The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENiNG, DECEMBER 29, 1863.

Charing•

--bridge.

During the last few days a series of interesting tests
have been made by Captain Tyler, 8.E., on the strength of
this great viaduct, previous to the sanction of the Board of
Trade being given to the opening of the line for public
traffic on the Ist of the new year.
As the works are now quite finished, the Thames bridge,
the largest and most interesting feature of the line, begins
to show itself to great advantage—its magnificent size and
width rendering it an imposing abject from the river, while
the open trellis-work of the superstructure, and the ample
water -ways the use of cylinder piers afford, give it an ap-
pearance of greater lightness than is usual with bridges of
the purely girder form.
Looking at it only from the river, it is certainly to be
regretted that the brick piers formerly carrying the suspen-
sion bridge have been allowed to remain. But here, as in
most great undertakings, compromises between appear-
ances and economy have taken place, and in this instance
economy was greatly on the side of retaining the brick
piers. Yet, while retaining these below, we do not at all see
the advantagebf the mass of brick and stonework, where-
with they are overtopped above. Mr. Hawkshaw,
whose design the bridge is, would have done better
had he trusted to the purely mechanical and prac-
tical nature of the structure, relieved only by the
colour in which it is now being painted, which, with
the lines of gilt bosses and handsome candelabra surmount-
ing the piers, appear far more suitable decorations than
heavy circular cornices for a bridge dependent for its effect
on its good and simple construction, and not on any recog-
nised architectural features.
But it is as an engineering work chiefly that the bridge is
best worth notice, and presents some very curious features,
one of these being the enormous strength concentrated both
in the cylinder piers and in the girders in the smallest com-
pass. To understand this it is necessary to call to mind
that in the usual practice of building brick or stone founds,
tions the weight of the superstructure is spread over a very
large surface, whereas with these cylinder piers it is all
brought within two areas of not more than 14tt diam. each.
To make up for this difference in extent, the depth to which
the cylinder foundations are carried is far greater than the
brick piers—for while the latter are made to rest on the top
of the clay, the cylinders go 20ft. into the clay, being sunk
on an average 401 t. below low water, thus obtaining for the i
column of brickwork built inside them afterwards a founda-
tion as solid as rock itself, and one not likely to be disturbed
by any changes which may occur is the bed of the river by
the scour, which may be expected from the formation of the
Thames Embankment, the scour being a source of evil
which has hitherto proved fatal to the foundations of nearly
all our metropolitan bridges. Again, with the superstruc-
ture, it is usual to have one main girder to half a line of
way, or at least one girder to each line, and to brace them
together overhead as well as below, to form of the whole a
kind of skeleton tube. But in this case it was necessary
that there should not be any obstruction between the lines
of way, as points and crossings are required on very many
parts of the bridge; therefore only two girders could be used
to do what eight, or at least four, have hitherto been em-
ployed to effect. Two girders here carry four lines of way,
and as this causes them to be 50ft. apart, overhead bracing
becomes also impracticable, so that they had to be con-
structed of sufficient lateral stiffness to depend on themselves
alone, and of sufficient strength to carry the public foot-
paths outside, as well as the four lines of way within ;
hence it happens that although the span is moderate, 154
feet, yet the quantity of metal required in each of these
girders amounts to 200 tons, and the skilful way it has been
massed together to afford the requisite strength, and ye
give little indication of it in its light and almost elegan
appearance,
is certainly unsurpassed.

The result of the teats applied has proved most satisfac

;ory. When loaded from end to end oa each of the four

lines of way with engines and trucks purposely filled with
stone and iron, so as to weigh four tons per foot, the greatest
11 amount of deflection in any girder was not more than three-
quarters of an inch, and in the cross-girders less than a
quarter of an inch, and the amount of vibration during the
running off and on was all but imperceptible.
To this satisfactory result the quality of the workman-
ship has tended in a large degree, the contractors, Messrs.
Cochrane and Co., for this and all the other Midges on the
line, having aided Mr. Ilawkshaw materially in this design
of using two girders only to support such enormous strains
17 at once abandoning the rough and unskilful way of con-
structing girders with plates punched and sheared by hand,
and substituting in its stead machinery designed for the
purpose of drilling and planning the plates in the most
accurate manner. It is not too mach to state that the ac-
curate and finished character of the work in this bridge has
since caused almost a revolution in the construction of
wrought iron beams of magnitude.

Great praise •is also due to the contractors for the skilful
manner in which the actual work of erecting the bridge has
been carried out, and not a single fatal accident having oc-
curred during its progress. All the ether bridges on the
line have been tested by the Government inspector with
similar severity and with the same satisfactory results as to
proof of strength. All the questions, in fact, connected
with the working of the line have been settled, and we be-
lieve it will open for public traffic on New Year's-day.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VEUVE CLIQUOT,
as described in Shaw's " Wine, the Vine, and the
Cellar."—A few miles on the Paris side of Epernay may be
seen a chateau, above the doorway of which is carved
" Mater Filire," the mater being a lady of world-wide fame,
exceedingly rich, but still living in a small house at Reims,
as she did many a year ago; and although above 80 years
old, it is said three is not a cuvea made without her opinion,
nor a transaction of importance without consulting her.
Others may have, and have, quite as good wine as hers;
for they have the same opportunities which she enjoys of
buying grapes or wine from growers ; while the preparation
of her liqueur is no mystery, and the fermentation must
everywhere go on in its natural course. The desire of her
house is not to make its wine better one year than another,
but to keep it as close as possible to its known standard pecu-
liarity year after year. if all seasons wore alike, this would be
comparatively easy, but some are No bad that not a single
grape will be admitted into cellars of repute; and as two,
three, and more such years often succeed each other, her
and every other house are compelled to keep up stock in
the best way they can. The only plan of accomplishing
this is by searching throughout the district for the best wino
t hat can be found in the cellars of growers or merchants, and
preparing them for their brand. Large firms such as hers,
and a more, will make several cuvees of 5D,000 and
100,000 dozens, after a good vintage. Shortly after that of
1861, I saw in her cellar casks that reminded me of the
quays of the London Docks ; and as these had to be pre-
be imagined
apnardedle,swswith mt
huecpholritqi mu
ne ufro,rfoErntahleanshdi,pmitemntasyto Russia, &c.,
what a serious undertaking it is, and how much experience
acrd discrimination are required, to amalgamate these vari-
ous qualities into a homogeneous whole. But it is just to
add that, in stating that she has no monopoly of the best
grapes, nor of the knowledge of fermenting or converting
them into wine, hers is the only house where no other kind
but the best procurable quality is kept ; and therefore, any
one buying a bottle with her true brand on the cork, may
feel confident that it is the finest she can offer. She presses
her grapes less than other growers, disposing of the sur-
plus ; while most houses retain theirs for further pressure,
and then sell according to the result; probably branding
with their own known brand that which proves good, and
with a "fancy" brand that which is inferior.

THE MISSING SHIPS.—Five weeks have now
elapsed, and there has been no intelligence of the
missing laden colliers which sailed from the Tyne and ad-
jacent north country ports in the last week in November for
Letuinn, and it is reduced to w e.rtainty, it is feared, that
they have perished with their crews. The names of the
Tyne vessels that have, it is almost certain, foundered are
the Esther, the Brodricks, and the Lady Mary, of North
Shields ; and the Ann and Elizabeth, the Spray, and the
James, of South Shields. Another vessel, named the
Adorna, which left the Texel before the gale of the 3d Dec,
for the Tyne, has not since been heard of. If the Aborna
does not tarn up, very close upon 60 seamen will have
perished with those ships. As far as can be ascertained,
either eight or nine laden colliers belonging to adjacent
ports have been missing the same
time as the Tyne ships, so
that at the lowest computation it is feared 120 north coun-
try seamen and sailor lads have perished by their vessels
foundering at sea with them. This sad calamity is being
realised in all its bitterness by the bereaved families in the
northern seaports, for, down to about Christmas, they had
hoped against hope that those ships had been driven towards
the Dutch or Norway coast, and might turn up again,
Among the vessels included in the number mentioned above
are the Gem and the Cleveland, belonging to Whitby. That
seaport has suffered severely by the gale. A vessel
named
the George, belonging to that port, after being abandoned,
has been picked up and taken into Gottenburg. As already
reported, several crews of water-logged and disabled ships
suffered fearfully by exposure during the terrific gales of
the first week in December. The George is reported to
have lost four of her crew, including the mate and his son,
by exhaustion, before a friendly ship came to their assist-
ance. It would appear that most of the vessels missing,
and of which there is little doubt nothing more will be
heard, had put into the Humber through adverse winds,
and that on Wednesday, the 2d of December, the wind
having got round to the N.V., blowing fresh, they
had put out of that roadstead with every prospect of
a quick passage to London, But during that night or
Thursday morning the wind chopped round to the S.W.
again, and came on to blow a hurricane. It will be remem-
bered that the force of Thursday's gale was most severe in
the midland counties, and it would catch these ships in
Boston Deeps, the very worst place for laden colliers to en-
minter such a storm, and there is every reason to believe
that moat of the vessels missing perished there er on the
edge of the Dogger Bank. It is to be!'Bared many of the
families of the men that are supposed to be lost are in a
destitute condition, some of the widows being left with large
families.

BRITISH MUSEUM.—The national collections will
be closed to the public from Friday, the Ist, until Thurs-
day, the 'ith of January, 1864, inclusive, to afford the at-
ten lants their usual Christmas holidays.
Hurnitnan's Tea is choice and strong, moderate
in price, and Wholesome to use. These advantages have
secured for this Tea a general prcfereree. It is sold in
packets by 2,280 Agents.

The Late Earl of Charlemont.

The F'reenzan contains the following interesting
reminiscences of the above noble earl, whose death
we announced yesterday :
Another link connecting us with the past has been broken.
The venerable Earl of Charlemont, who inherited the name
as well as the virtues of his great father, died on Saturday.
at the advanced age of 90. Francis, the second earl, was
born Jan. 6, 1774, so that on Jan. 4th next he would have
completed his 90th year. Born at a time of great political
fermentation, and when Irish society reflected more beauty,
brilliancy, and wit than any society in Europe, he loved to
detail the events which made an impression on his boyhood.
Gifted with a retentive memory, he recalled scenes and
characters which at the present day appear to be cast back
into the dim traditions of history, When only In his
fifth year he well remembered the rising of the Irish
Volunteers. Like the Prince Imperial, who is now the
hope of France, the Irish nation regarded the eldest son of
the Earl of Charlemont. Some of our readers may have
seen an old engraving of a review of the volunteers in
College-green, commanded by the Duke of Leinster and
the Earl of Charlemont. The young viscount was present,
riding at his father's side. He recollected distinctly all the
illustrous names of Irish history from 'B2. At the re-unions
which took place at Leinster House and Charlemont House,
at that period the centres of all the intellect, beauty, and
fashion of the metropolis, his lordship mixed with the cha-
racters of that memorable epoch. With Grattan he was of
course perfectly familiar. Flood he less distinctly remembered,
but he still retained sufficient to give us a more perfect idea
of that remarkable man than history has transmitted to us
His lordship was accustomed to say that his father ad-
mired Flood more than any of the men of that day, so
fertile in great statesmen and orators. That the Earl of
Charlemont and Henry Flood entertained a mutual respect
for eaoh other appears from the published correspondence,
which exhibits the highly cultivated tastes and refined in-
tellectual intercourse that subsisted between those eminent
men. He told anecdotes of Grattan, Avonmore, Bowes
Daly, Forbes, Gardiner, together with a long catalogue of
other celebrities, when his memory was more active than it
had been in the decline of his life. He also had a distinct
though less clear, recollection of other figures who played
no unimportant part in the literary and political history
of England. He remembered when a boy having been
introduced by his father at several meetings of the
famous Literary Club. Burke he knew and remembered
well. A short time before his death the earl and
his son visited him at Beaconsfield, and he remem-
bered well one of the first questions Burke asked his father
was what he thought about the progress of events in France.
The education of Viscount Caulfield was conducted under
the immediate eye of his accomplished father, until, in
his 16th or 17th year, he entered college, where he dis-
tinguished himself in classics. On the dissolution of
Parliament in '97 he was elected for the county of Ar-
magh, and, we need not say, voted heart and soul against
the union. His venerable father did not live to see the
measure carried, having died in 1799, when his son suc-
ceeded to the title and estates. Lord Charlemont, not
without some reluctance, took his seat in the English
House of Lords, to which, however, he was soon recon-
ciled. Thoroughly liberal, loving Ireland and her
people, whenever he spoke in the upper house he advo-
cated the religious and civil rights of his country. He was
a good speaker, and always impressed by his clear, good
sense. In the struggle between the Irish Liberals and
Tories, before and after emancipation, he was always at the
service of the Liberal party. He took an active part in the
Moore testimonial, which was one of the last of his public
acts. He gave up Charlemont House to the committee, and
at the public meeting over which he presided he spoke with
feeling and grace of the national poet with whom he was
long and intimately acquainted. His last appearance in
public was at the opening of the Irish Exhibition of 1853,
when he appeared as the senior of the Knights of St.
Patrick, his father having been one of the first creations of
the order. He was a man of great and varied acquire-
ments. Modest and unobtrusive, he never developed the
eminent qualities which distinguished him, except in
the circle of his private friends, whose hearts he won by
the gentleness of his manner and the brilliancy of his con-
versation, which, it was said, much resembled his father's.
In one respect he differed widely from his father. Equally
national, be was more liberal. His father's opposition to
emancipation he never approved, while he illustrated, in his
whale life, the highest respect for the religious and civil
liberties of his Catholic countrymen. Though he liked
England well, as he was accustomed to say, he loved
Ireland better,' and proved it by an almost unvarying
residence for over sixty years. He said he drew his
income from Ireland, and it should be spent in Ireland.
Whenever he visited England, for Parliamentary or other
purposes, where he was received with open arms by the
chiefs of the Whig party, he always longed to be back at
Marino, or the family seat in Tyrone. Marino, however,
was his favourite. There he exclusively resided for the
last seven years, and there he died. Some three or four
years ago the venerable nobleman might be seen moving
backwards and forwards to Dublin in his Whig uniform—
a bright blae coat, with a splendid high collar garnished
with velvet, and the buff waistcoat. Wo need not say
when recognised all classes treated him with the pro-
fondest respect. Agriculture was one of his favourite pur-
suits, and he perfectly understood its principles and prac-
I ice, His lordship married Miss Birmingham, daughter of
the direct descendant of the lords of Athenry. He had one
son, who died in his minority. He is succeeded in the title
and estates by his nephew, the Hon. Colonel Caulfeild, lord
lieutenant of Armagh. His remains will bo buried on
Thursday next in Armagh cathedral, where his father was
buried. The Irish people will regret the death of a good
Irishman in Francis, second Earl of Charlement,

" Son of the man
Who led the van
Of the Irish Volunteers,'"

THE VOLUNTEERS.

Capt. A. J. Mundella, commanding the Ist company of
Robin 1 toed ILiftel, has i,sucd the following challenges to
the Vultuateers of Australia :—" On behalf of my company
1 am preprared to shoot a match during the ensuing; year
with 20 members of the company in Australia which has
made the highest register as to marksmen in the year 1863 ;
rifles to be long Enfields, issued by Government, 61b pull
of trigger, 7 shots at each, at 200, 500, and 600 yards,and 7
shots file firing, at 300 yards, and 7 shots volley firing, at
400 yards, all in Hythe position ; the individual firing tobe
scored as at Wimbledon—via outers counting two, centres
three, and bull's eyes four; the file and volley firing to be
counted according to Hythe regulations ;:the whole score to
be added together, and the company making the highest
score to win. No sunshades allowed, no misses to be sig-
nalled, and the whole to be shot in one day, and in all re.
spects in accordance with the Hythe regulations, Each
company to fire on its own practice ground, the umpire to
be appointed by the National Rifle Association, and in Aus-
tralia by the officer commanding the Volunteers in the
colony; time of shooting, July, in England, and in Aux,
tralia any month the Volunteers may select." The regis-
tering practice return of the company for 1863 is as follows
—lst period, 70 ; 2d period, 66 ; 3d period, 65. The num-
ber of marksmen was 60, and the strength of the com-
pany 91.

A company has been formed for the purpose of building a
large hotel on Wimbledon-common for the accommodation
of the members of the National Rifle Association and those
who visit the locality for rifle practice and military ma-
nou.vres. A site for the building has been obtained on the
common commanding a view of the ground on which the
National. Rifle Association holds its annual meetings, near
tiro rifle ranges of the 15th Middlesex (London Soottish)and
Civil Service (21st Middlesex) Rifles, and within a mile of
Richmond-park. It is proposed to provide cabs, carriages,
and horses for the convenience of the visitors. The build-
ing will be a handscme Italian structure, divided into two
separate departments. It will contain club, billiard, and
ball rooms, and a masonic lodge, and upwards of 200 bed-
rooms. Among the directors of the company are Col. Colt,
C. 8., of the Ist Administrative Regiment of Surrey Rifle
Volunteers; Col. Creed, C. 8., Ist Middlesex Artillery Vo-
lunteers; Major Wright, let Middlesex Engineers; Mr. B.
Smith, 23d Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifles. The archi-
tect is Mr. A. Trimen, of Adam-street, Adelphi.
On Saturday last a large number of both battalions of the
Queen's ( Westminster) Rifle Volunteers assembled at West-
minster-hall, and after blank cartridge had been served out
to each member marched, accompanied by the bands, to
Hampstead, where they were put through a variety of
movements in light infantry drill. A sub-committee has
been appointed to consider the whole question of the finances
of the corps, which will be reported to the meeting of the
central committee on Jan. 8. The result will be communi-

cared to the corps at the distribution of prises on the 9th,
and it will then be notified what reduction can be made in
the annual subscriptions in consequence of the Government