The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-29 00:00:00

TUE {FORKS AT THE NEW LONDON BRIDGE.

The erection of this public fabric appears to be proceed-
ing with great rapidity. The centres for the second arch
arc nearly finished, and are visible over the parapets of the
old bridge. The mode by which these centres are con-
structed is very ingenious. The wood and iron work is
formed and put together at Messrs. Joni& and Banks' esta-
blishment, at the Isle of Dogs, where the sections of the
centre are finished ready for placing in position at the new
bridge. These gigantic pieces of wood-work, forming a
semicircle, are then floated to about SO yards above the site
of the new bridge, on the Surrey side, where two barges are
moored to each other. The barges are so constructed as to
admit, as the tide falls, a body cf water, by which they are
nearly filled, and thus brought almost to a level with the
surface of the river ; the centres are then, by the opera-
tion of powerful machinery, first brought horizontally on
to the barges, and then, by the same agency, raised per-
pendicularly across the middle of the craft, and second in
that position. As the tide rises, the water is let out of the
barges, and at high water they are floated down to the
works where the arch is to be turned. The state of the
tide at this juncture is such, as to bring the centres, thus
temporarily fixerlon the barges, almost even with the piers
on which they arc to be based ; and, by the operation of
powerful mechanism, these ponderous centres (each weigh.
ing nearly 40 tons) are placed in their positions at the new
bridge.
The celerity with which the works proceed must be no
less satisfactory to the public than creditable to the con-
tractors; and, although the period at which the New
London Bridge is stipulated to be finished embraces (we
believe) four or five years from this time, there is, from
appearances, every probability that it will be erected before
that period; as the Prat arch will, we hear, be turned by tire
close of the present year.

CHURCH PATRONAGE.—Although there appear to he
only 9,284 parish churches in England, there are 11,593
benefices, 1,290 of which are in the patronage of the dioce-
sans, 1,005 in dean and chapters, 103 in the five collegiate
churches of Manchester, Ripon, Southwell, Westminster,
and Windsor • 583 in the Universities and Colleges of
Oxford and dambridge, Eton and Winchester; 1,015 in
the King, Prince of Wales, and Dukeof Lancaster, leaving
7,591 in the patronage of lay improprtators.
DF.STRUCTIVE FIRE, AND Loss OF LlFE.—Yesterday
morning a fire broke out, between twelve and one o'clock,
in the house No. 4, Plummer's-row, Commercial-road,
which, we regret to say, has been attended, not only
with the destruction of property, but with the loss of
life. On its being perceived, tile watchman on the beat
sprung his rattle, which attracted the attention of Mr.
Miller, the chief officer of Lambeth-street, a resident
in the neighbourhood, who hastened at once to the
scene of devastation. On his arrival, the miserable in-
mates were screaming, in the most heart-rending man-
ner, for assistance, and he was induced, in consequence,
to procure a ladder, and place it against the front of the
house, with the intention of rescuing them from their
perilous situation. In this be was unsuccessful, and, in
endeavouring to aid his fellow-creatures, very nearly sacri-
ficed his own life. Scarcely had he mounted the ladder,
and broke one of the windows, when the flames and smoke
burst out with the greatest violence, and precipitated him
from a height of 20 feet on the pavement. The injuries he
received were rather severe. One of his hands is much cut,
and his feet much bruised. A young matt, of the name of
Solomons, at the same moment, threw himself from the
two-pair window, by which his body was fractured in se-
veral places. He now lies itt the London Hospital, in a
very dangerous state. The landlady of the house, a rather
elderly woman, was not so fortunate; she fell a victim to
the devouring element, and was reduced nearly to a cinder.
The fire was got under a little after two o'clock, but not
before the entire of the premises, and etery vestig
of re of prolt
-
perty, were reduced to au indiscriminate !rap uins.
is said to have originated from a candle, which had been
left lighting, waiting the arrival of a ledger.—An Inquest
was held on the body of Mrs. S. last night, and the Jury
returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."

THE BRITISH PRESS.

GREEK STEAM-VESSELS.