this phenomenon. Count 

 Nerroni, who ob.-erved it most accuialely, thinks that it has been caused, 

 like the earthslips on the Rhine, by some more or less distant earthquake. 



Cuftin'^ nf the hllimus of Suez. — As Austria is determined on the pro- 

 secution of the Trieslo overland route, the above project has been added 

 as an accessory stimulus. Austrian engineers have visited the locality 

 and reported ihereon. The canal is to be navigable for thiee-maslers. 

 150,000 francs have been already subscribed for the study and survey 

 thereof, auil F.n;^lisli and Flench engineers consulted. No shares to be 

 made accessible to the gambling of stockjobbers. 



f{eorganisati<iii iif the Sculiiture (iallerics nf the Lnurre.— The King of 

 the French has ordered that the late demise of Messrs. Clarac and Dubois 

 should be made insiriimenlal in reorganising the direction of the above 

 Galleries. The collection is (o be divided into the depiirtmeuls of classic 

 and oriental antiques, for each of which a separate director lias liien ap- 

 pointed ; — for the former. Count Lahorde, the well-knoivn traveller in 

 Arabia; and M. Longpenier, hitherto of the Royal Library, for 1 he de- 

 partment of oriental antiquities. 'I'his new sweep bids fair for further im- 

 provement, and it isto be hoped that those treasures, hitherto stored in the 

 vaults and cellars of the Louvre, like the great Egyptian antiquities, the 

 Magnesian marbles, \c., will once more see the light. 



Reacit nf the ilumun Vnice. — On account of the speeches of Xerxes, 

 and otiiers, addressed to whole armies, the question has been mooted of 

 late, amongst antiquarians, how far the human voice can reach. It has 

 been pretty correctly ascerlained, that a man may make himself heard by 

 20,01)0 persons— a very tidy number, iu many ivspects. And thus, taking 

 into consideration the enclosure of walls, the acoustic construction of 

 domes, vaults, &c.— St. Paul's, and even St. Peter's, might be tilled out by 

 a human voice — of course, a strong one, in every respect. 



St. Pefcrshui-f^h. — March, — Since Peter the Great's time, the character 

 of everything structural or material the Russian tJovernment has attempted 

 — has been one of greatness and splendour. Thus, the huge St. Peters- 

 burgh anrl Moscow railway will be open for traffic iu about IS months; 

 and at the great festival which the city of JIoscow is about to celebrate 

 in September next— viz., the seventh centenary of its foundatiun, — parts of 

 the line will be available to the public. — Amongst the huge buddings, 



public and private, lately erected at St. Petersburgh, we may mention the 

 new addition to the palace of the general stall' (horse guards), a structure 

 of gigantic proportions ;— the palace lor the officers of the ministers of 

 justice and the Imperial domains ;— the complete rebuilding of the marble 

 palace, and the Eremituge adjoining the imperial winter palace.* The 

 new sione Neva bridge is nearly ready ; — and to conclude, the gigantic 

 church of St. Isaac (entirely of granite) is now being internally adorned, 

 in a splendid style, which will employ the artists of St. Petersburgh of 

 every kind for a considerable time. 



Ciilngne Cathedral. — The latest accounts state that this structure has 

 risen nobly during the last year. Jioth the north and south porch have 

 considerably advanced ; the nave begins lo be covered with galleries, — and 

 the works of ihe stonemasons are praised as some of the richest and finest 

 imaginable. The number of workmen employed is 500. The restoratiou 

 of this national building has excited so much interest, that an especial 

 journal — the Domblatt (the cathedral gazette) — is discussing its progress. 

 In this we find several strictures on some late proceedings of the commit- 

 tee, which we shall mention, for the sake of proving the correctness of 

 the old : •' Iliacis peccatur in muris." The Domblatt says that 1G,000 

 dollars are to be diverted from more legitimate purposes for paving the 

 Cathedral even now, — although, surely, this will be injured by the pro- 

 gress of the works, &c. Above 20,000 dollars are to be employed for 

 roofing the whole extent of the Cathedral in a temporary manner. This, 

 certainly, is a large sum for the prurient desire of seeing at once the whole 

 expanse of this astounding building. The painting and gilding of the 

 choir also (the space where divine worship is hitherto performed), is ob- 

 jected to. 



At a meeting nf the Archaologists of the Grind Duchy of Baden, an 

 interesting essay was read by M. Zell, ministerial councillor, on two Ro- 

 ra in inscriptions lately found. The first was a fragment of the inscriptioa 

 over the public guild-house of the trade of carpenters (lignarii) iu the 

 Roman colony, which existed under Caracalla, 1700 years ago. 



What is Style .'—by Goelhe ;— 



style— in art, and otherwise— 



Is, where there is no stroke 



Of either pen. or brush, or tool — 



Too niuch nor too little neither. 



Wtlt thou know bow ditficult this be. . . . 

 Try! 



* Speak then of the dwellings of British Kings ! 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



French Institution of Ciril Engineers.— We are happy to hear that a 

 similar institution to the London Inslitution of Civil Engineers is about to 

 be formed in Paris, under the auspices of the French Government. M. 

 Dumon, Minister of Public Works, has devoted his attention to its forma- 

 tion. We most heartily wish it success. 



Shakspeare Cliff.- -A large slip of this interesting locality took place oa 

 Monday, March I, when a surface of chalk 254 feet in height, and 353 feet 

 in length (about 48,000 tons), was precipitated to the bottom. Another 

 fall of about 10,000 cubic feet have since occurred. 



St. Peter's, at Ro/ne. — The two statues of medireval design, meant for 

 Peter and Paul, standing on each side of the ascending steps before the 

 portico, but which are two blocksof shapeless travertine, are to be removed. 

 They might have harmonised with tbe Byzantine taste of the old basilica 

 to which they belonged, but were a palpable eyesore in juxtaposition with 

 the sculpture prevalent throughout the works of Leo X. and his successors. 

 Their limbs are stilf, their attitude awkward and clumsy, their antiquity 

 undeniably venerable. Like many other of our time-honoured respectabi- 

 litu^s, they have received notice to quit, and will be immediately replaced 

 by two marble slulues of somewhat diH'erent taste, from the chisels of 

 Kabris and Tadnlmi, the one director of the Belle .\rti, the other a scholar 

 of Cauova. These modern productions are ou a colossal scale ; each figure 

 is nearly twenty feel iu vertical height, though a single block from Carrara. 

 Each (ost 12,000 dollars, and both are now ready to be transported from 

 the workshop. 



New Orfurd Street. — By order of the Commissioners of Metropolitan 

 Improvements, the thoroughfare from the east end of Oxford-street and 

 Tottenham-court-road into Holboru has been thrown open lo Ihe public. 

 The buildings, wiih some few exceptions, are completed, and niiiny of them 

 opened for business. The roadway is macadamised, and about 70 feet 

 in width, with a foot pavement on each side 12 feet iu breadth. 



Elphinstonc College, India. — Mr. Orlebar, professor of astronomy, and 

 Mr. Pole, professor of engineering, have bolh resigned. Indisposition is, 

 in each case, is assigned as the reason of retirement. The charge of tbe 

 Observatory has devolved on the draftsman of the Indian navy. 



Rise in the Soil of Egypt. — During the course of the cadastral operations 

 hitely ordered by .Mehen.et Ali, il was shown that the soil of Egypt is rising 

 each year very perceptibly, in consequence of the continued deposit left by 

 the Nile. This elevation is calculated at 30 feet during the last century for 

 provinces adjoining the river. 



