The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-15 00:00:00

TV EMIL XST iV BRIDGE.

At the Lambeth Vestry, last evening, Mr. C. B
Teague in the chair,
kr. F. DOIILTON called attention to the recent report
of Meters. Bendel and Simpson. He coneidared that
the proposal of those gentlemen to stop entirely the
thoroughfare over Westmiuster-bridge
.during 'a period
of about five years, while the new bridge was construct-
in7, arid to provide for the traffic by diverting it over
a new bui lge, to be erected between the Horseferry-road
and Church-street, Lambeth, was one calculated to in-
flict enormous injury upon the inhabitants of Lambeth,
and to cause very great inconrenience to the public ge-
nerally. The rental of the property that would be di-
rectly affected by the arrangement was estimated at
30,9001. ; but there was a large amount of property
which woul I be indirectly interfered with, and whit
would be seriously injured, if not destroyed. The con-
tract, which had been suspended by the bankruptcy of
Messrs. Mare, was for a bridge double the width of tho
old one, and it was stipulated that half of it should be
finished and opened for traffic before the other half
was commenced. The principle was thus recognised
that there shor ld be no int.rference with the existing'
thortughfare ; but the plan -now proposed would leave
Westminster-road for four or five years without an out-
let. He -need not point out tl.e inevitable result, for
the vestry would see that the traffic, if diverted for so
long a period, would never return to the old route. The
present condition of the bridge was dangerous in the ex-
treme, several of the principal supports having been cut
away in the construction of the new bridge ; and there
was great risk that the bridge would give way. If that
were to happen, a total stoppage of the thoroughfare
would occur, without any provision whatever for tempo-
rary accommodation to the traffic ; and the occurrence
might possibly be accompanied with a great loss of filet,
The navigation of the river was almost prejudicially
affected by the present state of the bridge, the greater
number of the arches of which were entirely or partially
stepped up, and rendered nearly or altogether impassa-
ble. The trading ietereste of Lambeth (especially of the
district adjoining the existing thoroughfare over the
bridge) had suffered grievously for many years, owing
to the state in which' the bridge had been suffered to
remain, and the apprehensions, entertained for its
safety ; but the injury they had sustained would be
greatly increased if the proposal now made were adopted.
The result of various committees, and of a commission
specially appointed, had been to decide that the existing
Site was the best for the new bridge ; that decision had
been affirmed by Parliament, the works had actually
been commenced, and persons had therefore bought the
Westminster-bridge property, relying upon the goad
faith of the Government. He (Mr. Doulton) considered
that those persons had serious grounds for complaint.
Of course he did not oppose the erection of the Horse.
ferry•bridge ; on the contrary, he was convinced both
that siich a bridge was necessary, and that it could not
be erected too soon. What he protested against was the
diversion of the traffic from its present line, and he
begged therefore so move the appointment of a commit.
tee to consider and report on the best course to be
adopted under the circumstances. (Hear.)
Mr. Awe said this was a subject on which he was
not altogether without experience, for he had been con-
cerned in the erection of four bridges over the Thames,
and he considered that the proposal of Sir B. Hall would
cause a monstrous waste of public money. The plan of
Mr. Page was an admirable one. His proposal, by which
cofferdams would be dispensed with, was one that would
ere long be universally adopted, for it gave a perfectly
safe foundation, and effected a large saving. Yet this
able engineer was to be sacrificed to Messrs. Rendel and
Simpson! He (Mr. Plews) should second the motion
with a great deal of pleasure.
Mr. IL TAYLOR protested against the interests of the
public being sacrificed to a fancy of Sir B. Hall. Sir Ben-
jamin had lately indulged in many strange whims ; and
he was afraid that they would have to animadvert upon
many more.

Mr. FOWLER regretted the opposition which had been
offered to the excellent plan of Mr. Page, but they all
knew with what difficulties every improvement bad to
contend. Tne plan of forming foundations of concrete
was at first the subject of a great outcry ; people would
not believe that any extensive building could be erected
upon a foundation of that kind. The prejudice had, how-
ever, long since passed away. With regard to Mr. Page's
proposed foundation for \Vestminster•bridge, not only
did he (Mr. Fowler) believe that it would be perfectly
sound, but he thought that it would require a very able
engineer indeed to destroy it when once made.
The committee was then appointed nem. con.

NORTH OF EUROPE STEAM COMPANY.

At the half-yearly meeting of this company, held yes-
terday, Sir S. Peto in the chair, the dividend de-
clared was at the rate of s per cent, per annum. It was
announced that the Earl of Yarborough has been com-
pelled to retire from the direction in consequence of ill-
health. The progress of operations was stated to be of
the most satisfactory character, the opening of the
Baltic trade having been attended with very advan-
tageous results. An increase of dividend, it is intl.
mated, cannot, however, ho expected this year, since
the outlay to secure theyaffic has seen on a large scale.
The company have now five vessels on charter to main-
tain their trade, and it is considered that it will be essen-
tial to augment the fleet to that extent at least, to pre-
vent other parties from entering the field. The routes
now occupied, with the exception of that from Grimsby
to Hamburg, have all been profitable, and the directors,
following out a policy which they have adopted from the
first, have discontinued the vessels between those ports.
During the last six months tkere has been a total ex.
emotion from loss, or any casualty which it is necessary
ta detail, and the steady development of freight and par-
Fenger traffic shows the solid and remunerative nature of
the rehrtiors es ablished. In arswer to questions it was
mentioned that the vessels engaged iu the Back Sea
had been insured in the ordinary manner, but that
th ere employed in the service of the company had been
placed at average 'rates upon the general insurance
lund, which amounted last Christmas to 4,7001., but
is now upwards of 10,2001. As it is contemplated im-
mediately t-) take the necessary measures for placing
the affairs of the company ur.der the operation of the
Limited Liability Act, the directors intend calling up
the remainder of the capital to provide additional ves-
sels of a class which shall be able fully to carry out the
quirementa of the Baltic trade. r Reference was made
to the employment of two of the boats of the company
in the competitive route of Ramsgate and Margate ;
but it was explained that the directors are guaranteed
against leas, the charters being based on an arrange-
ment which insures 'a remunerative return. At the
close of the proceedings a special resolution was passed
authorising the directors to place the company under
limited liability, and it was announced that two calls of
21. 10s. each will be shortly made. Capt. Andrews, the
managing director, in acknowledging a vote of thanks,
stated a belief that the trade with St. Petersburg may
he rapidly extended. With a class of steamers
built on the principle already adopted in the service,
the company will be able to reach the quays of that
city and take freight withoUt the intervention of
lighters or the other imam adopted in the chacnel
passage Prom Cronstadt. Through the arrangements
in progress the trade between Ficnsburg aid St.
Petrraburg will be greatly accelerated, and relations
with the Danish Rail way enabling the establishment
of an expeditious communication. With vessels of the
character proposed the company will eventually compete
with ordinary sailing craft, the d:fference in time allow-
ing them to work for as low a rate of freight. Between
London and St. Petersburg the interval may be reduced
to live daysa; and, as France iS expected to open a route
from Dunkirk in the Caine direction at no distant date,
the era, le of the B iltic a•id the Med.terranean
efll, acceriltna to the views of Captain Andrews, be
hereafter candueted by steamers, instead of sailing ves-
sels. As pi actically i lustrating the possibility of taking
a steamer up to 'St. Petersburg, Captain Andrews men-
tioned that during his recent visit to the Baltic he pro-
ceeded with a vessel of the company• to that destination.

AN ACT OF GRATITUDE.

A Ltter from Berlin relates the following in-
terestillg anecdote --

"A few days ago a hale old man, in a peasant's cos-
tume, but decorated with several orders and crosses,
was seen to ascend the flight of steps leading to the ter-
race of the palace of Sans-Souci. A sentinel poSted
there stopped him, informing him that he could not be
allov4d to go further, as the palace was inhabited by
the Empress of Russia. Why, that's the very reason I
must go on,' replied the veteran sturdily. An alterca-
tion ensued, which was interrupted by the arrival of
Colonel Count Von Alvensloben, first equerry to the
Empress, who asked what was the 'matter. The old
man replied that he bad walked'nine German miles to
see the. Empress before his death, he having saved her
in her youth from a watery grave. On learning this,
the Count bid him wait, and having informed the Ern-
press- of the occurrence was ordered to introduce him.
The veteran approached the Empress with a firm step,
and then exclaimed : I recognise her well, though she
is much changed.' He then reminded her Majesty of
an occurrence which took place in 1806, in the park of
Charlottenburg, where the late King used to pass thet
summer, living there in the style of a
_r
prir
gentleman. The Empress of Russia, then
7 erincles
day
Charlotte, and only 7 years of age, f
:neter, called
playing near the ornamental piece
dtlri n
a, Carp-basin,aa,i
c sisterhi
anrwe
wPrincesshLn As
hiee
wasn-
hich exercise' she
water's edge. A
he r brotherwith h little
drawing along in a bathechntleiri,r
the
happened to go rather
duty
tier of her danger, lent ; mimes
yeung guardsman on not. farnotf etahleledlittotibeepr, w. arn-
pee .
laughed at her adviser, and eonunne d to draw the bath
chair aloe() to the [ink.rink. 'Thesoldier on seeing this,
stepped forward, held his sword before her, and cried,
'Haltr The Princess, in a fright, stepped hack, slipped,
aced fell into the water. The sentinel instantly plunged
in
after her, got her safely
Alexandrine out,and draggingthe
nin g go-cart
along
sidealon ganwd crying all p
all the while, carried her'dripping wet
as she was to Queen Louisa, who was sitting before the
palace, reading. The Queen, on learning what had
happened,' bent over her child, took from her neck a
small medallion containing a lock of her (the Queen's)
hair, and gave it to the guardsman. This same medal-
lion the veteran now showed to the Empress, who, im-
mediately recollecting the occurrence, with deep
emotion requested him to restore to her the
medallion with her mother's hair, and turning to Prin
cess Gagarinp, her lady of honour, detached her own
portrait set ie diamonds (an ornament which the ladies
of the Russian court genetaily wear as a mark of special
affection) fro:DAL° bosom of that lady; and gaveitto
the old guardsman, who went away delighted and
hies,
proud,
th a you t'
atid-in la-sling-by • the sentinel who hadstopped
showed him the trinket, saying, ' you see
stupid fellow