26 
Captain S» Brown’s Description of. the 
But what is much more satisfactory to the publicj it has been 
loaded since its erection with 21 tons, subject at the same time to 
the ordinary weight passing over the bridge, being more than that 
to which, in all probability, it will ever be subjected in future. 
With respect to the security of the pier, we have the advan- 
tage of experience to prove, that a structure erected upon piles 
securely driven into the stiff ground, will stand the violence 
of the sea as well as the most substantial stone buildings. Yar- 
mouth Jetty requires no repair except what proceeds from the 
decay of the timber. The pier at Ostend, on the opposite coast, 
has stood for ages exposed to the whole force of the north wind ; 
and at Cronstadt, in the Gulf of Finland, the batteries are erect- 
ed on piles like so many islands, and are in no way affected by the 
violence of the sea. Piles, therefore, in such situations, are pre- 
ferable to a stone pier, because no vessel could approach a solid 
mass of mason- work, without the most imminent danger of being 
dashed in pieces, or sunk by the back send of the sea, unless in- 
deed it were to be of such extent and magnitude, as to come un- 
der the description of a Breakwater. The fact is certain, that 
no vessel can lie alongside Newhaven stone pier in a strong north- 
west gale. 
The liability of the piles to decay, cannot be considered as an 
objection of any importance, because they can be drawn up at 
any time, and replaced with new ones ; and even upon economi- 
cal principles, they must be preferable, from their comparative 
cheapness, to any other materials. With respect to the durabi- 
lity of the iron work, it may be rendered almost imperishable, 
by proper attention to the usual mode of preserving it by paint- 
ing ; but even here there is a remedy, for every bolt may be 
taken out and renewed. 
The Trinity Pier does not present a solid resistance to the 
sea, but the swell ranges through a series of piles, of sixty feet 
square, and is so much subdued, that vessels, unless in a decid- 
ed heavy gale, can lie close enough to the stairs to land their 
passengers, with the greatest convenience and ease, at any time 
of tide ; and as the principle is not limited to any particular dis- 
tance, it may at some future period be carried out by a con- 
tinuation of suspension arches, to admit of transports or other 
large ships to come alongside, and laud or embark troops, where- 
