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

New B'ackfriars•Bridge.

(Prom 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
in span from 185
u
premise that the new structure will be a wrought-
firto. n
thriebcebnritdreg2e,ttohiesasrfcth.
theesv aarybintgment spans. The
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
Ipier 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 incourse
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
level 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 the 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 we 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 of a diffi-
culty 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 A Britisher." But your correspondent is rather fast in
crediting me with the notion that its settlement would be
due 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 .a sore
amount of hard cash, or the signs of the times aro bat it
will prove 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 bo 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
a
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 in the convulsions of the United States, and the
enormous gain to her commerce in consequence, that will
amount to a far greater sum than would have been awarded
by an arbitration.
"A Britisher's" notions of the United States Govern-
ment having only "partially prevented the inroad of the
Fenians 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, he 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 over
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 hand, 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, ono
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 even if it were not for
moral reasons, he 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 for
reasons for paying more on the same terms ; but he 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
Wynam, 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 TILE "PURITAN."—A 20in.
gun, containing 140,0001 b. of metal, was cast at the Fort
Pitt Foundry, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, lately. It
is designed for the Ptuitan, now lying in New York
harbour. It is 18in. shorter than the one cast at the same
foundry in 1864 foi the Dundorberg. . _

A Ses ion's Changes.

The Spectator thus sums up the changes in the
personnel of Parliament during the past session :

" The deaths of ,19 peers were recorded. Their
names and ages are as follows :----•' The Marquises
Camden, 67 ; Lansdowne, 50 ; Earls Gainsborough,
84 ; Kinnoul, 81; Bathurst, 76 ; Lanesborough,
71; Rosslyn, 64 ; Chesterfield, 61 ; Limerick, 53 ;
Donoughmore, 43; Beauchamp, 37 ; Harrington,
21 ; Viscount Clifden, 43 ; Barons Glenelg, 83;
Monteagle, 76 ; Clinton, 74 ; Bayning, 69 ; Ver-
non, 62 ; Rivers, 56. The baronies of Bayning and
Glenelg have become extinct, while the successors
to the titles of Clifden, Donoughmore, Monteagle,
and Rivers, are minors. The Duke of Hamilton
has attained his majority, and the Marquis of Or-
monde, who became of age on sth October last, has
taken the oaths and his seat. There are thus 15
new peers by right of succession. Fourteen peers
have been created—viz., his Royal Highness the
Duke of Edinburgh, Viscount Halifax, Barons
Barrogill, Clermont, Hartismere, Hylton, Kenry,
Lytton, Meredyth, Monck, Northbrook, Penrhyn,
Romilly, and Strathnairn. Five of these are
creations of Lord Derby, and eight owe their
rank to Earl Russell, the Dukedom of Edinburgh
being a thing of course, no matter what Prime
Minister was in power. Two barons of the United
Kingdom, Lord Dartsey and Lord Wodehouse,
were promoted by Lord Russell to a higher order
in the peerage. The former now sits as Earl of
Dartsey and the latter as Earl of Kimberley. Turn-
ing to the House of Commons we find that 31
constituencies have changed their representatives.
Of these 31 places four have each elected two new
members—viz., Devonport, Nottingham, East Suf-
folk, and Windsor. Of the members who were re-
turned at the general election 16 have been unseated,
nine have become peers, six have died, four sit for
other constituencies, two have become chief judges,
two havelresigned, and one lost his scat on appeal-
ing to his constituents for re-election. The members
unseated were Sir J. Acton, Sir R. Clifton, Mr. E.
M. Fenwick, Sir H. H. Hoare, Mr. G. W. Leveson-
Gower, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. S. Morley, Mr. Parry,
Mr. Pender, Mr. Schneider, and Mr. A. W.Young,
Liberals ; and Mr. Ferrand, Mr. Fleming, Mr. For-
syth, Mr. Mills, and Mr. Westropp, Conservatives.
The M.P.s who have gone to the Upper House are
the Earl of Brecknock and Sir Charles Wood, Libe-
rals ; and Lord Henniker, Sir W. Jolliffe, Hon. F.
Lygon ; Sir E. B. Lytton, Col. Douglas Pennant,
Lord Stanhope, and Hon. C. Trefusis, Conserva-
tives. The deaths have been those of five Liberals
and one Conservative, viz., Lord Palmerston, 81;
Colonel Lloyd Watkins, 63 ; Hon. J. C. Dundas,
57 ; Mr. F. D. Goldsmid, 53 ; Right Hon. H. A.
Herbert, 50 ; and Sir Minto Farquhar, 57. The
two resignations have been by Conservative mem-
bers, Mr. W. Leslie and Major-General Lindsay.
Two chief judgeships have been given to Conserva-
tives—the Chief Justiceship of Ireland to Mr.
Whiteside, and the post of Chief Baron of the Ex-
chequer to Sir F. Kelly. Mr. H. Fenwick, Liberal,
was defeated at Sunderland on offering himself for
re-election, after his appointment as a Lord of the
Admiralty in Earl Russell's Government. Four
Conservatives have left their former constituencies
and gone to others; Mr. Gathorne Hardy exchanges
Leominster for Oxford University ; Mr. Dowdeswell
leaves Tewkesbury for West Worcestershire; Sir
Stafford Northcote relinquished Stamford for North
Devon ; and Sir E. Kerrison forsakes Eye for East
Suffolk. There are now 31 members in the House
of Commons who had no seats in that assembly at
the commencement of the session. They are Vis-
count Amberley, Mr. Candlish, Mr. M. Chambers,
llon. J. Denman, Mr. Edwards, Lord Eliot, Mr.
Eykyn, Mr. Fordyce, Mr. Julian Goldsmid, Lord
John Hay, Captain Herbert, Mr. Nicholson, Mr.
Bernal Osborne, Mr. Stauiland, Mr. Vanderbyl,
and Mr. Wyvill, Liberals ; and Mr. Arkwright,
Hon. G. W. Barrington, Mr. Brett, Mr. Capper,
Mr. Dimsdale, Mr. Eckersley, Mr. Gorst, Sir John
Hay, Hon. J. M. Henniker-Major, Mr. Hildyard,
Hon. Egretnont Lascelles, Sir E. Lechmere, Mr. J.
Abel Smith, Mr. Walsh, and Mr. Whitmore, Con-
servatives. The result of all these changes is that
the Liberals have won five seats—two at Devon-
port, one in Aberdeenshire, one at Bridgewater,
and one at Peterstield. The Conservatives have

gained three seats—viz., at Bridgnorth, Helstone,
and Sandwich. There is, therefore, a net gain of
two seats, counting four votes on a division, to the
Liberals. In addition to the alterations above
enumerated, there have been 36 re-elections—nine
on account of the formation of Earl Russell's Go-
vernment, and 27 through the acceptance of office
by the Earl of Derby. The seats now vacant are
Carnarvonshire, Brecon, Lancaster (2), Totnes,
and Reigate—the two first through the late mem-
bers having been called to the peerage, and the four
others through the unseating of their late represen-
tatives."