from June 28. to August 16. J 840. 293 



which have every appearance of being most scientifically con- 

 structed : but in the cases of the suspension-bridges, not only in 

 this part of the Seine but in and about Paris, and from Paris to 

 Thomery, we did not observe one where the supports to the 

 suspending chains were in good taste; or, in other words, in 

 good architectural developement. They are generally arches of 

 masonry; and the chains, or wire cables, pass through holes in 

 the upper parts of these arches, which holes appear to have 

 been made after the work was completed with the intention of 

 supporting something else. There is not even the trouble taken 

 of putting a facing, or frame, round the hole, to show that it is a 

 hole made purposely for some object. Sometimes this hole 

 passes under the frieze, and sometimes through it, and occasion- 

 ally it passes over the cornice; but always in such a way as to 

 appear an afterthought, and by no means artistically united or 

 connected with the support, or as a developement of what is 

 below. In the central supports of the suspension bridge at 

 Rouen, cast-iron Grecian columns are employed, which shows 

 great poverty of invention ; and in other situations, at Rouen 

 and Paris, obelisks are used, with the holes bored through the 

 apex. To render these supports what they ought to be, an 

 engineer must arise, who to the science of engineering adds a 

 genius for artistical composition. Old architectural associations 

 must be neglected, and the foundation laid for new associations, 

 founded in truth and usefulness ; on cast iron, and the various 

 purposes for which it is now employed. 



The views of the banks of the river are, to us, pleasing in 

 themselves, and from their being different from any thing of the 

 kind which occurs in Britain. They are pleasing, also, because, 

 from time to time, we pass a large manufacturing town, and 

 because, between these towns, the soil is occupied by innumer- 

 able small proprietors (their stone-built cottages generally near 

 the water's edge) ; who, though they live a life of toil, are yet 

 perfectly independent, having all the resources of a good soil, a 

 favourable climate, and a river which supplies them with fish for 

 the trouble of fishing. With the resources of the river and the 

 soil, it does not seem possible that persons so circumstanced can 

 ever come to want; but whether, with the necessity which must 

 exist for every part of the family to work hard in operations all 

 more or less laborious, there can be much time for reading is 

 doubtful ; and, without being able to spend some portion of every 

 day in reading, we cannot conceive the existence of much refined 

 enjoyment. Had this idea not intruded itself, we should have 

 been tempted to envy the condition of these apparently happy 

 people ; though we have no doubt it will be alleged that we 

 viewed them couleur de rose. The general want of instruction 

 among this class of society in France renders it impossible that 



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