The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-03 00:00:00

SHIP}.)ING INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

(FROM LLOYD'S.)
DEAL, DEC. 2.—Wind N. W., moderate.,--Arrived the
Sylph, Fox, from Bahia ; Ariel, Mann, from Rio Janeiro ;
Scotia, Risk, from St. John's, New Brunswick ; and Arno,
Scales, from Cadiz. Arrived from the laver and remains the
Prince George, Friends, for Savannah. The Highbury " All
Well "at noon per signal. The Oscar, Alson, from Gotten-
burg for Gloucester, remains with the outward-bound.
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 2.—Wind W. S. W., blowing hard and
squally.
PLYMOUTH, DEC. I.—Wind W.—Arrived the Three Sis-
ters, from Prince Edward's Island ; and the Beau Ideal, from
Denia.

FALMOUTH, DEC. I.—Wind S.S.W. to W., strong and
squally.
TEIGNMOUTH, DEC. I.—Arrived the River, Davis, New-
foundland.

MILFORD, DEC. 1.--Airived the John and Mary, Steven-
son, from Ancona.

NEWPORT, DEC. I.—Arrived the Egena, Vaux, Miramichi.
STANGATE CREEK, DEC. I.—Arrived the Glasgow, La-
mont, from Mogadore ; St. Ann, Thomas, and Sceptic,
Doughty, from Messina.
MARGATE, DEC. 2.—Arrived off port, Fortitude, White,
from St. Kitts; Rosalind, Pugwash ; Carolina, Greig,
Quebec ; Vigilant, Lisbon ' • Speculation, Jackson, Kilrush.
DOVER, DEC. 2.—Arrived off port, the Harmony, Hohorst,
Rio Janeiro ; Actif, Idman, Leghorn.

DARTMOUTH, DEC. 2.—Arrived off port, Rhoon and Pen
drent, Sckarp, from Batavia.
LIVERPOOL, DEC. I.—Arrived the Welton Wood, Stock-
dale, from Buenos Ayres ; Minx. Morrison, from Ceara ; Cor-
delia, M'Kellan, from Rio Grande ; Rolla, Kay, and Spring-
hill, Hall, from Quebec ; Arica, Forrester, from Ponta Ari-
nag ; Vere, Corran, from Africa ; Findhorn, Wood, from
Smyrna ; Evelina, Hobson, from Trieste ; Oporto, Gregory,
from Oporto ; Atalanta, Griffiths, from Malaga. Off port,
the Cornala, Miller, from Bahia ; Napoleon, Smith, from
New York.

BRIDGE AT CLIFTON.-BRISTOL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—Thinking that a short description of my plan for a
bridge at Clifton would be acceptable to your readers, I
take the liberty of handing you a rough sketch, as annexed,
which I apprehend will be easily understood by every one
the least acquainted with mechanics. I will, however,
shortly describe the plan :—lt is proposed to be made en-
tirely of wrought iron, excepting the railing and rosets, or
mortar blocks, to receive the junctions at the angles. You
will perceive it is composed of vertical and horizontal
parallels, bisected by vertical and horizontal diagonals,
thereby producing a complete series of triangles, by which
means lateral and vertical motion is prevented—a most im-
portant consideration in such a situation, when it is consi-
deredtthat the intended span is 600 feet and 230 feet above
high water. We propose to commence the erection on
both sides simultaneously and meet in the centre, when it
will become an arch bridge as well as a suspension one.
The mode of erecting is altogether new, since we pur-
pose to go back 80 to 100 or more feet on the summit of
the rock ; then bore holes, in which are to be inserted
wrought iron bars of such dimensions as. when inserted, will
bear an hydraulic pressure of from 800 to 1,000 tons, of
which we have seven ; the weight of the half of the bridge,
as represented, including the leverage, will be about 800
tons, so that we purpose to get about 1,000 ton power
against 100 tons. Having ascertained our security, we
then attach bars of iron, of corresponding dimensions to
resist the tension. These bars are firmly attached to the iron
bars alluded to, and contained in grooves cut in the rock, until
the whole are brought up to the edge of the precipice. The
road is then made over them. We then propose.to build on the
road a stage; or platform, on wheels, at one end of which a
a strong crane is erected, and to the other end a counteract-
ing weight is fixed. Tp the crane a swinging scaffold is at-
tached as long as the bridge is wide, and of sufficient
breadth to allow the workmen to put up one division of ten
feet square. The stage, or machine, is propelled on until
the scaffold, with the men and materials, hangs over the
precipice ; the men then apply themselves to the windlasses,
and lower themselves down ten feet, and then commence by
attaching the first ten feet of the tension, or top horizontal
line for the up-royal or pillar, and attach the diagonals,
which, of course, becomes an immensely powerful bracket ;
they then lower themselves down to the succeeding division,
and so on progressively down, until the whole is attached
virtually to the rock with a portion of the arch. The floor
is then laid on that portion, and the rail or fence set up.
The machine, or stage, is then propelled on to that portion
of the bridge, which moves the scaffold from under the first
section to the next, when it is wound up to the top. The
men again commence by attaching the next ten feet of the
top line, and in like manner till the whole of that section is
complete ; lay the floor and rails, and proCeed onwards, ten
feet at a time, until they arrive at the centre, working
from both sides of the river until they meet. Immediately
under the centre of the carriage-way are two promenades,
eight feet wide and ten feet high, through which it is in-
tended to convey water in pipes to supply Clifton with
water from the opposite side. The model I made is on the
scale of one inch to the foot, and is 300 inches long, repre-
senting a moiety of the bridge ; the verred sine is 75, and
the arch a segment of a circle of about 1,600 feet diameter.
It has received the entire approbation of all the mathema-
ticians and scientific men who have seen it ; it is what may
be termed a splendid effort of art, but I am sorry to say,
that notwithstanding its extraordinary size—bearing persons
to walk in it with perfect safety—and although exhibited
in the heart of the city, the exhibition has not cleared half
the expenses—even although we have had persons come
from a distance of twenty and thirty miles on purpose to
look at it ; and one person has sent word that he is coming
a distance of forty-eight miles for the special purpose of
seeing the model. I remain yours, &c. T. M.
PS. I may observe that Dr. Birkbeck has written to me
in unqualified terms of approval.
Bristol, Dec. 1.