The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-05 00:00:00

NEW BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.

The following letters have been addressed to the
editor of the Times :

In your interesting notice of the above in Friday's paper
you say :—" It seems to be Mr. Page's fate to have some of
his best designs spoilt by the near proximity of railway
bridges, and the still grander architectural design of Black-
friars will, in like manner, be hemmed in by Cubitt's bridge,
which it is said is to come as near as 100 feet or so." May
I ask " Why not a little nearer ?" Why should not the
two bridges be in one ? They would cost far less, block
the tideway far less, and look far better.
Railways are coming across the Thames ; and we had
better utilise them if we can, rather than grumble at them.
Let the Bridge Committee agree with the Chatham and
Dover Railway to promote a short deviation bill for the
line, and the thing is done. Mutatis mutandis, the same
holds good of my right and left-hand neighbours, " fune-
real" Southwarkbridge:and the City extension of the South-
Eastern Railway.
The shareholders in the former are supposed to get about
1 per cent. per annum on their admirable investment. by
should they not sell the bridge and its approaches to the
South-Eastern to build their railway bridge there, the
Bridge Committee contributing sufficient funds to add a
free carriage-way on one side of it, and thus benefit every-
body ?

I only to add that I am an humble, though, I flatter
myself, an exceptionally ornamental, riverside edifice, and
have no private interest whatever in any of the above un-
dertakings.—Yours obediently,

DOWGATE-DOCK.

August 3.

Sir,—Finding an article in your impression of yesterday
respecting Blackfriars-bridge, stating that the Bridge-house
Estate Committee bad decided rem. con. to accept Mr.
Page's design, and that that ganteman was appointed en-
gineer for its construction, I do not know who has partially
lifted the veil which generally shrouds the mysteries of a
committee, but to prevent any misunderstanding in tho mat-
ter I I beg to hand you the facts as they stand.
On Friday last a thin attendance of the committee—viz.,
18 out of 41, met, as I imagined, for the purpose of compar-
ing the merits of the different plans submitted by the gen-
tlemen whose names you have inserted, and great was my
surprise (with regard to so large an undertaking) to find
that, instead of so deliberating, a mover and seconder pro-
posed adopting Mr. Page's plan for a three-arch bridge. I
deemed it my duty to the public to caution the committee
against this impropriety, and moved, as.an amendment, the
formation of a sub-committee, who, with the assistance of
the city architect, should clearly ascertain which of the de-
signs gave the best waterway for craft and most convenient
road for carriages. The amendment was lost. I then moved
that the city architect be instructed to furnish the commit-j
tee with information on those points. This amendment was
also lost.

Finding the majority could not be induced to go into
measurement, or even look at the plans for the purpose of
discussion, I could only intimate my intention of bringing
the whole proceeding before the Court of Common Council,
and as that body consists of 206 members, besides aldermen,
I deem it highly probable that a new committee will be
formed pledged to take all the plans submitted into their
consideration, and hear the gentlemen who have been at
the trouble and expense of furnishing them upon their dif-
ferent merits.—l am, sir, yours respectfully,
JouN KEARNS, One of the Committee.
Red Lion-wharf, Upper Thames .street, Aug. 3.

15:5abla8s2u:toul
while
0 n p u
total
was
sA Parliamentary return has been issued, showing
thatw
2t numbervalue of
andof goofy ehr
ale to
half-sovereigns,
sa,t t1h07313,5i0n0t, in
of
tlB6othe
and half-crowns has been • eiseontinued since 1852,
121,708 lOs. The coinage of crowns
yoeTfahr let h 3: number
of shillings
silver
;66vt37e,
flyseriarnlsy average
purchased in the mark
manufacturedtoth the extentwaosf
priceet
for
rid per ounce for
coinagefs4 was, in
1851, 60id.; in 1852, 611. ; in 1853, Glid. ~ in l
in 1855, 6lid.; in 1856, 61Rd. ; in 1857, 610 ;
i, 61d. n
1858
!
611 d. ;in 1859, 610. ; and in 1860, 61td. .
Intelligence from Sundcrburg (Isle of Alens)
states that the King of Denmark arrived there on the even-
ing of the 29th ult , on board the steamer Schleswig, and
was received with salutes of artillery and ringing of bells,
The Queen of Sweden, her daughter, the Princess
Louisa, and her 3lajesty's relations, the Prince and
Princess Frederick, and the Princess Mary of the Nether-
a nds, arrived at Frankfort three days back, on their way to
Mouskaw, in Silesia.
ADELPHI THEATRE.—Mr. B. Webster will take
his annual benefit on Wednesday, August 14. The exer-
tions of this enterprising manager to maintain the esta-
blished regulation of his theatre have always been most
earnest, and he well deserves the success he has reaped.
On the forthcoming occasion there is no doubt that he will
be supported most liberally by that public for which he has
so perseveringly catered for many seasons, Fresh attrac-
tions arc promised.