The Sun.
London, England, 1831-04-08 00:00:00

THE NEW LONDON BRIDGE.

The works at this splendid structure are rapidly
advancing to completion, but the bridge will not, as
has been asserted, be opened for public use so early-
as either June or July. It is fully expected, how-
ever, that very shortly before Christmas next, the ce-
remony of opening the bridge to the public will
take place, in which their Majesties, many of the
Ministers, and other distinguished personages, will
take a prominent part. The works on the bridge
are carried on with great activity. Three-fourths of
the parapet on either side has been completed, and
nearly the same quantity of the footway is finished.
All the stairs are completed. On the Surrey side
the water is approached by a descent of about sixty-
five steps, which has a very noble appearance, and
are of very easy ascent, owing to their width and
slight acclivity. O❑ the city side there are about
eighty steps, the ground here being higher than on
the other side of the river. The roadway upon the
bridge is about forty feet broad, and the pavement
on each side about nine feet. The carriage-road will
be much deeper than the foot-pavements ; but the
many complaints now made as to the insecurity of
the passage over Blackfriars-bridge will not exist in
the new London-bridge, as there are two steps
formed, in order that an easy a‘sent from the road-
way to the pavement may be effected. The para-
pets are about four feet high, and on looking over
them a fine view is obtained of the Custom-house
and shipping below, and of St. Paul's, and other
public buildings above bridge.
The approaches to the bridge on the Southwatk
side are nearly completed. The pavement on the
western side is finished, and is not less than eleven
feet wide. The formation of the roadway has been
a work of great care and attention, as the traffic over
the bridge by heavy-laden waggons, &c., added to
the descent which exists, will put to a severe test
the strength and durability of this portion of the
structure. An immense iron roller, of great weight,
has been drawn over the road, to make it firm.
On the City side a great deal has yet to be done
before the approaches will be complete. The de-
molition of St. Michael's church, which was began.
a few days ago, is going on with rapidity. The
whole fabric was purchased for 7301., and all avail-
able parts of it are to be employed, as is under-
stood, in the erection of a new church near town.
The materials are in an excellent state of preserva-
tion. The foundations, as far as they have been ex-
posed, are as solid as a rock, though laid down so
long back as 1300, and having borne the old church,
which was destroyed by the fire of London. The
removal of the coffins, with the remains of the dead,
has been going on for some days. A great number
of the relatives and friends of deceased persons in-
terred in the vaults and ground, have had the re-
mains
enclosed in fresh coffins, and laid in the neigh•
bouring churchyard.; or vaults—sextons and grave-
diggers are, consequently, in great activity in the
City. Some of the coffins and their contents are in
a wonderful state of preservation. The formation
of the sewers on the City side has proved a work of
great labour; they are exceedingly deep. Th
houses in the line of road over the bridge have been
taken down as far as Cannon-street. About twenty
feet below the foundation of St. Michael's church a
spring was tapped, from which is now flowing a
stream of the purest water. It is said that the old
bridge will be demolished by means of coffer darns,
to be formed round the piers. The patronage of
St. Michael's was anciently in the Prior and Con-
vent of Canterbury, in whom it continued till 1408,
since which time it has been in the Archbishops of that
See, and is one of the 13 peculiars within the City
belonging to that Archbishop. Among the ancient
monuments preserved in this church is that of Sir
m. Walworth, who slew Wat Tyler in Smithfield ;
one to the memory of Queen Elizabeth; and the fol-
lowing concise epitaph on the tomb of a parishioner :
Here lyeth, wraps in clay,
The body of William Wiay,
I have no more to say.

A Russian soldier, who was made prisoner
in the affair at Wawry, begged hard for quarter. When
asked by one of the Pole 3 what made him fight against
them ? "It is not my fault," he replied ; " I received a
rouble, and was told that I was about to fight the French."
When questioned as to what country he was in, he an-
awered that he believed himself to be in Belgium.—Lc
Tenips.

FEMALE POLITICIAN.—III a village not so
far south as the Nith, the male inhabitants of which lately
got up an able petition to both Houses of Parliament, and
subscribed, almost to a man, against the China monopoly,
the feelings of joy were equally unanimous on the arrival
of the tidings of the Reform Bill having passed a second
reading. That the surrounding country mignt be en-
lightened by their rejoicings, the men agreed to have a
bonfire on the top of a neighbouring hill, arsd each en-
gaged to carry a piece ca coal thither, although the height
was considerable; while the women, having caught the
more elevated flame of their domestic lords, determined to
have a blaze on a more accessible position. Around the
latter many sage matrons were assembled, and politics
were discussed with great volubility, and, no doubt, with
all the skill which such patriotic heroines might be ex-
pected to possess. Among the many good things to result
from the present measure, it was remarked, that 44 Re-
form wad put an en' to Cheenia Tuniplies, an' they wad
then get tea at ninepence the pun. Giassow Chronicle.