J8§ TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA: 
die of the river. The bridge,, leading from th$ 
south shore to the island, is built upon fifteen 
large flat-bottomed boats, keep stationary in 
the river by strong chains and anchors. The 
bows of them, which are very sharp, are put 
against the stream, and fore and aft there is a 
strong beam, upon which the piers of the bridge 
rest. Between the island and the town, the 
water being shallower, the bridge is built upon 
piers formed of square casements of logs filled 
with stones. To this there is no railing, and 
the boards with which it is covered are so loose, 
that it is dangerous to ride a horse across it that 
is not accustomed to it. The bridges thrown 
across this river, opposite the town, have re¬ 
peatedly been carried away; it is tbought idle, 
therefore, to go to the expence of a better one 
than what exists at present. The strongest 
stone bridge could hardly resist the bodies of 
ice that are hurried down the Falls by the 
floods on the breaking up of a severe winter. 
Though the houses in Richmond are not 
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more than seven hundred in number, yet they 
extend nearly one mile and a half along the 
banks of the river. The lower part of the 
‘town, according to the course of the river, is 
built close to the water, and opposite to it lies 
the shipping ; this is connected with the upper 
town by a long street, which runs parallel to 
the course of the river, about fifty yards remov- 
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