FLOATING BRIDGES. 
S3 
each side are high,, and for many miles above 
afford the most delightful situations for villas. 
A very elegant one, laid out in the English 
taste, is seen on passing the river just above the 
bridge. Adjoining to it are public gardens, 
and a house of entertainment, with several 
good rooms, to which the citizens of Phila¬ 
delphia resort in great numbers during the 
summer season. 
The floating bridges are formed of large 
trees, which are placed in the water trans¬ 
versely, and chained together; beams arc then 
laid lengthways upon these, and the whole 
boarded over, to render the‘way convenient 
for passengers. On each side there is a railing. 
When very heavy carriages go across these 
bridges, they sink a few inches below the sur¬ 
face of the water; but the passage is by no 
means dangerous. They are kept in an even 
direction across the river, by means of chains 
and anchors in different parts, and are also 
strongly secured on both shores. Over that 
part of the river where the channel lies, they 
are so contrived that a piece can be removed 
to allow vessels to pass through. These bridges 
are frequently damaged, and sometimes en¬ 
tirely carried away, during floods, at the breaks 
ing up of winter, especially if there happens 
to be much ice floating in the river. To guard 
against this, when danger is apprehended and 
VOL. i. D 
