The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-11 00:00:00

rE AT CHELSEA.I SHIPPING INT ELL IGE

The suspension-bridge over the Thames, at Chelsea, I
now in the course of construction for the Commissioners
of her Majesty's Works, under the superintendence of
Mr. Page, their engineer, stands nearly midway between
Vauxhall and Battersea-bridges, Some particulars of
the construction may be interesting. For the founda-
tions, piles of elm timber, averaging 13 inches square,
are driven at intervals of 3 feet, on an average 28 feet
below the bed of the river, enclosed by a strong cast-
iron casing, 88 feet in length, and 19 feet in width, with
curved cutwater. This iron case consists of piles and
plates driven into the bed of the river, the piles to a depth
of 25 feet, and the plates 20 feet below the low-water line.
These piles are driven at every 9 fast; the metal is one
inch thick, and the plates are cast with ribs 6 inches deep,
and have projecting pieces arranged to fit into the grooves
of the piles : this casing forms the outside of the pier ;
it rises 7 feet above high water, and is surmounted
by a moulded cast-iron curb. From the depth of the piles
and plates below the bed of the river it prevents the
water ever undermining the foundations. The elm bear-
ing piles are cut off at a level of two feet above low
water, and are securely tied together transversely and
longitudinally, by iron bars, bolted to every pile. The
loose ground between the piles is scooped out, and the
entire space filled to the top of the piles, with concrete,
consisting of five parts of gravel to one part of blue has
lime : upon this concrete two layers of thick Yorkshire
stone landings are bedded, care being taken that no void
is left between the under surface of the bottom layer and
the concrete, but that the stones shall bear equally over
the whole foundations. This forms the floor upon which

the towers of the bridge are to be erected. The towers,
which are being prepared, are of cast-iron columns, 10
inches diameter, firmly braced and tied together, and are
to be inclosed in an ornamental casing, partly of wrought
and partly of cast iron. The space between the frame-
work and the cast-iron casing of the piers and the
foundations will be filled in solid with concrete,
and upon this will be a layer of Bradford landings
forming the floors of the piers. The chains will be
carried over the towers on saddles, moving on rollers
six inches diameter placed on a horizontal bed, and
secured to the abutments by mooring-stones, from
which spring strong brick arches, which sustain the
weight of the concrete, forming the interior of the abut-
ments. The mooring-stones likewise bear against the
side walls, so that the whole weight of the abutments is
made effective in counteracting the pull of the chains.
The roadway is to be formed of wrought-iron girders
placed transversely at every 8 feet of the bridge suspen-
ded to the chains by iron bars 2 inches diameter, and
diagonally braced with smaller girders of similar con-
struction, upon which r at the roadway plates, and upon
these the pavement forming the road. The footpaths
are to be placed outside the chains, and supported at
distances of eight feet by wrought-iron cantilevers bolted
to the transverse girders of the roadway. Between the
footpaths and the road way a wrought-iron girder six
feet deep, and rising about three feet above the road-
way, will run the whole length of the bridge, stiffening
the roadway, and preventing that tremulous motion to
which suspension-bridges are so subject. On each abut-
ment two ornamental lodges are built, in character with
the architecture of the towers, and will serve as habita-

tions for the toll men. There is much novelty in the
construction of the foundations, and we are not surprised
to learn that, since the bridge wa commenced, several
French and German engineers have vi,ited the works,
with a view of adopting in their own countries the
method employed.

EXPENSES OF THE WAR.

--~----

The following petition bas been presented to Parlia-
ment from the inhabitants of Conway, Carnarvonshire :
"To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and
Tenaplral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, in Parliament as-,embled, the humble
Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Town
and Borough of Conway, in the County of Carnar-

von,-

" Sheweth.—That your petitioners have observed with
satisfaction the decided measures which have at last been
adopted by her Majesty's Government, in conjunction
with her allies, to resist the unprincipled encroachments
of the Russian Czar. _ _

" But that your petitioners, at the same time, beg re-
spectfully to point out that, in return for the burdens
and sacrifices of war, the inhabitants of this kingdom are
entitled to require efficient securities for the future pre-
servation of a real and permanent peace.
" That from recent events, as well as from the history
of past ages, it is obvious that any guarantee, founded
on the treaties and engagements of the Russian Govern-
ment, will prove futile, and that such treaties and en-
gagements will be unscrupulously disregarded whenever
a temporary separation of interest and opinion among
the other leading Powers of Europe, or some ether con-
tingency, shall appear to present a favourable opportu-
nity for the accomplishment of its aggressive designs on
neighbouring States.
" That your petitioners therefore venture to suggest
that the only efficient protection that can be obtained
against Russian aggression must consist in a diminution
of the geograghical and military resources of that em-
pire, which, from their vast extent, as well as from the
nefarious policy with which they have ever been em-
ployed, are utterly irreconcilable with the future well-
being and tranquillity of the civilised world.
" That the dominions of Russia are in great measure
composed of the territories of adjoining nations subdued
by violence, treachery, and fraud, and held in subjection
by a system of terror and oppression. And that the
liberation of the territories thus acquired and retained
would be only an act of justice to the inhabitants, at the
same time that it would give to Europe, against Russian
designs, the only guarantee that can, consistently with
the dictates of common sense, be regarded otherwise
than as illusory.
" That it is equally important to the general interests
of Europe that an end should be put to the uppre sions
and intrigues of Russia iu ileighbouring countries which
have never submitted to her yoke—and that the voice
of humanity as well as the requisitions of a wise and
prudent policy, must plead alike for the inhabitants of
the Danubian and other Turkish provinces, and for the
heroic Circassians, who, unaided, have so long victori-
ously resisted the common oppressors of mankind.
" That your petitioners beg to point out that the
war now impending will, in all probability, be worse
than barren of good results, if it should terminate in a
mere restoration of the condition of affairs anterior to
the present hostilities, and in a renewal of the treaties
on which are founded the pretensions of the Czar to in-
terfere in the internal affairs of the Ottoman empire.

" That justice obviously demands that the Russian
Government should be compelled to defray all the ex-
penses of the war, which has originated entirely in its
own perfidy and ambition ; but that your petitioners
nevertheless may be permitted to ob,erve that.direct
compensation for the :tost of the extraordinary naval
and military armaments, required on the present occa-
sion, will be far less important to this country and to
Europe than such a reduction or the overgrown power
of Russia, as may enable the other E ropean nations
to diminish those standing naval and military establish-
ments which will other wise be rendered necessary as a
permament safeguard against her designs.
" That the Ottoman Sultan is entitled to the grati-
tude of this country for the steps he has taken to place
his Christian on an equal footing with his Mahometan
subjects, and for the toleration and protection he has
afforded to Protestants, in consequence of which so large
a number of Protestant congregations have sprung up
in his dominions ; and that the Russian Czar, by pro-
hibiting the circulation of the scriptures and by ex-
cluding Protestant teachers from his territories, has
proved his policy to be founded on a settled hostility to
religious as well as to civil liberty. And your peti-
tioners beg to point out that the noblest recompense
this country can receive for the sacrifices at present im-
posed upon her will consist in the emancipation of op-
pressed nations, and in the extension as a consequence
of their freedom and prosperity of the field of British
comiorce—the main source of British power, British
civilisation and British liberty.

That in expressing the foregoing views, your peti-
tioners have no desire to fetter the discretion or to em-
barrass the policy of her Majesty's advisers.
And that your petitioners humbly pray that the sen-
timents they have ventured to express may receive the
favourable consideration of your Right lion. House.
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, APRIL 10.
ENTERED INWARDS.—The Peninsula, from Cadiz ;
Oscar, Hamburgh ; Behrends, Memel ; Thilda, Skien ;
Charles Ferdinand, Callao ; Maori, Canton ; Turbot,
Gravelines ; Aurora, Sarpshorg ; Earl Grey, Bombay ;
Betsy, Csen ; Tongataboo, Callao ; Klara Kathinka, Aar-
huus ; Valparaiso, Rotterdam ; Tegner, Christiania ;
Fanny, St. Michael's ; Elizabeth, Mauritius ; Ocean Queen,
New York; Venus, Havanilah ; William Stewart, Cal-
cutta; Hector, Gravelines ; Majestic, Calcutta ; and the
Continental steam-packets.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Emelia, for
St. Michael's and Terceira ; Countess of Seafield, Sydney.;
Bebrends, Memel ; Black Warrior, Port Philip ; Maori,
New Zealand • Immanuel, Harburg ; Sumatra, St. Croix.
CLEARED CiUTWARDSi WITH CAlloo.—The Chieftain, for
Quebec; Feronia, Santa Cruz and Grand Canary; Spirit
of "the Age, Sydney ; Cicely, Dominicia ; Ostrich, Ade-
laide ; Tigris, Geelong ; Gustafva, Stockhom; Mercurius,
Port Philip; Warrior, Jamaica.

LIVERPOOL, April 10.—The Sabrina, hence to Mel-
bourne, was spoken April 3, lat. 41 N., long. 8 W.
GLUCKSTADT, April 6.—The Ann, and -Lizzy, from
Hamburg to New York,_ and the Greenwell—(brig), from
Sunderland, are both lying in. the Roadstead with damage,
and will probably ho:ve to come into the harbour to repair,
having been in contact in the Elbe.
ANTWERP, April B.—The Sarah, sailed from Buenos
Ayres, on Nov. 25, for this port, and has not since been
heard of,
GALATZ, March 27.—The Bedlington (barque) was sunk
in the Danube, near the branch of Ismail, on March 19,
by the batteries ; the hull is entirely under water. The
master and crew are at Ismail.
YARMOUTH, N.S., March 25.—The Perthshire, of and
froin St. John's N. 8., for Liverpool, which was on shore
near the mouth of Jebogne River, on March 11, has driven
further up towards the beach during the late heavy gales;
some of her bottom planks have washed on shore; the be-
tween decks cargo is being discharged.
ST. JOHN'S (Newfoundland), March 23.—The sealing
fleets fitted out here and in Conception Bay, sailed for the
ice between the lst and 13th M arch. A good deal of drift
ice has passed to the southward during the last month,
very near the land ; at present it is some distance off, and
vessels can approach any harbour from Bacalieu South.
Feb. 28.—The Mary, of Yarmouth, N.S. (not the Mall
Scott as reported April 4), from Liverpool to Boston, had
her bow port knocked in by the ice on Feb. 15, iu lat. 47
long 43, and sank about 20 minutes afterwards; creyr,
except one man, who died from exhaustion, picked up in
the long boat, after being five days and four nights at sea,'
and landed here.

STIZTTIN, April 7.—The Navigator, hence for Aberdeen,
with wheat, whilst proceeding down the Swine, in tow of
the Jack (a.), came in contact with the Friends (galley) from
Sunderland, lying at anchor about two English miles this
side of Swiuemuode, and has received damage in stem and
bowsprit, and will probablydisehargeat Swinemuude. The
Friends has also sustained considerable damage.

HALIFAX,- N.S., March 30.—The Colchis, from Boston,
for London, which put in here on the 25th March very
leaky, had lost part of bulwarks and stanchions, having
had her decks swept in a gale on the 19th of March; cargo
discharging. Several vessels have recently been seen float-
ing about in the ice on the north coast of Cape Breton.
Vessels have been sent out to look after them, and if pow'
sibl, get them into port.
PARIS, April 9.—The Trident, from Callao for Reunion,
which put into St. Helena on the 9d of Jan. in distress,
had been surveyed after her cargo of guano had been dis-
charged, and was expected to be formally condemned.

VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.
The Lady Flora Hastings, 33 days from London, let
N., long. 21 W.
The Sabrina, from Liverpool to Sydney, N.S.W.,
3, lat. 51 N., long. 3 W.
The Tay, from Chincas Isles to Queenstown, Feb. 17,
with bulwarks stove and binnacle washed away in a pain'
pero, ou Jan. 26, in lat. 36.
J. H. Glydden, from Cardiff to New Orleans, March 17,
lat. 25 N, long. 80 W.
The Augusta Schneider, from Callao to Queenstown,
Feb. 2, lat. 56 S, long. 63 W.
The Shamrock, from Callao to Queenstown, Feb. 12, lat.
41 S, long. 36 W.
The Rolling Wave, from Liverpool to Calcutta, March
6, lat. 7S, long. 32 W. The City of Candy, from Cardiff
to Rio Janeiro, same day.
The Town of Liverpool, from Pernambuco, Feb. 24, lat.
31 N, long. 41 W.
No. 8,354, 2 D. P. (barque), from Madras to London,
Jan. 23, lat. 25 S, long. 59 E.
E. D. T. (barque), from Shields to Cape Horn, Feb. SP
lat. 44 S., long. 16 E.
The Liebnitz (ship) from London to Port Philip, axle
day.
The Gazelle (barque) from Liverpool to Madras, March
4, lat. 1 N., long. 22.
The British Queen, from Bombay, for Liverpool, March
7, lat. 4 N., long. 22 W.
The Calypso (ship), from the Clyde, for Trinidad, March
25, lat. 41 N., lat. 32 W,
The British Tar (barque), outward bound, 17th, in Ist'
47 N. long, 9 W.
The Burmah, from Calcutta to London, Jan. 17, in 14.
35 S., long. 23 W.
The Alipore (ship), steering S.W., April 5, lat. 49 O.P
long. 6 W.