ON THE ERECTION OF ALEXANDER III. BRIDGE IN PARIS. 479 
Grimaud, and Retraint, distinguished members of the French ‘ Corps des 
Conducteurs des Ponts et Chaussées,’ amongst whom engineers are sure to 
find, in all cireumstances, the truest assistance and, what is more, friendly 
companionship. 
Many obstacles have been mastered, but the trials are not yet over, 
and the battle is not yet won. I was very ill at ease as to the success of 
the bridge when I accepted the kind and gratifying invitation that I 
should prepare this paper ; I am still rather anxious, but I hope soon to 
_ be free of this anxiety, and next year when you come to see the Exhibition 
I trust to have the pleasure of showing you the completed bridge in its 
bright artistic dress. 
Dover Hurbour Works. By J. C. Coope, MInst.C.E., and 
W. Martuews, M.Jnst.C.£. 
[Ordered by the General Committee to be printed in extenso-] 
[PLATE. ] 
Many interesting records, extending back more than 400 years, still exist 
of works proposed and executed for the formation and improvement of the 
harbour at Dover ; necessarily these older records apply chiefly to works 
on the sites now occupied by the Tidal Harbour and the Wellington and 
Granville Docks. 
The history of the port is dealt with in a special chapter of the Guide 
Book issued by this Association, and it is therefore now proposed to refer 
only to a few of the steps which, more directly, have led to the adoption 
of the important works at present under construction. 
In the year 1840, a Royal Commission was appointed to survey the 
harbours of the south-east coast. 
It is on this occasion unnecessary to quote the recommendations of 
_ the Commission with regard to other ports, but with reference to Dover 
they remarked :— 
‘This harbour, as the principal port of communication between Great 
Britain and the Continent, has been regarded at all times as a place of 
the greatest importance.’ 
It may be of interest to quote here a somewhat similar but more 
_ detailed opinion given by Sir Walter Raleigh in a memorial presented to 
Queen Elizabeth in the year 1580 :— 
‘No promontory, town, or haven, in Christendom, is so placed by 
_ mature and situation, both to gratify friends, and annoy enemies, as this 
town of Dover ; no place is so settled to receive and deliver intelligence 
for all matters and actions in Europe, from time to time ; no town is by 
nature so settled, either to allure intercourse by sea, or to train 
inhabitants by land, to make it great, fair, rich, and populous ; nor is 
there in the whole circuit of this famous island any port, either in respect 
of security or defence, or of traffic or intercourse, more convenient, need- 
ful, or rather of necessity to be regarded, than this of Dover, situated on 
a promontory next fronting a puissant foreign king, and in the very 
streight, passage, and intercourse of almost all the shipping in Christendom.’ 
; eb completed their inspections, the Commissioners reported as 
ollows :— 
