170 KENNIE'S B1UDGES. PART VJL 



CHAPTER VI. 

 MR. KENNIE'S BRIDGES. 



THE bridges erected by our engineer are amongst the 

 finest of his works, and sufficient of themselves to 

 stamp him as one of the greatest masters of his profes- 

 sion. We have already given a representation of his 

 first bridge, erected over the Water of Leith, near Edin- 

 burgh, the forerunner of a series of similar structures 

 unrivalled for solidity and strength, contrived with an 

 elegance sometimes ornate, but for the most part of 

 severe and massive simplicity. 



Unlike some of his contemporaries, Mr. Rennie did 

 not profess a disregard for theory ; for he held that true 

 practice could only be based on true theory. Taken in 

 the sense of mere speculative guessing, however inge- 

 nious, he would have nothing to do with it ; but as 

 matter of inference and demonstration from fixed prin- 

 ciples, he held by theory as his sheet-anchor. His 

 teacher, Professor Eobison, had not failed to impress 

 upon him its true uses in the pursuit of science and art ; 

 and he never found reason to regret the fidelity with 

 which he carried out his instructions in practice. In 

 1793 he had the advantage of much close personal inter- 

 course with his old friend the Professor, who paid him a 

 visit at his house in London for the express purpose of 

 conferring with him upon mechanical subjects. In the 

 letter announcing the object of his visit, Dr. Robison 

 candidly avowed that it was in order " that he might 

 extract as much information from him as possible." The 

 Doctor had undertaken to prepare the articles on 

 Mechanics for the third edition of the ' Encyclopedia 



