The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-19 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 19, 1825.

I N D I A.

( From the Calcutta Government Gazette, March 7. )

METAMORPHOSIS OF THE SHAESPEARIAN COIR ROPE
• BRIDGE OF SIISrENSION AT ALLYPORE INTO ONE OF
SYLIIET CANE, OR GROUND RATTANS.
This curious change was, we untlerstabd, ef-
fected with ease in a few hours. The result is very interest-
ing, inasmuch as it proVes the great facility and economy
with which these ingeniouS structures, can be composed and.
suspended.
_ _

It appearS that canes from 100 to 225 feet in length, and from
one to nearly two inches in . diameter, are procurable on our
North Eastern frontier, merely for the cma of the labour in
collecting them together. The Governer-General's agent,
Mr. Scott, when at Sylhet, sent down to Calcutta, at the
request of Mr. Colin Shakes ear, a supply ef canes coilA up
like rope ; and of which he has constructed the present small
bridge, of 130 feet spar, by 3 feet in width. Not ,only the
road-way, but all the •radiating guys, catenary curved swings,
preventer braces, and vertical suspenders, are of cane, none ex-
ceeding one and a quarter inch diameter, and many not three
quarters of an inch.
The use of iron thimbles throughout the composition, gives
an air of symmetry and neatness, -while they greatly diminish
friction, and add much to -the strength of the bridge, which,
like its rustic predecessor, had only one ironjointed arm in the
centre.

The appearance of the arch is singularly light, even more
so than rope ; and it is in reality lighter as a whole, be-
caus the bamboo cross slips, forming the road-way, are lash-
ed at once to the canes and thus it becomes firmer thhn in
the rope bridge, in which the tread-way is distinct, and lies
over the strands.

Eighteen canes of 150 feet each forms the bearings. These
are lashed together at each end of the bridge, and then bound
round four open hearth, in substitution of dead-eyes. Thus
the setting up power acts in the same 'way as with, the rope
bridge.
There are no friction sheaves in the standards, with the ex-
ception of one for the lowest guy, the angle being acute.
The strength and durability of the cane is by some consider-
ed equal to that of rope, but this it a question that.time will
solve. Meanwhile it is quite clear, that if.the cane should only
last a season or two of the rains, and it is strongest when kept
moist, the advantages gained to the_ country, abounding in that
useful and cheap commodity, will be incalculable, no bridge
whatever, we believe, having been attempted in that quarter up
to the present time. And we may conclude, that the natives,
from habit and method in working up canc. will improve both
on the neatness and strength of Cane bridges now to be intro-
duced, especially as they well know, front experience, how to
choose the best kind of cane, and to cut it at the propetseason
for the p Arpose intended.
The Right Hon. the Governor-General visited the cane
bridge on Friday morning, and his Excellency was pleased,
after a minute inspection, to signify his approbation of so novel
and Useful a structure. _ _ _ .

The original experimental Berai Torrent Bridge, still lying
at Allipore under cover, was also exhibited to hie Excellency
preparatory to its return to its station, for the third season of the
approaching rains. It is tlien, we are told, the Postmaster-Ge-
neral's intention that it shall be accompanied by a new bridge
for a torrent a few miles west of Bancoorah. _ _ _

•
This facility of transporting and erecting rope bridges of
all dimensions naturally leads to the question, whether
such machinery would not have proved very useful in the
present warfare on our East and North East frontiers,
especially with General Shuldham's division in Cachar,
country intersected with innumerable nullahs, and no, enemy
in front.
CELERITY OF EXPRESSES AND TIIE COMMON DAK. _

We are happy in recording a very extraordinary instance of
further increased celerity in the progress of our Mails to
Madras. On the 4th of last month, an express from Govern..
ment to Ceylon, via Madras, reached the latter place in the
short. space of nine days and three quarters of an hour, having
thus exceeded by twelve hours the greatest speed yet attained,
even on the improved rates which of late years have taken
place. The measured distance, it is well known, is 1;044
miles. The common Dak, which brought this intelligence in
little more than 11 days, now greatly surpasses all former ex-
presses on the old regime.
From the Bombay side of India, an express reached Cal-
cutta, on the sth inst., in the short space of 13 days and a half,
the distance being 1,300 miles. On the advantages to Go-
vernment and the Mercantile Body, thus acquired by these
very expeditious rates of communication, it would be superflu-
ous to say more, than that they reflect much credit on the Post
Office Department.
The Madras Suppkmentary Gazette, of Tuesday evening►,
22d ult., brings accounts of the safe arrival of the French ship
Anna at that port, after having struck on the Pulicat
She had on board two Shakspearian bridge models for the
Madras Government, one a highly finished town model, the
other of the rustic order.

ENGLISH AND BRISTOL CHANNELS SHIP CANAL.

Yesterday, a Meeting of the Subscribers to
this stupendous undertaking was holden at the London Tavern,
Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of electing a Committee of
Directors, and to transact other business, connected with the
measure.
On the motion of SAattlEr. BOSANQUET, Esq. ; seconded
by Mr. WATTS-- .
DAVID PoLLOCK, Esq. was called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN', in opening the business of the Meeting, said
he greatly regretted that so important a duty had not devolved
upon some more competent person. He also regretted flat pe-
culiar circumstances would not suffer the Committee to post-
pone this Meeting until more of the subscribers were in town,
as in every thing that related to a concern of so great magnitude
as this, one that involved so immense a capital, and that pos-
sessed so strong a hold on public attention, it was mostdesirahle
that every measure should, if possible, obtain the sanction of
every Shareholder before it was decided on ; however, the Act
of Parliament made it imperative that a Board of Directors
should be named within a limited time after the passing of the
Bill, and as the term prescribed was nearly elapsed, the Com-
mittee were obliged to convene a General Meeting of the Sub-
scribers, even under the disadvantageous circumstances to which
he had alluded. It was not necessary, he imagined, to go into
any detailed statement either of the plan or principal of the
undertaking, because these had been sufficiently explained by
the prospectus and other documents which the Committee from
time to time had thought expedient to lay before the public, and
which, so far as he could learn, had given abundant satisfaction
to all who had impartially perused them. It was certain, that
a determined, a persevering, and indeed a most singular oppo-
sition, had . been set up by some individuals against the mea-
sure, but it did not succeed in preventing the passing of the
Bill, and that great point having been accomplished, it rested
with the subscribers themselves to carry into full effect the ob-
ject contemplated. The first thing required by the Act of Par-
liament was that a capital of 1,750.0001. should be subscribed,
and then, and not until then, the Directors would have autho-
rity to proceed with what he might term the, operative part of
their powers; and that clause having been complied with, it
now became the privileges of Suircribers to nominate and
appoint their Board of Directors. With respect to the plan
itself, he was aware that objections had been set up by some
gentlemen on the score of its being likely to injure their estates,
by the canal passing through them. No doubt it was but right
that the feelings of those gentlemen should be consulted on a
matter which so immediately concerned individual interest, and
the promoters of the measure being aware of that fact, took
every means thatnlay in their power to give the fullest and most
correct infortration on the subject to.the public that could pos-
sibly be afforded under such circumstances.- The most eminent
engineers were employed, elaborate surveys were made, and
plans were deposited with the clerks of the peace of the different
counties through which the Canal was prOposed to be cut, • and
those plans were open to the inspection of any gentleman, who
thought proper to make the application; and all this was done
with the view of ascertaining whether any alteration or im-
provement might be made, on the suggestion of‘ the land-
owners, whose opinions they were at all times most anxious to
_consult. Two gentlemen, in particular, had started objections•
to the line of Canal ; one.was Mr. Collins, a large landed pro.
prietor, and the other Mr. Portman, also a proprietor of an ex-
tensive tract of ground through which it was proposer: to cut
the Canal; however, after the affair was investigated, ;he for-
mer gentleman expressed his satisfaction, and withdrew all
active opposition ; Mr. Portman approved of the plan gene-
rally, though he disapproved of it in detail, as he represented
that it would seriously affect his individual interests. On this
representation the Committee consulted with their hang-Ire ors,
and it being not impracticable to avoid those grounds, a ciat.a.t