The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

am an old inhabitant of Southwark, and
well remember the dangers for many years affecting
life and property in connection with the narrow
arches of old London-bridge. I remember, too, as
a matter of course, the present bridge being built,
and often contrast the destruction of life and pro-
perty under the old bridge with the comparatively
small inconveniency of the present magnificent
structure.

But the bridge is inadequate to the traffic, never-
theless, and some remedy must ere long be found.
Sidney Smith told us long ago that it would re-
quire some bishop to be killed on a railway before
due precautions were taken to guard against acci-
dents. The same, perhaps, may be said of the
perilous traffic over London-bridge ; but this is no
reason why, in endeavouring to flee the ills we have
we should incur others which will be worse. We are
now in danger of this. I remember that when the
present bridge was built, painful excitement was
created by the settling down which took place on
the eastern side, through the widening of the
bridge, without adequately strengthening its foun-
dations ; and yet this very absurdity is now
proposed.. As a practical man, I am con-
vinced, that however pretty it might look
to have an outside pathway alongside the
bridge on either side, they would not only
destroy the fine massive appearance of this noble
bridge, but the structure itself would be im-
perilled by such excrescences. The free opening of
Southwark-bridge is the legitimate remedy for the
over-crowding of London-bridge ; but in any case,
the efforts of all who would preserve the structure
from such pitiful tinkering as that to which I have
alluded, should be directed towards the diversion
of the traffic from that particular spot where it is
now most concentrated. At present the overbear-
ing mass of traffic tends to the south-eastern corner
of • the bridge. Here steamboat companies seize
upon the public stairs for private monopoly, at the
expense of the public good. • Here railway com-
panies build their termini, and here pedestrians and
fruitsellers, cabs, omnibuses, and vehicles of all
sorts, congregate in alarming disorder. To remedy
this should be the object of all—and yet we are
actually threatened with a perpetuation of the
nuisance in increased force. The Thames Conser-
vators (?) now threaten us with large floating
piers, fixed upon piles occupying the inner
arches, both at the City and Surrey ends of
the bridge. The public must be alive to this move-
ment. Once before the nuisance was attempted at
the Surrey side, but law, as the guardian of the
public right, removed it. Renewed efforts in the
same direction are being made, not only setting
law at defiance, but interfering with the founda-
tion of a bridge which has cost a million and a half
of money. To block up the arches is to contravene
one of the most important purposes of its erection.
Their width and freedom are essential to the safety
of life and property in navigating the river. If
unanswerable evidence as to the truth of my re-
marks be asked for, what better testimony can be
adduced than that of Sir John Rennie, as reported
to the Court of Common Council on Thursday last
—" That the structure, after the lapse of 23 years,
having attained its final bearings, it would be
injurious to do anything which might have a ten-
dency to disturb it, and other means should be
adopted to give increased accommodation to the
traffic."

Hoping that public attention may be called to
this important subject,

I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

AN ENGINEER.

December 15, 1858.

TILE _ROYAL RN6LISII OPERA,

Covent-garden Theatre was opened last evening by the
Pyne and Harrison management for the performance of
English opera, with a new work in four acts, entitled,
4t satanella, or the Power of Love," composed by Mr. Balfe.
The house was crowded to excess, and the opera received,
from first to last, unqualified applause. The composer was
called for three times, and the principal singers were hon-
oured with similar ovations at the termination of each act.