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

TILE NEW BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.

The bridge which Mr. Page has undertaken to
carry across the Thames at Blackfriars will be built
of mixed granite and iron, but so arranged in its
architectural features as to be most graceful in out-
line, though enormously massive in all its details.
Never was such colossal proportions attempted in
any bridge before, though the slight curve and
enormous span of the arches give to the whole a
lighter and even more graceful effect than we find
in the lines of the bridge at Westminster. The
design is, in fact, as much superior in simple
grandeur and beauty to the New Westminster as
new Westminster is superior to the ruinous old
obstruction it has superseded. It will consist of
only three arches, the centre one being of the
span of 280 ft., or 40 ft. wider than the centre arch of
the grim, funereal-looking structure at Southwark.
The two side arches will be 220 feet span each, but
none will have the high-shouldered look which is
generally given to arches of this great width by
making their rise a high one, From the spring-
in" of the arch to the crown will only be a rise of
20 feet, which in a span of such extent only:amounts
to the most gentle curve, and, in fact, when seen
from the river the outline will appear to be almost
straight. The spandrills of the outer rib on each
side will be closed, but filled up with figures in bas-
relief and rich ornamental scrollwork. The cor-
nice beneath the parapet is of an exceedingly
bold and handsome design, with a parapet above
of solid granite. The piers, however, foi:m the
most massive and noble looking features of the whole.
These will be four in number, all of granite,
and of immense size, width, and depth. Each on
its extremity willbe surmounted with a column of
polished red granite, for which in size and massive-
ness we must look for parallels among the rock-
hewn temples of Egypt. They will be Done
columns, 40 feet in height, 23 feet in diameter at
base and capital; and no less than 18 feet diameter
in the column. Each of these, though built hollow,
will weigh upwards of 500 tons. Their capitals will
reach to the summit of the bridge, and it is intended
hereafter to surmount them with colossalgroups of
statuary. The whole structure will only be a few
feet longer than the present bridge, but its width
will be nearly double, namely, 76 feet against 42.,
instead
There will be two footways of 14 feet wide, ins
of as now two of 7. There will be two tr
the
of 81 each. These will be in the cent ouch,
h, for
bridge, leaving two rcadways of 16 feeild
coming.
the light traffic, and omnibuses u•
at the
The wnole area of road and foot Yea area of the pre-
-78,000 feet, instead of 41, °finyrifiTl be nearly
p7;qetuvvare foot of surface
bridge is estima-
ted bridge, which cost
£3 15s. 6d. The cost of the n
3 6s. afoot, or, size for
rate of rather less than X
rice of the old one,—.Daily
size, nearly half the P
ted et from £245,000 to £250,000, which is
News.

the Pharmaceutical Society have appointed the
p
president, Messrs. Morson, Daane, Waugh,
PREVENTION Or ACCIDENTAL POISOIiING.—The
Councilresid president, f
vice
Hills, Ilaselden, Bucklee, and Bird, a committee to inquire
into, and report to the council upon, the best arrangements,
y any, to be adopted for the protection of the public against
accidental
poisoning' There is no subject upon which con-
fident suggestions are more frequently offered to the public,
and few which are attended with greater difficulty in practice.
We hope that from the experience of this committee some-
thing truer and safer will be elaborated than the crude and
empirical recommendations hitherto broached in Parliament
or through the press.
A French company, in April last, commenced a
journey of exploration across the Isthmus of Darien, in
order to ascertain the possibility of cutting a canal between
the two oceans on that particular point. After having gono
as far as the River Chuquinaca, and ascended the Sabana
to a distance of 19 miles and the Lava for nine, the mem-
bers of the expedition could go no further, owing t.) the
difficulties caused by heavy rains. In the course of their
survey they found no elevation higher than 50 metres above
the level of the sea, neither did they encounter any hos-
tility from the Itlians. The gentlemen composing the
expedition, who are headed by M. Bouardiol as chief engi-
neer, lately arrived at Nemv York, and are about tc ) returnto
France. Their intention, however, is to mil trn to the
Isthmus in December next, and to attempt mull Cher expo
dition in the dry season of 1562.