The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-20 00:00:00

For the purpose of moving the cylinder from place to
place, in order effectually to carry on the work of ex-
tunining the bottom of the river, two gun brigs were
purchased of the Government, and strongly moored in
the river with chain and hemp cables, a space of fifteen
feet being left between the two, and over which a strong
stage was erected. A lofty pair of sheers were raised
with suitable purchases, for lifting the cylinder, and a
six horse power steam-engine, with winding gear, was
fitted up in one of the brigs.
The cylinder, which was made of finch boiler plates,
rivetted similar to the boiler of a steam-engine, with
strong -internal bands of iron, at intervals of four feet
six inches throughout its length, is six feet in diame-
ter, 85 feet in length, and weighs 28 tons ; it was
brought to Ssltash from Bristol in four lengths,
which were rivetted together on a wharf at the former
place. When the stupendous cylinder was ready, a flit
wrought iron cover with a stop. cock in it was screwed on
the top, and a wooden end put into the bottom, so as to
exclude the water; it was then rolled off the wharf into
the water and towed to the brigs; the purchases having
been made fast, the upper end was lifted sufficiently
high to allow the lower end to clear the mud on its ob-
taMing an upright position ; a hawser having been pre-
viously fixed to the wooden head
an pr
adit waustihgehut hove out
and the cylinder gradually
assumed position,
the air confined within being sufficient to float it, and to
slacken the purchases attached to the upper end ; the
stop-cock being then opened to allow the air to escape, it
sunk into the mud in the required position. The cover
was then removed, and the capability of the cylinder to
serve as a coffer-dam was at once most satisfacto-
rily proved,—by drawing out all the water with a
large iron bucket, provided for the purpose, the
surface of the
,mud vas exposed to view, and the
leakage was so small, that on leaving off drawing
the water, it only rose at the rate of eighteen inches an
hour. Having so safely established this point, a series
of borings were commenced and carried on until the
level of the rock was ascertained over a sutfsce of 50
feet square. During these operations the cylinder was
moved 35 times and 175 borings were obtained. The
level of the rock on the east shore, a little below low
water, was also examined by borings ssithout the aid of
the cylinder, and found to be most favourable, as over
a surface of 66 feet square the level did not vary so
much as one loot; the depth of mud covering the rock
varying from 8 to 18 feet.
The requisite number of borings having been ob-
tained, it now remained to excavate down to the rock
within the cylinder, in order to examine its nature, and
also to ascertain whether any flow of water or any
other difficulty might present itself; but, preparatory to
this, in order to remove the inconvenience of drawing
water by buckets, while the process of excavating was
going on, the cylinder wus raised and laid along
the stage, and a lift-pump, kith an 8-inch working
barrel, was fixed within it, and gear fitted for connect-
ing it with the engine. The cylinder being placed in its
former position, it was ascertain:el' by buiing, that the
bottom of it was eighteen inches above the rock, and in
order to prevent any irruption of the mud between the
cylinder and the rock, a circle of small oak piles, 6
inches broad and 21 inches thick, were driven down as
the excavation of the mud proceeded, and on approach-
ing the bottom these piles were further strengthened by
a strong iron band, to prevent any pressure of mud forc-
ing them iu. The mud was soft blue or black, very ad-
hesive near the surface; but about 3 feet down it became
mixed with shells, and so compact as to require the pick-
axe. Under this was a bed of large stones; and at
length the solid rock was found 12 feet below the sur-
face of the mud. The rock was a hard dun stone, be-
longing to the slate formation; three distinct beds
crossed the bottom of the cylinder, nearly at right angles
with the course of the river, and inclining to the south,
forming an angle of 51i degrees with the horizon.
The excavation of the rock was then prosecuted to
the depth of three feet below its surface at which depth
the led joints, which had been about three inches wide
at the surface and filled with yellow clay, became so
close that it was not deemed necessary to proceed fur-
ther; the entire surface presenting a solid mass of rock
capable of sustaining any weight of. masonry that could
be placed on it; and durind the process of the operations
the water draining was much less than could have been
anticipated. We hare already noticed that the working
-barrel of the pump was eight inches in diameter, the
'eength of the stroke was in tlic Arst instance thirty-
' tierce inches, and when it wit?
..-`„„. wired to keep
tb water close down itswhEr‘' • et atlevel of
tvt‘nriehree feet ab. --I*l hind by
C" te ise to
one-s ~,,qtr• •
twerii , •.• 170.',•1
r. 6)1-
. . ••
gin, a.
inch
.a a.
•
stand •
of mut
a sufficient, .
I
the gsneral • .
the suction hoe .01 J
I ..
rock was kept di, u oe 31:5•11
Having given if
p-- -
the party who 4 76•‘3"rn—t1 "ati_rl-I.ll.4O2stUrrittall
whom were Mr. V •.1-7'.".
sattatactory reports from L
Devon Railway C. *lt state of the army of reset
Attendant of the wchfety generally undertakes '
Harbour Master ie.: ; efforts which aril.)6
of the Dockye ewejj. fjli;:not require to
Mr. flennett,...tifecf ,
oilw no .1 : ; eavt
gineer, 8.• •
011114
them b .eletev ovisseenne vieie battf.)Nes,t947
nsdw ,yla!aalailaht.y.
opport ;0,-4 I)9:them-new .`it too 1479Itnsi ei friett,3
novel
of ;y.l emit, le b 10 ece&'n4der—bhiefo . !
IL' 11,1A4111 rigid id &leiter' •ot
d-able•' rr 'asCry

of desce
be reco'
fectly

.11 .angtt

:"

In , iciuding our observaeio. 4te on au-
thor;` that the result of the whop k Y e operations has
been Most favourable; excellent foundations have been
e
ii; 'vered and the success of the experiment ofs tcylinder, as serving the purpose of a coffer-dam,
alica.
j;
ex-
ceeded
the hopes of the most sanguine. Thewahppa
Lion of the cylinder to such purposes is ,a,tneea.el:,_,L
engineering, and it reflects much credit on the
arid ingenuity of Mr Brunel; while theli
meritorious.
work out so ably by Mr. Glennie is equa
we are
is now ascertained that
latterT he
g assiduityentl e m aa
praised. By this experiment it irs_sing
the deep water
mn,detaanlneont,t, exhibited
stufarreodu,gYhheoutt,eobymutehhe
the otherwise difficult work of i
sufficient dimensions to build
wrought iron cylinder o
the expense of the piers falls
o fw
soe
aretnal
ru informede
.below
e l(o
Thus it •
1 pier,.o nc thecan expensebe comparatively,
of constructing t
excavation
effected--for natb
nead-
of
the centrethpei
(=On masonry,
which have been, from time to
, is there-
foreequa
" "difficulties impossibilities,
which eorwi
inui Lah:
this cictoa, sste ~y
cod l p e _
seen, t
expenses,
upon this undertaking,
" and
tent
fiqu,diagzeithcilitltohuoefldw,,coerrktaiiineltyunhneeling.
nork can be executed whenever it may
have
vanished, as
uraesspeotxhr pet ,
be required, without any extraordinary expense.
The engineer having obtained all the information
sought for, it is now intended to build up with masonry
so much as has been excavated below the surface of the
rock, and then fill in with clay to the level of the mud
at the bottom of the river. A copper plate, enclosed in
a col per case, with the following inscription will be
placed in the masonry.
" Cornwall Railway. Saltash Bridge. Trial founda-
tion of Centre Pier. January, 1849. I. K. Brunel, en-
gineer; William Glennie, resident engineer."
The cylinder will then be withdrawn and landed on
the quay, and the works will be suspended, until the
return of more prosperous times, will authorise the pro-

•SALTASH BRIDGE.—CORN WALL
RAILWAY.
(Froth the Plymouth Herald, of Saturday, Jan. 20.)
Our readers will recollect that, during tiro application
to Valli:talent for the Art anthorisiiiig the formation of
the i'or,,nail Rad w ay, the I,eoislai ore ohjeetedlo the
crossiog,ot liato;ileze, ;roar Mori ,e town-to Tot.p.-emit,
Ai tek it vv as intended to do 1;y mean: ~j a tL;:,ting-
bridge, mon/wiling the coini_.miy to erect ti bridge over the
Tanya at :S;illti.ish passage ; 1110 bridge to have a char
width between tie piers of not lees than 300 feet, and a
clear height of 100 feet above high water. A might be
imagined, in onter to carry out this grei,t work, it was
neteceary that the most minute surveys should be made.
This tusk was underiJecn, under the dirt ctions of Mr.
Brunel, the company's engineer, by Mr. Glennie, the
resident eneineer, and a staff of able ce;sistanta ; and the
filloWng information was obtained :
The depth of water in the middle of the river is from.
sixty-eight to seventy feet at high water; and the depth
of mud cuverirg the rock varies from about ten to seven-
teen feet; the width of the river on the line of the pro-
posed bridge is 347 yards at high water, and 236 yards
at low water. The river being considerably narrower
at this spot than it is above and below Saltash, the tides
flow with rapidity, both on the flood and ebb, but they
seldom exceed two miles an hour at spring tides, and at.
the neap, three-quarters of a mile, or-at times even less.
It might here be stated that it was represented by the
engineers, that if the piers of the bridge were to be
placed so as to give only 300 feet clear width, as re
quired by the Act, two of the piers would have to be_
placed in deep water, whereas by extending the width to
about 420 feet, one pier would be situated on the rock on
the west shore, another nearly in the centre of the river,
and the third, just below low water mark on the east
shore, so that only one pier would bo in deep water.
The necessary excavations preparatory to the actual
commencement of the undertaking having been com-
pleted, we had an opportunity, on Wednesday last,
through the courtesy of Mr. Glennie, of viewing the
operations, and of witnessing the mode by which the na-
ture of the foundation, &e., had been ascertained; and
we have no doubt the following particulars, which were
then obtained, will be read with much interest.
Experience has shown that great difficulty always ex-
isted in obtaining borings in deep water and a strong
tide way, and to meet this Mr. Brunel ordered a wrought
iron cylinder, for the twofold purpose of being enabled
to bore within it, in still water, and of ascertaining
whether, on its being inserted into the mud, it would
serve the purpose of a coffer-dam, in keeping out the
water.

NA VA L IN 'l' ELLIGENCE,

In Dock.—Princess Charlotte, 104; Collingwoed, 80;
Vindictive, 50; Flying Fish, 12; Devastation, steam-sloop;
and Sparrow, surveying-ketch.
In the Steam Basin.—Ajax, 56, steam-guardship; Retri-
bution and Termagant steam-frigates; Salamander, Birken-
head, Phoenix, and Cormorant steam-sloops; Urgent, Otter,
and Jackal steam-vessels.

Pevsfourn, JAN. 18.—Her Majesty's steam-sloop Virago,
one of the reserve steam-vessels ordered from Sheerness to
this port, arrived on the 16th. She is to be victualled and
ready for service at 24 hours' notice.
Caine in yesterday and to-day—the merchant ship Lady
Peel, Captain Johns, of Penzance, from Baltimore, United
States, 15th of December, much damaged, with 27,000
bushels of Indian corn and 600 barrels of flour. 2Sd of De-
cember, in lat. 17 11 N., long. 63 W., experienced contrary
gales, and hove ship to. 29th, lat. 38 25 N., long. 50 9 W.,
was struck by a heavy sea, which carried away jibboom and
gear, strained the ship, and threw her on her side, when
she made so much water that the crew were compelled to
throw overboard above 5,000 bushels of Indian corn. The
schooner Palmyra, Foster master, of London, from Galli-
poli, with oil. Brigantine Commodore, Cousins master, 72
days from Galatz, with wheat : and the schooner Byzantium,
Muffle master, from Odessa, with wheat--all four vessels
bound to Falmouth or Cork for orders.
On the 15th of December there were at Baltimore 14 to
15 vessels (chiefly foreign bottoms) loading or engaged to
load grain and flour for England.
Wind, S. W., blowing strong.
Woomicx, FRIDAY.-There is no truth in the report
which appeared in a morning contemporary to-day, that
" the cash-box of Woolwich Dockyard had been stolen, and
that its contents were about 1,0004 '
'The Niger steam-vessel still continues in the harbour with
her sails LiAlt, and it may be stated that the reasoon she did
not proceed to Devonport on Tuesday morning, as intended,
was owing to the want of stokers.
Commodore Eden is moat active in the discharge of his
duties as superintendent of this dockyard. During the pre-
sent week he has inspected the schools for the apprentices
now opened, and, accompanied by Lieutenant Robertson,
visited the police-station and their dwelling-rooms. Yester-
dar the gallant officer, accompanied by Mr. Gosman, master
of the Fisgard, inspected the Sulphur and Hebe, convict-
ships, and the Unite and Wye, convict hospital ships.
CHATHAM, JAN. 19.—This week the annual examination
of candidates for apprentices in the dockyard took place.
The usual number of shipwright apprentices annually has
been 16, but it is generally thought that in future not more
than half that number will be taken. There were between
70 and 80 candidates, whose names are forwarded to the Ad-
miralty for their Lordship? selection.
Mr. John Barnaby, draughtsman of this yard, who has
been for a long period employed as inspector of ship-building
for the navy in the river Thames, is ordered to return to his
duty in the dockyard.
The Aid, Smallman, master, Is alongside the dockyard
loading stores for Portsmouth.
Invalids.—Since January, 1848, to January, 1849, the
number of invalid soldiers from the East Indies and different
colonies, who have pa-sed medical inspection at Fort Pitt, is
3,030 men, which is a less number than the former year by
50. Nearly the whole of these men have been pensioned on,
very few having been found fit for further service.

RAILWAY oil Alt t. MARKETS.
BRISTOL, Jaw. 19.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The market still continues to have
an upward tendency, and holders were very firm. Great
Western, Quarters, were done at I% dis.-Ditto, New 17/.
Shares, 1% din.
LIVERPOOL, JAN. 19.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The share market has been very
brisk to-day, and a large number of transactions are reported,
at higher prices. The sales are--Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe,
and 11 est Yorkshire, Ny. 1„,,6%-Ditto, Preference, guaran-
teed 6 per cent. (B), 19q,-qcialedonian, Preference, 1% p.-
ROist Lancashire, Quarters; oiA - Kendal and Windermere,
0/. Preference, 14 p.-Lancashire and Yorkshire (late Man-
liester and Leeds), 1 iftbs,3/. Is. 3d. dis.-Ditto, 321. Shares
'ate Extension), 7% die.-Ditto, 10/. Preference, 1% p.
t int.-. Ditto (late West Riding Union), Fifths, 4% du.-
London and North. Western, 132-Ditto, Fifths, 61A IL-
, Ditto, New Quarters, 3/. 18s. 9d. p.-Ditto, Quarters (C),
314 P.-Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 684-
Midland Stock, 91-Ditto, New Halves, 5/. 13s. 9d. dis.-
North Staffordshire, 27;1 dis.-Scottish Central, 26-Shrews-
bury and Birmingham, Preference, 8 per cent. guaranteed for
ten years, 94) c.-South-Eastern and Dover, 253 Ditto,
No. 2, 9 dis.-Ditto, No. 3, 221% ex int.-Ditto, No. 4,
Thirds, 7% ex int.-York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Exten-
sion, No. 1), 11-A c. p.- Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), % P-
aon
89144
MANCHESTER, JAN. 19.
th Staffordshire,
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-N0r.....
~e
ce, on
2 13.16 dis. -Leeds, Fifths, 3 1-16-Ditto, rer
dia.-Chester and Birkenhead, 1534-North-Neaten,
79-16-
p.-West Riding Union, 4% dis.-C
East Lan-
s.-South-Eastern and Dover, . 4, 11%d Birmingham, Quar-
---,Mire Preference, 7-Manchester
?reference, 1 P--blieffield and
(6, 3% IL-Caledonian,
Leeds, 19 din.-Old Dovers, 25--
1/ din .-Old ;i - :oln, 12 4 . Old Le.--s,
24%. 'woe, No. 1, 6-Old , Grimsby,,is JAN. 19.
heshireP.lnan
BIRMIINta., . ,
• -The fo..owing are the day's quota-
Lions:-Birmingham, EXCHANGE.
wrsiverhampton and Stour Valley,
tions:-Birmingbam
cent. (Bristol and Birmingham) 126
10%-Midland, 6 Per _
2a/ din.-Shrewsbury and B'r • g'
North Staffordshire, f 4 ,
,B) 31. lls. 3d. diso-Ditto IPlnin ham
0, reference,
cj,l,)' 5W' diL-Sl)taffordshire, 314 dig,
.7's p.-South
YORK, JAIL 18.
___oeic ExCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day was
aT, now, :-Ambergate, Nottingham,
as '° Northern,9l Newcastle 4
a 54
die.-. Great. A eit int.-York, e, and
Berwick (Extension), No.
Pur-
chase),
Ft. Bs. 9d. 1, 20--Ditto (G. N. E.
GLASGOW, JAN. 18.
STOOK EXCHANGE.—The sales are-Caledonian, 52-
Ditto, Preference, 81.85.-Dundee and Perth, 26-Edinburgh
and Glasgow, 821/-Edinburgh and Northern, II %-Glas-
gow General Terminus, 11-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle,
5-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, Halves, No. 1,5/. 63.-
Glasgow and Greenock, Preference, 71. ss. 6d.-Great
ness,
Northern, 9E13-Scottish Central, 263(3-Wishaw and Colt-
-45.

_Dispatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial-office fur the Governors of Hong Kong and
Ctqlon.

Lvcnum.—H. 11. H. the Duke of Cam•
bridge, H. R. H. the Duchess of Cambridge, H. R. H. Prince
George of Cambridge, and H. B. H. the Princess Mary, at-
tended by Mr. M. St. John Mildmay, honoured the Lyceum
Theatre with their presence on Tuesday last. During the
week the following distinguished persons have also visited
the theatre :—Lord Granville, Lady and Misses Trollope,
Lord Guernsey, Lord Durham, Dowager Countess of Essex,
and Miss Johnson, Earl and Countess of Harrington, Lady
Shelley, Lady Morgan, Earl of Cardigan, Lady Glengall,
Hon. Mrs. Murray, Earl of Ccrk, Lord A. Lennox,:Lord G.
Paget, Sir John Lowther. Bart., Mr. Hubert de Burgh, Mr.
Ricardo, M.P., &c. &c.
FRESH PORK FROM AMERICA.—The Niagara,
from Boston, brought this time, as part of her cargo,
one hundred carcases of fresh pork from America.
They were preserved in ice, and were in fresh and ex-
cell(.ll t condition. On Thursday they were sold by
auction, and brought from 325. 6d. to 355. 6d. per 1201bs.
This is the first importation of the kind from the States,
and should the experiment succeed on a larger scale, it
cannot but produce a material effect upon the general
provision market.—Liverpool Paper.

beeution 01 the undertakin. The clivolion of seek II
I ridge over' this noble river,' connecting the counties of
Devon and Cornwall, would be . one of the 1120. t.. sur-
prising works of mo:lern art.
The parties afterwards pArtook of a- dejcuner laid but
in the cabin of one or tne brigs, and after .ioing justice
to the good things so liberally provided,
Mr. WooLcomnE gave as a toast, " Mr. Waffier and
the officers of the Dockyard," whosa kind assistance the
undertaking had received ; " Mr. Glennie,",
_the engi-
neer under whose raanagemmt the exptiriments had been
for
made and brought to a successful ;" The press,,,
c., and
sndhboeretwmeeuh
ncfot,i;raatnifij,fidve o'clock the company left
. _

During the past week the new First Lord has been making
officeshim andseltp departmentsesonallycqaaait thented withAti mnitrlailetygentleman and their
•We believe the levees of the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty will not commeace be fare some time next mouth:"
• The naval medals granted to survivors of those actions
which were enumerated in the lirsl, ntltice in 'the London
Gazette, it is expec.ed, will ba ready. fur LIRIO on the Ist of
February next.
•
Commander John 11. Gennys (1845) has been appointed
to study steam, at the factory, Woolwich.
Lieutenant li. S. Micklethwaite (1842), first of the Bel-
lerophon, 78, Captain Baynes, at Palermo, to be succeeded
by Lieutenant Ile.ard and Mr. T. L. Ilallowes, who had
just received his promotion to the rank of lieutenant from
mate of the Vanguard, have conic house via Marseilles in the
Medina.
Silt C. NAPIER'S SQUADRON._It was understood thatthe
squadron under the command in chief of Rear Admiral Sir C.
Napier, K.C.8., was to leave Lisbon for Gibraltar, &c., im-
mediately on the arrival 01 the packet in the Tagus from
England, after the sth inst. The Stromboli steam-sloop,
Commander Lord A. W. Beauclerk, is ordered to Spitbead.
The Driver, 6,i steam-sloop, Commander Johnson, will pro-
bably be sent to join Sir Charles Napier.
Wa stated in December last that the Vanguard, 80, Capt.
Rich, and the Rodney, 92, Captain Collier, were to be de-
tached from Sir W. Parker's squadron, earl:), in Janua7,' to
join Sir C. Napier, at Lisbon. The Vanguard "left. Naples
January 1, for Malta, and as she was ordered not to remain
there longer than absolutely necessary, it is likely Ebel:nay
meet Sir C. Napier at Gibraltar. The Rodney was to follow
the Vanguard to Malta in a few days. The Prince Regent,
90,,captain W. F. Martin, at once proceeds to the Mediter-
ranean, and the Powerful, 84, Captain the Hon. R. S. Dun-
das, CAI. shortly follows her to the same station, as-we'have
previously stated.
The Espii!gle, 12, Commander Campbell, arrived at the
Cape of Good Hope, Nov. 16, and remained there on the 22d,
on her way to England, to be paid off.
PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—The Espeigle put in to the
Cape of Good Hope prior to the 2d of December, with fore-
mast defective. She was refitting at the above date, and Nan to sail about the 10th of December for England.
The President, Southampton, Nimrod, Geyser, Espi4le,
and Seringapatam, were in Simon's )3ay on the 2d
of December. The President was to sail for England on
the 4th.
The Brilliant, 22, Captain Watson, and the Eurydice, 26,
Captain Anson, were at the Mauritius.
The Arab, 12, Commander Morris, had gone on to India.
The Pilot, 12, Commander Lyons, sailed from Simon's Bay,
on the 18th of November, for Singapore.
The squadron were all well.
The Sharpshooter, 8, Lieutenant-Commander Bailey, is
ordered to seek Sir Charles Napier's squadron, with dis-
patches from the Admiralty. She will be dispatched on Tuesday from Spithead, offering the first opportunity to
the friends of officers and men in the squadron for commu-
nicating.
The Rapid, 8, Commander E. Dixon, will not be paid off
before to-morrow, her stores not being all returned.
The Sharpshooter steam-schooner, Lieutenant J. C. Bailey
commanding, will be ready for sea to-morrow.
The Driver steam-sloop, Commander Charles R. John-
son, sailed for Plymouth this evening with supernumeraries.
The jury-masts of the Arrogant were taken out this after-
noon.
The Superb's topsail-yards were crossed this afternoon.
In Port and fitting.—Victory, 22, flag-ship of Comniander-
ia-Chief; Illustrious, 10, flag-ship of Admiral Superinten-
dent ; Excellent, gunnery exercise ship; Victoria and Albert,
Royal yacht; Superb, 80; Blenheim, 56, guard-ship of
steamers; Rapid, 8; and Rolla, 6, exercise-brig for naval
apprentices; Centaur, steam-frigate; Sharpshooter, steam-
schooner; Fairy, Fire Queen, Myrtle, and Bee, steam-
'tenders; Vulcan, steam revenue-vessel; and Echo, steam-
tug vessel ; Fanny, Commander.in-Chief's yacht; Ports-
mouth, Admiral Superintendent's yacht and pay vessel.
At Spithead.—None.
In the Old Basin.—Pembroke, 72; Defence, convict-hulk;
alabar, coal depot; Centaur, steam frigate; and Comet,
t earner.