The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-30 00:00:00

LONDON BRIDGE.

The following, which concludes the matter of the
London-bridge Committee Report, was not ready for
publication when the first part appeared :
REPORT OF SIR JOAN RENNIE, ON THE SUBJECT
OF MESSRS. TELFORD AND WALKER'S REPORTS.
" London, Nov. 17, 1831.
" Stia,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your
letters of the 21st and 26th ult. and Bth inst., ac-
companied by the reports of Messrs. Telford and
Walker, dated the 17th ult. and 7th inst., and of
Mr. Clark, of the 25th ult., upon the state of the
New London-bridge, upon which you inform me
that the Committee are desirous to have my obser-
vations and opinion. I accordingly beg to make the
following :-
66 First, As the report of Messrs. Telford and
Walker principally relates to the levels and mea-
surements, I shall merely reply to that part of it,
by observing that the variations are there given in
their fullest extent—indeed, in a greater degree than
I can make them; and many of these, trifling as
they are, arise, in part, from there not having been
time to complete the dressings before the bridge was
opened, and which dressings are now in progress.
"As to the cause of these variations, Messrs.
Telford and Walker conclude that they may have
arisen partly from the original setting out, and
partly from the substance ; and it is admitted by
them ' that some deviation from perfect accuracy is
to be calculated upon.' In this they are perfectly
correct, for every practical person knows that a cer-
tain allowance for subsidence, or what is technically
called 'finding its bearing,' is invariably made in
buildings of every kind. For this purpose, in the
New London-bridge nine inches were allowed for
the centre arch and piers, and eight inches for each
of the others, and they have fallen short of this cal-
culation, which could not have been expected.
" As to the observations about the platforms of
the piers being two feet six inches above the bed of
the river, about this there must be misconception,
because the whole of them are considerably below
the bed of the river, and are firmly founded in a stra.
turn of clay of great density,notwithstanding the sound-
ings and borings made for Mr. Telford, which, it is
admitted in the report, cannot for a moment be com-
p red in accuracy with the open examination by
coffer-dams ; moreover, the piers are protected with
three complete rows of seeting piles, fifteen inches
square, and driven eighteen feet into the ground (in
addition to the hearing piles), and extending around
them for a distance of thirty feet, and the bed of the
river for the same distance is three to four feet above
the platforms, arid two feet eight inches more above
the heads of the bearing piles, which are twenty-five
feet below the foundation of the old bridge, a depth
which in these kind of foundations has never been
exceeded, if equalled ; the observations also about
the level of the string courses of the piers are sub-
Jere to misconception.
" Messrs. Telford and Walker state that the va-
riations above-mentioned are greater than what they
have been accustomed to in similar works ; this is
ery probable, for no parallel case can be adduced of
a work of the same magnitude, or under the same
extraordinary difficulties as to depth of water, ra-
pidity of current, or contiguity to such a structure as
the old bridge, having ever been built or even at-
tempted ; but as far as any similar works have been
ceostructed, the comparison is in favour of new
London bridge, for I will venture to assert that few,
if any would bear the same examination by spirit
level, and plummet, without equal if not greater de-
fects being discovered.
" In corroboration of this, the bridges of Neuilly
near Paris, of Bourdeaux, or Coldstream, by Mr.
Smeaton ; of Gloucester, by Mr. Telford ; of Tot-
ness, Westminster, Kew, Richmond, and a variety
of others which could be named, display in propor-
tion equal, if not greater variations, than those of
the new London bridge. Yet, with the exception
of Gloucester bridge (the approaches of which are
riot yet completed), the others have been in constant
use for many years, without any objections being
'urged against them ; indeed, it is impossible to erect
any building, much less such a one as the new
London bridge, without similar variations. And,
judging from the very high encomiums of Messrs.
Telford and Walker, upon the great excellence of its
materials and workmanship, and that they cannot
find a crack or a similar defect, or even the appear-
ance of one, in any part—neither have they ob-
seved any variation in the curves of the arches, or
other material part of the work. Also, from the
very decided and unqualified opinion of Mr. Clarke,
all doubts as to its perfect stability must be re-
moved by a perusal of these reports. Since then
the levels have again been tried, and no alteration
.s,hatever can he found, nor had any taken place for
above two years, since striking the centres, when
the work took its bearings. As to the observa-
tions of Messrs. Telford and Walker, in their
(second report, about the joints of the parapets—the
enaeonry of which, they observed, they never saw
equalled—this is scarcely worthy of remark, and
arises, not
_from any movement in them, but from the
inevitable con:yaction of the morter by the late cold
weather, and whit:!,
i,nveriably occurs under similar cir-
cumstances ; but, ever; isr this respect, no bridge para-
pet has ever exhibited eo little variation—and this,
considering that the bridge has been opened between
three or four months to the greatest traffic in the
world, with a paved road-way so recently after its
completion (which materially increases the concus-
sion, end tends to bring to light any defect, if such
exists), is very surprising, and more than could have
been reasonably expected, for no work has ever ex-
perienced such severe trials.
" Lastly—As to the removal of the old bridge, of
the propriety of this there can he no doubt, for it
alone is the caose of the unequal scour, the extraor-
dinary depth above and below, and the extreme ra-
pidity and inequality of the current, all of which are
so disproportional to the channel in any other part of
the river, and cannot but be considered injurious as
otherwise. When the old bridge is removed, the
titer will be restored to its natural state, arid all the
holes and other irregularities in the bottom will be
reduced to a regular section, as suggested by the late
Mr. Rennie and Mr. Telford before the bridge was
commenced, and was always contemplated by the
Committee and myself. For these reasons, and for
the constant expence of maintaining it, the sooner
the old bridge be removed the better.
" I trust, therefore, that I have now satisfac-
torily answered the several observations in the re-
ports above-mentioned, and have proved that the
variations therein alluded to are of no cersequence
whatever, and that it is impossible to complete a
work more or less without them, and that they are
less than what may be observed in similar works by
no means of the same magnitude, or attended with
equal difficulties, and that neither the appearance,
utility, nor stability of the bridge are affected thereby
in the least degree.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) " JOHN RENNIE.
Woodthorpe, Esq. Town Clerk, &c."

" lien:

The following is an extract from Mr. W. P.
ciatil-e's Report, alluded to in Sir Thomas Rennie's

Report
" In respect to the materials and workmanship,
especially that of the parapet and coping, it is su-
perior to any work of the kind I have seen in this
country; and it is to be regretted that there should
be so much irregularity in the horizontal and per-
pendicular lines, particularly when it is evident that
the real intention of the
principle of all parties con-
cerned was to do their best.
" In the present state of the work, it is impossible
to account for the irregularity of the levels in the
different piers; some may arise from error in the first
setting out, and some from the natural subsidence
arising from such a large and heavy mass of mate-
-vials, but very great allowance should be ra;de for a
work of such magnitude, and the extraordinary diffi-
culties under which it was .executed; and I must
beg to add, that I believe no public work has ever
undergone so determined and rigid an examination,
and in the course of it there were only a few of the
stones of the third arch and pier that had an oppew-

ance of fracture; and on a close examination, I am
inclined to think they were original defects in the
stone, commonly called dry rents, and are only d;
covered when subject to the weather, or by minute
examination ; but they are not of the slightest im-
portance, nor should I have thought it necessary to
have made any mention of them but from the cir-
cumstance of Mr. Jeffrey having noticed them.
" In regard to the old bridge, it will require care
and attention in taking it down; as it will afford
plenty of material, it cannot be better disposed of
than in bringing the bed of the river to an uniform
level.

" It might be considered difficult to come to a
determination on the stability of the bridge; but
from the appearance of the abutments, piers, arches,
spandrills, and parapet, there is no indication of any
recent subsidence ; and from the accurate workman-
ship of the parapet, it is next to impossible that any
settlement could take place without being observed
by the joints opening; but as there was no such in-
dication on my last view, and judging from the gene-
ral excellence of the material and workmanship, I am
of opinion, under all the circumstances, and so far
as my investigation has gone, that there is no reason
to doubt the stability of the bridge, ner have I any
reason to apprehend that its stability will be at all
affected by taking down the old bridge, provided the
precautionary measures be taken as herein recom-
mended. At the same time I beg to suggest the
propriety of transferring the Trinity high-water mark
from the old bridge to the piers and abutments of the
new bridge, so that levels may be occasionally taken
to ascertain if any and what alteration may have
taken place since the date of this Report.
" I cannot conclude this Report without observ-
ing that a considerable time has been expended in
the investigation, and great care and attention has
been paid to the accuracy of the details. Still I
find nothing to shake the opinion I have come to,
particularly when there are so many instances both
at home and abroad of structures of considerable mag-
nitude and importance being out of perpendicular and
level, that have stood the test of ages without any
sensible alteration whatever."

REPORT OF SIR JOHN RENNIE, ON THE REMOVAL

OF THE OLD LONDON BRIDGE.

"To the Worshipful Committee of the Corporation
of the City of London, appointed to carry into
effect the Act of Parliament for re-building Lon-
don-bridge, and making suitable Approaches
thereto.

" GENTLEMEN In conformity with your instruc-
tions, I beg leave to submit the following Report
concerning the most adviseable plan to be adopted
for the removal of the old London bridge.
"In carrying this important and desirable work
into effect various points must be taken into consi-
deration, which may be chiefly classed under the fol-
lowing heads :

" First, Enable the tide to assume a proper direc-
tion both upon the flood and ebb, and to allow the
bed of the river to accommodate itself gradually to its
altered state.

" Secondly, To interfere as little as possible with
the navigation during the operation of removal.
" Thirdly, The expence and best mode of remov-
ing it.
" With regard to the first, whatever measures be
taken, it is of great importance that the main set of
the tide, both upon the ebb and flood, should be
preserved upon a proper direction, and as nearly as
practicable towards the centre of the river, arid pa-
rallel to the general line of the shores ; without this
' precaution in the commencement of the operation,
holes and banks will be formed irregularly in the
bed of the river, which will be prejudicial to the na-
vigation and the adjoining wharfs; and, when once
established, it wilt be difficult to remove them.
" In order to avoid this inconvenience, the most
advisable course will be, to commence in the first in-
stance by removing the superstructure, including the
parapet, roadway, cornice, spandrill walls, and arches
of the old bridge. and then to remove a certain por-
tion of the piers on both sides of the centre, so as to
direct the current through the centre or side arches
of the new bridge, as circumstances may render ad-
visable.
" In doing this, great caution should be taken to
secure the remainder, so as to prevent it from being
carried away irregularly, and from causing injury
I either to the river or to the new bridge.
" When the first portion has been removed, the
effect upon the river will be seen, and the remainder
can be proceeded with as required, and in proportion
as the channel of the Liver accommodates itself to the
increased quantity of water passing upwards and
downwards ; by this means the channel will be pre-
, served in a proper direction, and the mass of the
tidal and land waters will operate more effectually
in improving the bed of the river, and in removing the
obstacles which may retard its progress, and prevent
it from acquiring its natural and regular section.
" With regard to the second, by adopting the
mode above recommended, the navigation also will
be most effectually preserved, and vessels and craft
will still have the advantage of the two enlarged
openings on each side of the present centre arch
whilst the other part is being removed, and the dan-
ger of having the old bridge carried away in masses,
and thus producing injurious consequences, will be
avoided, and the adjoining wharfs on both sides of
the river will be equally benefited.
" With regard to the third, the best mode of re-
moving the old bridge, either by one or several con-
tracts, will depend materially upon circumstances.
If respectable parties can be found to take the whole
in contract, subject to the restrictions above men-
tioned, it would be the most economical plan, and
would be attended with the least inconvenience and
risk ; and it will then be in your power to regulate
the river better, and to hasten or retard its demoli-
tion as the nature of the case may require. Any
consequential damages either to craft or otherwise
will, it is presumed, be provided for by the Act as
at present. As the removal of the old bridge is a
work of considerable importance, it is extremely
desirable that no contractor should be employed but
those possessing great skill, experience, capital, and
responsibility.
" Whilst the old bridge is being removed, it will
be advisable to fill up and reduce to an ordinary and
natural section (corresponding with the channel of
the river where it is not influenced by the present
fall occasioned by the old bridge) all the holes and
irregularities both under and round the old and new
bridge 3, and immediately above and below, and
where any hard shoals exist in the river upwards, it
may be advisable to assist the current by dredging.
By these means the bed of the river will be more
effectually improved arid regulated according to its
proper section and previous to the work of demo-
lition being commenced, proper guage-marks should
he fixed above and below the old bridge, in order
to ascertain correctly, from time to time, the effect
of the alteration.
" I am, Gentlemen, your most humble servant,
" JOHN RENNIE.
P.S. The earlier that the removal is commenced
the better.
(Signed) " JOHN RENNIE."

SECOND REPORT OF MESSRS. TELFORD AND WALKER,
RELATIVE TO THE NEW LONDON BRIDGE.
" London, Nov. 7.

" SIR,—In our report respecting the New Lon-
don Bridge, we referred to the state of the parapet
as corroborating the evidence we had received as to
the whole of the works having come to their pro-
per bearing; and we also stated that we had no
knowledge of the bridge until four weeks before the
date of our report, which was too short a time to
enable us to speak confidently.
" Having since heard a rumour of some of the
jo'nts in the parapets having opened a little lately,
and having had the report on the old bridge being
about to be removed forthwith confirmed by appli-
cation at the Town Clerk's office, we thought it
our duty to ascertain if there is any foundation for
the rumour we have referred to, and we have to-day
visited the bridge,
" Had we not before surveyed the parapet and
oil“ work, we thould hare still said that the work-

Remained at Last report
New cases

Total

Recovered
Died

Remaining at this date, H o'clock, A.m.

From the Commencement of the Disease, on
2fith October, 1831

Cases. Died.
:he - ----
.... 294 96

Mr. O'CONNELL is still hard at work in
Dublin, with the formation of his New National
Political Union, to which Reformers from all
parts of Ireland are daily sending in their adhe-
sion. So far so good, Mr. O'CoNNELL's ex-
ertions cannot be otherwise than laudable, when
put forth in furtherance of the great restora-
tive measure, but why does the Hon. Gentleman
permit himself to be carried away so Com-
pletely by his own personal feelings, as to fall
foul of the Whigs at every opportunity that pre-
sent itself? Is it by abusing the Whigs
that he expects to ensure the triumph of
their favourite measure—Reform. We can-
not understand this doubtful sort of po-
licy. We cannot reconcile it to justice,
common sense, or sincerity. Mr. O'CoNNELL
is every where hourly asserting his ardent anxiety
to obtain Reform for Ireland ; is he going the
right way to obtain the fulfilment of his desires,
by abusing wholesale those very men by whose
means alone Reform can be obtained ? We
trust he will, ere long, see the necessity of laying
aside this awkward practice of blowing hot and
cold at the same time. He may rely on it, he
will gain no credit by being Whig at one mo-
ment, and Anti-Whig at another, but will cause
himself to be generally distrusted.

The tumults at Lyons have struck with not
less astonishment than alarm those who have
been accustomed, both in England and France,
to look merely upon the surface of things, and
to disregard the under currents, whereby that
surface becomes, ever and anon, troubled and
ruffled. Those who think that the conservation
of social peace may be permanently maintained
by the advancement of such measures as the
English Reform Bill, or the French Hereditary
Peerage Project, have, in the disturbances that
have just occurred, a fresh proof that there is a
disease in the present state of society far more in-
veterate than they imagine, and not curable
merely by such political Reforms, as, however
excellent in themselves, do not strike at the root
of the evil wherewith the body politic is in-
fected. That evil lies far deeper than iby
superficial observers is imagined, for it consists
in the want of adequate employment which is
generally felt by the operative, who are likewise
the most numerous, classes of the people, on
both sides of the channel.
The stagnation of the silk trade for some

time past in France, owing to the diminished
expenditure of consumers, attributable chiefly
to political causes, is well known, and this seems
to have forced the masters at Lyons to reduce
wages beneath what the men considered a just
standard. The workmen appear, after some
discussion, to have brought the masters to con-
sent to an increased tariff, which tariff the masters
never intended to adhere to, and from which
they, in fact, subsequently departed, by refusing
to fulfil its substantial conditions. The men
therefore, seeing no hope of bettering their con-
dition during the coming winter, resorted to
those scandalous acts of violence with which our
columns have recently been filled. They acted
on the same motives as have constantly im-
pelled the operatives of our own manufacturing
districts to a strike of wages, and have produced
the riots at Merthyr. Tydvil and other late dis-
turbances. The results are truly deplorable, but
by no means unaccountable when it is consi-
dered that the artisans, who have risen in in-
surrection, compose, with their families, about
four-fifths of the population of the city of
Lyons. The silk trade, combined with the
manufacture of hats, artificial-flowers, and orna-
mental trinkets, occupies the bulk of the inha-
bitants of Lyons, who have been driven by want
of adequate support, to an attack upon life and
property almost unparalleled in the annals of
popular tumults.
It is clear that political feeling—if by that
term be understood a participation in the views
either of the Carlists, or of the Movement
Party—had no share in the Lyonese riots. The
Report of the Agents of the St. Simonian reli-
gion alt Lyons to their employers at Paris, points
out very plainly that the rioters wanted bread,
and not the dethronement of Louis PHILIPPE.
It is, in truth, just the same in this country,
where those of the lower orders who exhibit,
from time to time, bursts of political violence,
do not do so at all with reference to Whig
or Tory politics, but with a view of ex-
pressing their discontent at the situation of the
lower as compared with the higher orders—that
is to say—of themselves as compared with their
more opulent neighbours. The riots at Lyons
would have happened under a. Carlist, or an
extreme Gauche, Ministry, just the same as
under the juste milieu government of CASIMIR
I PERIER, though, it must be confessed, such
occurrences strengthen the hands of any kind of
apposition, and weaken those of a Ministry,
however well intentioned. They afford a fertile
theme of declamation for the partisans of the
banished dynasty, as well as for the more unrea-
sonable and inconsiderate of the Movement
Party ; but they are not such as to weaken the
Ministry materially, however great may be its
unpopularity in other respects.

The masters may possibly have been in error
for not continuing the former prices till the dull
season of winter was past, and the Ministers
may have been negligent in not indemnifying the
masters, with a view to induce them to keep up
the wages, and tranquillize the irritation that
must have been perceived to have been growing
among the men. A due exercise of forethought
in this respect might, at all events, have post-
poned, if not have averted the storm, which
seems to have fallen like a thunderbolt in an
atmosphere the most- tranquil, and a sky the
most serene, for such was certainly the external
political aspect of Lyons on the very day that
preceded the commotion.