Mr Stevenson's Description of' Bridges of Suspension, %ol 
front of the pillar, instead of passing through an archway, as 
on the Scotch side, as will be observed by inspecting the elevation 
and diagrams of Fig. 4. 
The general effect of the Union Bridge, which we have now 
endeavoured to describe, is interesting and curious ; and such is 
the extent, and its light and elegant appearance, that it has not 
inaptly been compared to an inverted rainbow. Those who visit 
this undertaking, as affording much novelty to the scenery of 
this part of the banks of the Tweed, will not be disappointed in 
their expectations ; while, in a national point of view, as a great 
improvement, it deserves the most particular consideration of 
the country at large. It is also of much interest to the pro- 
fessional Engineer, especially as being the first bridge of sus- 
pension erected in Great Britain, calculated for the passage 
of loaded carriages. Nor ought the enterprising efforts of Mr 
Molle, and the gentlemen of the adjoining shires of Berwick 
and Northumberland, to be overlooked in the prosecuting of this 
design, as affording a great practical lesson for the application 
of bridges of this construction to various parts of the United 
Kingdom, where stone or even cast-iron would be found imprac- 
ticable, both on account of the extent of the situation, and the 
unavoidable expence of the works. 
The fastidious, upon examining this work, may perhaps find 
some parts of the general design capable of improvement, and 
when a second work of a similar or a greater extent comes to be 
executed, there is little doubt that experience will, in the usual 
course of things, lead to alterations for the better. We, how- 
ever think, that the design and execution of the Union Bridge, 
does the highest credit to Captain Brown, in the construe** 
lion of bridges on the catenarian principle. We understand 
that the whole works of the Union Bridge, for masonry, car- 
pentry and smithery, were undertaken by the Captain, for the 
sum of about L. 5000, whilst the execution of a bridge of' 
stone must have cost at least four times that sum. The object 
of its projector, however, does not appear to have been the 
realization even of the cost of this bridge : — it was undertaken 
chiefly with a view to shew the application of chain-cables to 
Ms favourite object of bridge-building, and it is hoped that his 
well merited exertions will ultimately meet with a proper remu- 
