The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-29 00:00:00

accuracies of workmen, and the latter from the sr
sinking td which very large arches, upon comparati
small fotindationg, arc necessarily subject. It can
however, be denied that the differences and sinking' w 1
have been stated are greater than v re have been ao
toured to in works of a similar kind.

Banks, cof

ti
s:esi:Rt

" Froni the statement of the principal engineer and ear
tractor, we should conclude that the present state of thing
has been caused in some theasure by a settlement of tbe
foundation, but chirpy by inacdnracy in levelling and set
tii,g out the work. The resident engineers and ait!o,tst
and the aub-contractor, ascribe still less than their prow;
pals do, to any sinkitag cf the piers, and state the Free°
irregularity has been caused by the .rst Platform hart
keen laid with a small fall to take the Water tosardt
pumps, which were fixed at the lower or east end 01
tbt
first pier, and that the other piers having I een set out from
the first one, have the same inequality; that the stwie*
after having been dressed at the Isle of Dogs (a distaece
of four miles from the bri3lSe7l, came up in pieces read)" /:
be set, and so perfectly squared that the t"ariation froel,;
level in the plitform was carried up to the top of the hridgici,
" If we had the survey and our own observations cli'e
to guide us, we should have concluded that nearly All tij
irregularities had been caused by settlements, which srcni,
account for the effects we have described ; and there 7
be no doubt that the forming an uniformly good foul):
bon to this bridge, from the great depth and other eau%
must have been a. worts of inuCh difficulty, Which
creased t.y the piling being drivgri into clay that let
stated to be several feet higher at the west Than at
ik
east end, and which the driving of the piles unavaidll'e;
tended to disturb and loosen. Under such eircumstOcy
although any settlement in such a work would be to
lamented, there would have been nothing difficult to sc
count for. /sit/

!!I!
tobitthtip°rnes:nest
a
tratr:
to
the,ll4ohcoiteeie
blit aye mad
!itt LE! atton h

T'e two y,
°Tit alg poi
(4

r~g
• Telford, E•
tl.; 4,
4,IIItItEN
nt, ti
.when tt
sII age, th
of ,it).'ari the
y re: piers b
'44, beli
am' C
° ,tssrs. Tell
IRKING_

The other position, viz., that the plat
on a slope, and that all the others, and all
in all the piers, and up to the completiot
should have been made to correspond witl
would imply a difficulty of execution,
which it is nut easy to account for.
of the piers, the faces of the walls, al
of stone-work through the piers are,
option, in straight lines, battering,
or sloping at the places where thi
are, but all nearly corresponding—that is,
of stone in the piers are out of level,
piers and spandril walls to the top of
nearly proportionally out of perpendicular,
ciently straight, and it is not easy to suppose
been built so. We do not think the statem-
being so square, as that the work, when
an inclination, naturally continued to slot
the end, without the superintendents or
aware of it, sufficient to account for the
the present extent. II we are correct
there being a settlement in the foundati
fracture in the work, can only be accow
excellence of the masonry ; the work beini
cemented together as to form one mass, any
of the stone work of the piers, to resist a
vertical direction, being greater than the
foundation to yield under a pressure. It is
also, that the parapet was set after the cent
and perhaps atter any settlement had take
is difficult, even with the above considerai
the irregularities, to the extent we have d,
taken place from settlements, and yet that
crack or fracture should be visible: and -
the evidence we have received, conclude
tions were laid quite level. That the
things has arisen in some degree from the
having been laid quite level, but principal
ment afterwards, has, therefore, upon
greatest appearance of probability.
" That there was every wish and inter
of the engineer and contractors to make tl
perfect as possible, we have good reasoi
their character as well as from the ph
and from the quality of the work which
portunity of examining ; but the construe
tions at the depth of forty feet under high
ficient to create a desire for dispatch in
part of the work. We have doubts whet
into the hard clay would have been of any
gineer appears to have been of the same
timbering and planking of the foundatior
have been done after the same plan as of
dasvitthhesorn olde
Leo;
it
ttioavvnb autrth e other, or wet
andcTas
tillairteeedrel
a‘ovsoet-ake bridges,rd,
not only by the engineer's evidence, but
it was considered expedient to cut off ,
rows of the dam-piling at the east end an
piers, while the dam-pile+ round the west t
" The evidence that his been given t
contractors, and every witness we have
not only that every pier, and every part
founded upon very hard solid clay, but. th,
thickness of it was removed to get to the
the foundations are laid ; this fact they de
• been quite notorious, and we have men
rows of the dam-piling were left in front
east end of the piers for protecting the ft
must, however, state, that from our sow
lie of the centre arch, the bed of the
is now about two fret six inches uncle,
top of the platforms ; and also, that t'
stated, as to the level of the clay, does
boring taken under Mr. Telford's directi.
the Bridge-house Committee, in 1823.

These describe the rubbish and loose
east end of the second pier from the Su;
fourth or Middlesex pier, to be consi,
level to which the tops of the bearing
driven. If this were to be taken as cor
feat the question as to the stability of t'
vations made within coffer dams are
borings in a river, and the evidence to w, qit
f'rred has been so decided, and from so many vol"" ttd
rffi I
chit we are bound to admit its correctness. l\v„
" The irregularity of level in the stairs on the ", e'r# ti "'nen se
side is stated to have been occasioned partly by an 0;0' tv?ti er on
to the width of the stairs having been made by tide lth eish
after the foundations had been got in. Our opini,° I'ettriuerO,
that this would have accounted for a partial oinkltbt rh fit
the part that was added, in which case the end neare' bilticuttt wa
abutment would have been the highest ; but the fjc 1:141, It j,
otherwise. oftl Qllo4ge
" Although we have not been able to come to 813/,,0 i
,tall "td
determined conclusion as to the cruse of the prese°' ese! se)
(1 t
of things, the levels we have taken will afford the rid.'
of discovering if any future movement take place, oad t the
assist also in giving a solution as to the cause of the rijge
" Ira what we have already said of the state of then r;,te' " art'
we have had to observe upon the good quality of the:',oo; i are BA,
rials and workmanship, which, under the present °',l), 'tPierrehe
stances, is the best security for its stability. On tbi‘s ;Je \\;...4i1
we remark, that if the foundations were laid, and the 'fees, e hay
built, with the present irregularities, as the eidltert
most of the witnesses would lead us to believe--and ttberc we h:
has been no movement in the foundation at all, the°l,oo tht: le shi
is no reason for apprehending danger now ; and otlte3' tia‘eA
the present imperfections would still be to be refire ,
'his
they would not affect the stability of the structure. too NI 1;4. It
" Again, supposing a pa, tial settlement to have been kek.4te,
place during the progress of the work, if there ba!desce tltt:t tries
no movement within the last two years (and the el
e"bY eUsbel.l
of the resident engineer on this point is strengthe°,, 41;1644ed,
the appearance of the work generally, and pArticu;tr br 'hie(
as tt9j
the parapet, which, we understand, was nearly all tfl; qpt„°'
fore Christmas last), then it is reasonable to conclou,eB 110 11,47ing
the whole has come to its proper bearing; but if the,:-tlo,t VQ tap
been a settlement to the extent which the evideoc; ioit/ Pe in his
refers to the original levels, compared with the iirocot
high water, would denote; and if any of that setifraece
has taken place lately, of which there is no aPPe-jeclit, th:reasoh
whatever, but of which we have no personal WI as°' east Vot-;
having been entirely unacquainted with the w0r.,,,0tl *4
called in on the present occasion, then we beg Are 41,14deet4
that it would be only after a repetition of observati"a",corei,' t, //-
levels that we could pronounce the work perfectly et /11kes e
tn
against further settleent, either in its present O P
at* 1,11; 4"
S • grati
after the removal of the old bridge. F.nor
since we received your instructions we have s Sir
rejoie!
no pains to make ourselves masters of the subject; greal 01' fat h
the whole of Messrs. Telford and Walker's, and a "
.t. trts 'ters
part of Mr. Clark's time, having been devoted to toed ti. 44 u, Ai
would h tve been very sat sfactory to us to have fit t` t* faults
decided and positive opinion on the questions submit th/ t,14 Yoe t
us; but four weeks is too short an acquaintance all" fed kiatOry „,
bridge to enable us to do sn, particularly when the „ 7:1
important interests that are involved, and the dike e/i' That's
tr
reconciling the present state of the bridge with the
io '1 te " th
dence, are taken into cons deration. coo I *lf "led 1
" The surface of the bed of the river being 0 /00131 Jo was
some places, below the levels of the tops of the Pidatoje° 1114,n kitx
of the new piers, it is evident that caution and iu
,gys k4th di
,n 1
must be exercised in the removal of the bridge, beef tlaY he
preserve a uniform declivity of surface in the rivae;tio:i 1,, the curt
and to form an effectual protection round the fon° •op thke4 he di
of the new piers ; in performing which, a rrtleoe' rner the tri
the materials of the old bridge may be advantog k,
stet
employed. -NtY's
(Signed) " THOMAS TEL.' k,5re,,,,,
" London, Oct. 17. " J WALKER. 4 414, .uor
To Henry Woodthorpe, Esq." dsl,, !PiritE
" P.S. Since our Report has been finished, 'lO `ship wi,
received a letter from Sir John Rennie, and one ff°

t::::ehtertriiner
11;4,,tehreucillthew
datform
theVC35l je,'3.,;e,
anldvitthhelit
1 the work nbc'' 44: a COlll
in of the brie tpein:Nuare
tt, the first err°f' tto ri."4 °I att
to say
The pc', by e eight.
717;
or °verbal:ll Nbten (the c
ae irregularlt.4l t.,;('on of
I, if the c',Urr: /ined lad
the ends of I'4 1! -(:', !elk"
of the arch A°' N '-',, rna iii,
tr, but still sivit; ' '4:6). a co
rose them to 1'3.e0 litl„,—n'ent,
0 Air ept
Itt
a once beg'° to 11 Of t,' IrVit
ope and battet.os (A4Cgtorse ma
aent of the sto° ."' Prec
r workmen 1160 l' 4141 on
V
o irregUlarities,oli, kt ia6a n hia 1
in our op i° a ,ii 4,440, s
lion without sb, tory if 'are,
unted for hf to rf.ar.ek they
rig so bonded it-0 ~ tog • One
and the streau ilt gtVes us
tir 4,i rreien
t fracture Or ti ,1„I p,...t Inc
resistance 00
~,Lett,,,,erui
is to be retiorlti, tlklf,, ' ,at
ntres were Bull 0 ii,l'ecl i.(l:ll.ree
,on place. Stil cot !it,iiit put:lng
ration, to sol'L (t ‘lttivi til,'e•
described, to P;tif 1.4,0 f Atkaat tt
that scared, ( itt've lry
aft, lith, than n
we cannot jv Tie the
r
that the feu° i 4t Pro
0 t. 4,, pr
state tole "ebda
present not . th til
e foundatioul4, tetuentano up
ally from a Po ltqft. f tl
a the whole, • 41ve 'hi' the ,
001 4444:" fel
ention on the r ,1 'l. the drt"
the foundatiang , r tia pre reeti
fre 4,4 , "erve
in to believe, , 'Uring
Mans and evideny tgle Iv_ ti
h we have the (40: .iittap, rrommai
ruction of f 0 ,1
,141/,,4e tvithoti
h water, was ,51,11 itt "' of /ft
n completing,a litNieri, e ore
hether snore reo, ikell ii the
evern
y me, and the Ty, yl.tteu,, . t
one was stated 4 ,di u'
the
)f the South ° ' 4oti " I
ort' 414 ' Per
me opinion. , 0 , 4,4ltiktVvitt
!xtra etone-0" A,t ' 4 3°
. IF Pt tars ''
ondon.bridger el 06
toolest end, is Pt°4 --`e
(1
t by the fact, '0 81tilt,
and leave its fact,'
'E.
and in front of
fs.
Ar ,•
Este
ends were .-.•
.0e . ,•Este a
t by the ettgiP-00 i4gre 113:'ay
e examined, stan,o tr til rbue
t of each pier, 0 ti‘toci4LLs ,
that a considertv) d them the
he depth at (rip{ 0 the wa
describe to hspil '4t(l3,tation
entioned tblitA 111 heti 'ill thE
it of and rntowo noh the dif
foundation'.
..,,ii' tb4trkrtu -
river at that roi ~,1 ry Wag
er the level °f at k„ nish,, 3 irri
,ridingsonoot4eagree
i otbee:d.r',"rogs tittil4t4ivttrilb.e„,;::ceti 11
the evidence 5111/ P'3lreion
with ol ItY n
etions, by orue v3t ...0,, h°ll.l
• 01 il ith r me tnc
irrey aide, s° /61 140, 'n ea
iiderably belovl 11101,4"41hrabic
ig piles haveo if '44% Whi,i,
rrrect, if won''''s, Mier' belt)
the piers, but eel halt fouli",,g;
more certain re x,I, 414„ ,m t
which we I" h,!'ich `' be(
—all '14,,,, the VI