The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-01 00:00:00

PUBLIC SALES.

Dec. 31.—8 y Messrs. PAO. and CAMEROV, at Gam-
way's —Freehold property, land tax redeemed, known as
the King's Head Tavern, Poultry, with the goodwill and
possession—knocked down at 6,9201.
By Messrs. 11. Beowe and T. A. Boozers, at the Mart.
—Two villa residences, called Tring-road Villas, near the
railway station, Aylesbury, held fur 74 years, at 151. per
annum—sold for 1,1001.
A smaller residence, adjoining the preceding, held for the
amuse term, at 51. per annum—sold for 3601.
Two !louses, Green-lanes, Stoke Newing-
ton, let Ow 604 pr mane, WI Mese, held for 72 years, at
101. IN.—knocked down for 2861.
Four unfinished bosses, Ann-street, Plumstead, Kent,
held for 70 years from 1845, at 91.—sold for 1001.

THE NEW WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. The report of
the commission, says the Builder, ho not yet been pre-
sented to parliament, hut we can give what we believe will
be the recommendations contained in it. The commie-
'loners recommend that the old structure should be used as
a temporary bridge, and that a new bridge should be con-
structed adjoining, or as near as possible to the present
bridge, on the north side, that is, lower down the river;
that it should not be lees than 60 feet in width, including
the footways; that the height of headway of the centre arch
should not be less than 25 feet 6 inches above Trinity
datum ; that it should consist of no more than five arches ;
and that it should be an iron structure resting on stone
piers, as this would require less rise than a stone bridge,
admit of a greater span of arch, and throw less
pressure on the foundations. With respect to the
height rind width, Mr. Barry, in his evidence, stated,
as indispensable conditions, if the bridge were to
remain where it now is, that the roadway should
be level from shore to shore, that the width of
the roadway should not be less than 100 feet, and
that the height of the road should not exceed 29 feet above
Trinity standard. These conditions, of course, had refer.
epee to the effect of the Now Houses of Parliament, and the
commissioners admitted their importance in that respect;
but, considering that a bridge of this limited height and ex-
tended width would prove en obstacle to the passage of 'res-
ole they have not adopted them. A bridge of the width
proposed by Mr. Barry would be a fine feature as well es
great convenience, and it should be considered whether or
not it might he obtained, or, at all events, approximated,
without increasing the obstruction in the river, by means of
overhanging foothpathe carried by cantilevers or balance
girders. The property scheduled to come down includes the
boasts on the south side of Bridge-street, extending as far
ws the India Board, and then returns into Parliament-
street. On the Surrey side the houses now standing on
both sides of Bridge-road arc taken as far as Belvedere.
road on the north side, and Btsngate on the south aide, and
a few houses on the east aide of Belvedere-road, at the corner
' of Bridge-road.
How OUR ANCESTORS "PROTECTED' US.—ln the
reign of James the Fourth of Scotland, the magistrates of
towns were enjoined " to set prices upon bread, ale, and
all other necessarie things, wrought and bought." James
the Fifth appointed a commissioner " for setting prices on
eraftsmen's work and stuff, victual and salt." Then, the
law told every man what price he was to set upon all goods
in his shop: now, the tradesman is left to make for himself
Maple: calculations, and to discover through much trouble
whoa he aught to charge in order to insure an honest living.
Qualm Nary decreed that pricesshould be set also on wild
OM low fowl. "The black cock," says her Majesty, per
asoisle, "is to be ea: pennies, and the tame hen eight
peamles." . . Charles the Second prohibited the im-
partation of gold and silver lace, buttons, thread, or Manila
willow gold or silver were to be found or counterfeited ; linen,
, damask, calico, cotton, wool, lint ; carpets,
silt bads_ stockings, shoes, bows, gloves, &c. James the
Math bad interdicted the exportation of " linen cloth, lint
tai; thodbes, tallow, butter, hides, shoes, cattle, cools,
eMls„ lases,, wool, skins, herrings," lc. Charles the Second
•4114 to the list worsted, woollen yarn, broken copper,
beam, es pewter, under pain of confiscation, one-half to the
king. one half to the apprehender. The British subject
was evidently being taken care of; he felt every day of his
life, as a child does, the paternal coercion for has goad. As
fur navigation, it was very properly attended to. "It wax
forbidden that any vessel should pass out of the realm
without the king's consent." (James the Sixth.) It is
well known what care a father takes to keep his children
from uncontrolled rambling on the public highways. No-
thing can be more scandalous to any family than a neglect
of this precaution. 'The wise spirit of our ancestors perceived
this, and James the Fourth enacted, "That no man, spi-
ritual or temporal, pass forth the realm without licence, or
being abroad, do anything against their license." They
were ordered to be good boys; and were kept out of the
temptation of strange pie-men and pastryceeks by the ba-
ther provision of the statute Money wee protected
no lees carefully. Wu all know how, in the present day,
coin slips out of our fingers. Formerly, bowers r, Britons
were commanded by the law to hold it tight. Under
Charles the Secend • strict act was passed " appointing
merchants to swear before the Treasurer not to export
coined money ; nor to suffer the SAM to be exported ; nor
to conceit! the cavorting thereof. And that no merchant or
skipper trade or make voyage to any forraign place before
they take the said oath." And there is only allowed to
passengers sixty pounds (Soots pounds, twelfths of a pound
sterling) for their charges ; and all licensee are discharged,
except to such se should make faith, or give bead that the
money is to be bestowed for timber in Norway, or" for vic-
tual in time of extreme dearth -` "

the ouperfios."—Dickena's "if;
NoßTli STAPPORDSUIRE
for railway and canal for the w
Ourreepooduzi week last year,

1; and that they dull return
Househoki Word,'"
E ItmLwAY.—Traffic return
wri, ending Dee. • 4,735 i.
r,4,6281.
10.*:11Q
14 lis
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