The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-13 00:00:00

New B I ackfri ars-Bridge.

(Front the Building News.)
The casual observer of the new bridge works at
Blackfriars may fail to detect any material progress
therein, from an outside view. An interior inspec-
tion, however, will reveal to him the fact that con-
siderable advance has been made in the foundations
of the new structure. Such an inspection was made
on Friday last by the members and associates of the
Society of Engineers, who, by the kind permission
of Mr. Joseph Cubitt, the engineer of the bridge,
went over the works. The visitors—who mus-
tered strongly---were received by Mr. Penrice,
who represented Mr. Cubitt, Messrs. P. and
A. Thorn, the contractors for the works, and
Mr. F. W. Bryant, their engineer. The visit afforded
an opportunity for noticing what has been done to-
wards carrying out this important work. We may
tg in span from 185
spans. Thement
premise that the new structure will be a wrought-
iron
ft.
threibceburitdreg, to
e,thiesasrfcth. etshvearyabiun
piers will be of Cornish granite, surmounted by po-
lished red granite columns, with carved caps and
bases. The bridge will be 75ft. wide between the
parapet walls, and will be much flatter than the old
one, and therefore much easier for traffic. Com-
mencing with the south, or Surrey side, abutment,
we find the work completed up to the springing
stones for the wrought-iron ribs, of which there will
be nine in each arch. The stones are large granite
blocks, some of which weigh upwards of 12 tons. In
pier No. 1, that next the south abutment, the cais-
sons are all sunk, and the concrete and brickwork
filled in ready to receive the masonry of the pier.
Pier No. 2 is further advanced, the masonry having
been carried up two courses. In pier No. 3 the works
are less forward, the caissons are being riveted toge-
ther previously to being lowered into the position for
sinking. At No. 4 pier the caissons are now in course
of being sunk. The next point is the north or City
side abutment, in which the masonry has been car-
ried up to within 4ft. of high water level. There yet
remain some portions of the old Blackfriars-bridge
foundations, on which the divers are operating ; the
work of removal being carried on by day and night,
as the tides permit. These old piers have been left
standing for convenience in erecting staging for the
new work. The ironwork is progressing favourably
at Messrs. Lloyds and Foster's works, and the
bridge will probably be opened in about 18 months
from the present time, Before concluding, it may be
as well to indicate the method pursued in construct-
ing the foundations of the piers. Permanent cais-
sons made of wrought-iron plates are riveted upon a
half-tide staging. When completed these caissons are
raised by powerful crabs, the staging is removed,
and the caissons are lowered over the spot where
they are to be sunk. They are then weighted, and exca-
vation is carried on within them until they are sunk
tvel with the bed of the river. They are then filled

in to the top edge with concrete and brickwork, and
upon this a few courses of brickwork are laid to re-
ceive the granite piers. In sinking the caissons, so
easy has been the descent, that not more than 100
tons of kentledge have ever been required for each
occasion.

Mr. Rawlings on England and America.

A writer in a contemporary says :

In your paper of the 21st ult., in connection with
his proposition to arbitrate the differences between Eng-
land and the United States, Mr. Rawlings made some
statements which the present writer, and it appears also
another of your correspondents, considered so in conflic-
tion with true history that it was felt not improper to
notice them. though with no objection to correction of the
conflicting versions of tho statements in question.
Instead of noticing our letters as being in any way
erroneous historically, " A Britisher," in your last issue,
seems to think that wo have drifted from the "point at
issue," and states that " no exception can be taken to Mr.
Rawlings' able and temperate letter, and his proposition
that the question of compensation should be referred to ar-
bitration, is the honest, straightforward solution or a (11111-
edify that is as much the interest of England to have thus
settled amicably as it is, that of the United States."
I would not trouble you with this letter, but I wish it to
be understood that there was no intention to make any
exception to that portion of Mr. Rawlings' very able letter,
as his proposition is doubtless the honest, straightforward
means for the adjustment of the differences between
the two nations ; and I here claim that it was for
such reasons that the United States Government pro-
posed it ; but why England refused it I need not inform
" A Britisher." But your correspondent is rather fast in
crediting me with the notion that its settlement would be
duo to "a stunner." This idea may be his own vision of
the future. If so, I trust that it will prove only a vision,
though I have my fears that the pooh-poohing of the
claim by the British Government may cost her 1a sore
amount of hard cash, or the signs of the times are hat it

will provo an expensive day's work in some way or other,
as it is not probable now that the United States would
submit to arbitration, but take the cue from England, and
aspire to the dignity of making their own estimate of
their demands on others. The differences in ques-
tion would not be the first claim of a similar nature
settled in favour of the United States without the use of

the "fighting machine." A claim against France for
spoliation during the last war between England and the
United States was promptly adjusted, on demand, under

the Administration of General Andrew Jackson—who
figures in the history of that war with Packingham ; and if
future events do not turn another way, England may be-
come disposed to afford a compensation for the luxury en-
joyed iu the convulsions of the United States, and the
iwn cu ol nd s
he
aq
vu
oe nb
been
eo ,ntah
wa
at r
ei
dl
eamountnorm outso gaaifnartgorheaetrarcoamunmi etrhcaen.
by an arbitration.
" A Britisher's" notions of the United States Govern-
ment having only "partially prevented the inroad of the
Penians into Canada," conflicts not only with Mr. Raw-
lings's statements, but the knowledge of everybody else
familiar with the case. " The gang of plunderers," or
"Rowdy Irish mob," let loose, had behind them a force
that would have scarcely felt the resistance of Canada ; and
I think if "A Britisher" will refer to history from the
defeat of Braddock down to the present time, ho will take
a hint as to the inefficiency of British or any other Euro-
pean forces when fighting on the western side of the
Atlantic. " The rowdy Irish mob" did not fear Eng-
land in the least, if once in possession of Canada.
The statement of " A Britisher," that "had England
permitted such an organisation on its territory against the
United States, this country would be denounced in every
journal in the Union," is simply ridiculous, knowing, as
every intelligent person must have done, that England
and Canada both possessed organisations composed of
the many leading members of Government for no other
purpose than aiding the slave-driving cause. Who ever
heard of an Irish " independence association" composed. of
the leading men and capitalists in the United States ?
Noisy tongues, until productive of mischief to neighbours,
cannot be stopped any more in the United States than in
England. But who does not know that the United States
has always been prompt in restoring order when illegi-
timate action was discovered. On the other band, who
ver heard of the British Government preventing aid to the
slave-driver, except at the risk of war with the United
States? Perhaps "A Britisher" can name an instance.
"A Britisher," says he " must say for America that it
is impossible for England to act so as to satisfy them."
The surprise of Englishmen that both North and South of
the United States were not pleased with British treatment,
though acting hostile to one and friendly to the other,
must always afford a species of amusement for disinterested
observers.
The fact that the English people are the only nation I
believe in the world who do not please America, one
would suspect, looks somewhat suspicious as to the tem-
perament of John Bull some way or other. As to how
many nations on the face of the earth have a particular
fondness for any more of the old gentleman than his money,
this deponent saith not.
The writer wishes to state that oven if it worn not for
moral reasons, ho has interests in England, and of a nature
that would cause him to desire her peace and greatest com-
mercial prosperity ; that he probably pays more taxes than
the majority of tax-paying Englishmen, and hopes fur
reasons for paying more on the same terms; but ho trusts
at the same time that his interests will not bias his notions
of justice.—Yours, T. S.

The United States frigate Colorado, 43, Captain
WYuarn, which arrived at Plymouth from Lisbon, on
Thursday, August 2, left again on Friday. During her
short stay Admiral Goldsborough paid a complimentary
visit to the Port Admiral, and inspected the Royal Naval
Arsenal at Dovonport, and the steam yard at Keyham.
A HEAVY GUN FOR THE " PURITAN."—A 20in.
gun, containingl4o,ooolb. of metal, was cast at the Fort
Pitt Foundry, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, lately. It
is designed for the Puritan : now lying in Now York
harbour. It is 18in. shorter than the one cast at the same
foundry in 1864 for the Danclerber;.