The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-02 00:00:00

LONDON BRIDGE.

Where London bridge now stands, there was
formerly a ferry, which was so profitable to the ferryman, that
at his decease he so enriched his sole daughter, that she built
a bridge of timber. This bridge was burnt in the year 1136, in
the time of King Stephen. It was afterwards rebuilt by a
Priest, called Peter of Cole Church, by the help of the revenues
of land belonging to the bridge and other benevolent contribu-
tions. It continued a bridge of timber for 215 years. It was
then made of stone, and was 33 years in building. On the
10th of July, 1822, a fire took place on the Southwark side,
which kindled also in the city near the northern end of the
bridge. Multitudes came upon the bridge to extinguish the
flames, likewise in barges and boats to rescue the people, so that
'between the flood and the flame 3000 persons perished. In 1215,
five arches were borne down by the ice. Near the middle of the
bridge on the east side, was a Chapel, which was converted
into a dwelling-house, and was built at the charge of the
master mason who laid the foundation of the stone bridge.
This bridge is in length 800 feet. It was formerly adorned
with sumptuous buildings and ,stately. and beautiful houses
on both sides; inhabited by wealthy citizens, and furnished
with all sorts of trades, and was itself a little city, whose
buildings were so artificially contrived, and so firmly com-
bined, that it seemed more than an ordinary street, for it was
one continual vault or roof, except a few void places, re-
served from buildings, for the retirement of passengers,
from the danger of earth and droves of cattle that then
usually passed that way. The middle parts were used for
shows, tournaments, and public diversions, but were sup-
pressed at the dissolution of religious houses with the Chapel
of St. Thomas, which was a beautiful construction ; it had an
entrance from the river as well as the street, by a winding
staircase,. and in the middle was a tomb, supposed to contain
the remains of Peter of Cole Church. In one part of the bridge
was a draw-bridge, which was protected by a strong tower.—lt
served to repulse Fauconbridge, the bastard, in his general
assault on the City in 1471, with a set of banditti, in -order to
rescue the unfortunate Henry, then confined in the Tower.—
The top of this Tower was covered with the heads of traitors
and unfortunate partisans ; and Sir Thomas More's daugh-
ter carried away his head in a box after it had been exhibited
there some time. In 1598, Mentzer, the German traveller,
counted 30 heads. The old map of the city, in 1597, repre-
sents them in a most horrible cluster. Formerly the economical
ladies were wont to drive from St. James's to London-bridge, to
make cheap purchases of the pin or needle-makers; Spanish
needles were then the order of the day, invented by a negro.
—The water-works were contrived by Peter Morice, a Dutch-
man, in 1582 ; they were afterwards improved by Mr. Soro-
cold, and since by that great. master of hydraulics, Mr. Har-
ley. They are allowed by all judges of such machines to
be far superior to the water-engine so much famed at Mar-
ley, in France, which is so ill contrived in its cranks, that
it costs considerable sums to keep it in repair. They were first
made to force the water no higher than Gracechurch-street. The
engineer obtained from the city a lease for 500 years, at the
yearly rent of 10s. for the use of the Thames water, and one arch,
and a place for fixing his mill upon. Afterwards the citizens
granted him a like lease for another arch. By which means he
grew rich, and they continued in his family till 1701, when they
were sold to Richard Seams, Citizen and Goldsmith, for
36,000/. ; then divided into 300 shares, at 500/. each share, and
made into a company.—P. T. W.

MAGISTRATES' CHAMBER, AYLESBURY.--A
curious charge was preferred by Francis Hull, of Weston Tur-
rifle, against a publican and the constable of Long Marston,
Herts, which, if substantiated, will prove that a little more
knowledge in the Jaw is a requisite qualification for office and
authority than seems to be possessed by those against whom
the complaint is lodged. Hull stated that he had been at
Dunstable market, and returning towards home he came to
Long Marston, where he civilly requested accommodation,
and a bed for the night, at a public-house. Both these requests
were uncivilly denied, and instead of a bed, the constable, with
the assistance of the landlord, put Hull into the stocks. Hull,
however, contrived to extricate himself from " durance vile ;"
but his persecutors were on the alert, and followed him
to Tring, Halton; and in short, all the way to Weston Tur-
ville ; during this march he was overtaken, and set at liberty
twice, but not till they had obtained forty shillings from him,
which they at first returned to him on his remonstrances and
threats of legal investigation. However, they subsequently al-
tered their minds, and obliged him to pay forty shillings the se-
cond time, and then bound him to keep the peace ; on which
occasion the landlord at the Red Lion at Weston, where the
last capture was effected, became his security. Upon this he was
finally dismissed. Thus the constable remains charged by Hull
with having obtained two pounds, and with having acted in
another county. A warrant was obtained to be backed by a
Magistrate of Herts, agains the publican and constable.—
(Rucks Chronicle.)

p•DE TW Y.

LADY. JANE GREY.

The following lines (which appeared in the London Magazine)
were written on visiting Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, the
residence of the lovely Lady JANE GREY
was thy home then, gentle Jane !
This thy green solitude ;—and here
At evening, from thy gleaming pane,
, Thine eye oft watch'd the dappled deer,. •
While the soft sun was in its wane,
Browsing beneath the brooklet clear :
The brook runs still, the sun sets now,
The deer yet browseth ; where art thou ?

Oh, gentle Dudley ! Where art thou ?
Rave years so roll'd that not a track
Of even thy chamber lingereth now
To call thine image sweetlier back ?
The careless chair at window bow, ,
The ruin'd lute, the crumbling wrack
Of broidery, the forgotten glove,
The learned book, thy virgin love ;

None, none of these abide to tell

Thy gentle talc,—yet it is told !
The silence of the breathless dell
Is musical of thee ; the cold
And mournful water passed' well
Thy house's ruin, as of old,
And pineth with a watery sound
Its little hymn to thy lone ground !

The air is sainted ;—never shone
More tender light or greener grass,
Than that which kisseth turf and stone
Of thy decayed house ; alas !
The aged drowsing trees make moan
For thee, sweet girl ! And many a lass
Pauseth at morn upon her way,
And grieveth for the Lady Grey.

Here was thy life ! Here was thy bower,
By this light water ! Thy hard death
Was far away in town and tower,
And cruel hands destroy'd thy breath :
Might they not let so young a flower
Bud all its beauty in life's wreath ?
What must have been that guilty sense,
That had such fear of innocence !

But though thy young and bridal heart
Was tortured, thy brave spirit, still
Untroubled, left its mortal part,

And halloweth now each dell and hill :
It lived' by a gracious art
For ever here ; and that wild thrill
The stranger feels of love and pain,
Is the present voice of the Lady Jane.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET FIRST OCTOBER MEETING, 1822.
TUESDAY, CCT. 1 .
_ .

The St. Leger Stakes of 25gs each, for three-yr-old colts,
list. 711). and fillies, Bst. 411). D. I.
D. of Grafton's b. f. Posthuma, by Orville 1

Mr. Wyndham's br. c. Sharper, by bctavius 2
Id Darlington's b. c. brother to Antonio 3
Five started.—The Judge placed but three.
Even on Posthuma.-8 to 1 agst Sharper.-5 to 1 agst brother
to Antonio.
BASINGSTOKE RACES, THURSDAY, SEPT. 26.
(FIRST DAY.)
The Vine Stakes of sgs each, with £25 added. Heats, twice
round the Course.

Mr. Balfour named Marksman, aged, Bst. 10. 7 1 1
Mr. Knight named Mida, 3 yrs, 7st. 41t. - 2 2 3
D. of Wellington named Fiddle Faddle, 5 yrs 1 3 4
Six others started. A good race, won by about half a length.
The Wellington Stakes of lOgs each, with £5O added from the
Racing Fund. Heats once round the Course and a distance.
Mr. H. Jones's ch. f. by Partizan, 3 yrs, 7st. 65. 1 1
Mr. Orde Powlett named a b. f. by Ashton, 3 yrs 2 dr
Mr. Dundas's Quibble, 6 yrs, 9st. 9s. - - bolted.