The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-23 00:00:00

AN IMPROVED IRON BRIDGE.

Mr. Charles Todd, an engineer of this town, has
just completed, at a small cost, a metallic model,
four feet two inches long, of an iron bridge, on a
new and improved construction. The principle
combines the greatest possible strength with light-
ness, neatness, and durability. It is also very simple
in contrivance, and economical in point of material.
These essential properties will be made more clear
when it is stated that on the principle of an arch,
but requiring no abutments, a bridge of any di-
mensions, even to a mile in length, may be con-
structed of one span, and so slight a degree of
curvature is requisite in the arch, that a level line
for the road may be obtained; and this road com-
pletely formed by the cast iron blocks of the arch,
without any other preparative of pavement or flag-
ging. This. and other advantages in point of erec-
tion, combined with a great saving of stone-work
for supporting it (as it only requires a substan-
tial, though comparatively light pier at each end,
to carry a vertical weight), causes a saving of at
least one-third in the erection of a bridge of this
kind, when compared with any other iron bridge of
the same stability. It is also applicable to bridges
whose road it is desirable should range in the direc-
tion of an inclined plane, as it is as firm and correct
in principle, at an angle of 45 degrees and more, as
it is when placed in an horizontal position. It is'
also applicable to the construction of beams, or whole
floors in fire-proof and other buildings, dispensing
with the necessity of pillars or supports, and render-
ing the floors much safer than any other mode" of
construction which has been hitherto adopted. The
inventor says—" It enables me to anticipate the
erection of the once-projected and much-Wished-for
Runcorn Bridge over the Mersey. This bridge re-
quires a span of 2,000 feet ; but I have no doubt. I
could erect, it in two years, with the utmost ease and
safety, and it should not cost much more, if any,
than the estimated cost of the Tunnel under the
river Thames, London, which is only about half the
length. I doubt not but that these statements may,
by some persons, be deemed chimerical; but I am
prepared not only to maintain, but demonstrate them
to be true."—Bolton Chronicle.

CHESS MATCH BETWEEN LONDON AND
EDINBURGH.—The members of the Edinburgh Club, by
way of explanation as well as apology for some little delay
in sending their move, have just transmitted to their Lon_
don opponents a box, containing 12 brace of very fine
grouse, which they beg to be considered as a kind of "
in-
tercalary move." This match has now been going on
three years and four months.

PARIS, AUG. 18.—We have to add the
name of another victim to the fatal passion of gaming.
Captain Ode hail distincuishel himself during the wars of
Napoleon, and was beloved and respected by all who knew
him. He left the arniy a short time after the arrival of
the Bourbons, and -vent to a small estate he possessed in the
coinmema'ereo-f
south of France., where he remained several years enjoying
peace and comfort. Business called him a few months ago
to the capital, and he was prevailed upon by one of his
tinefr
jileu
an ii
is principal who then
insuranceheld the
offices
tfis situation t
ii onnpeafgr
but,
gia;teseottob'pe.
tirtuisst,nloiislfaithfulune t
utaol i hiety .
tistwhhiatatinildtthese;was induced to pay a
re-
ceiver to the company. Large sums of money were con-
visit to one of the hells in the Palais Royal, and it is stated
pittaests
accountsi
tnigtail through,lvaes
trenil.:e.celpki
that it was for the first time in his life. He could not re-
sist the temptation, and staked a sum of money, which he lost.
He repaired to the same place on succeeding days, and all his
money passed into the hands of the banker. In a letter
i°
which he wrote to a friend four days ago, he solicits him
to lend a certain amount, or that he will not be able to
replace a sum which belongs to the Insurance Company,
that ruin will ensue, and that he will not survive. The
letter did not reach his friend, who was absent. The cast
account of the receiver was examined, and a deficit of seve-
ral thousand francs was discovered. The unfortunate man
ua
ein :ssconveyed f
oarr backYthe
; t o apart-
ments
when
purpose h i
s• s arrested,h
examinationeo eoccupied
anded taikne terminated,nth before
ehlie
was
dea p
the C
mof having them searched. He opened his desk in the pre-
sence of the officers, and hastily seizing g two pistols, which
were ready cocked, he presented these weapons to their
breasts, and told them with a dreadful oath to depart quietly,
or, he would shoot them. Not daring to oppose him, they
departed with the intention of procuring assistance. In
the mean time, Captain Ode locked his door, and barri-
cadoed it inside with chairs and tables. After this, lie
wrote two short letters, the one addressed to a friend, and
the other to his wife, who was residing iu the country : and
then placing the two pistols to his head, he blew out his
brains,

ASSIZES.-(RECEIVED THIS. DAY.)

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—CARLISLE, Actor. 21.

NORMAN V. TAYLOR.

Mr. Hour 'said this was an action brought by the
plaintiff to recover damages for the loss of his datighter's
services, by means of seduction. The plaintiff was a
farmer at Helskeith, and the father of the defendant tvas
also a farmer, and proprietor of a water mill. After some
further unimportant details, the Learned Counsel proceeded
to call—

Ruth Norinan.—l am the daughter of the plaintiff, and
shall be 31 years of age next Whitsuntide ;-I have known
the defendant three years ; my father is a small farmer,
and holds about 50 acres of laud ; the defendant's father
is also a farmer, and the defendant himself, who is about
my own age, has a small estate of three farms at Borough-
lay, about a quarter of a mile from his father's ; we became
acquainted about a year and a half ago ; the defendant pro-
mised me marriage, but said he could not marry me then,
because he had nothing, and his folks would do nothing for
him ; he afterwards told me he would marry me whenever
I pleased ; in November last I had a child, of which he was
the father; my father has supported it ever Since; I was
ill about three or four months.
Cross-examined by . Mr. BROUGHAM-4 shall be 34
years of age next Whitsuntide ; I will not swear the de-
fendant is more than 24 years of age; he frequently took
tea with us; we went on this way IS mouths before he
took any liberties with me ; my father and mother fre-
quently went to bed and left us alone till two o'clock in
morning; there is a settle in the room where we have been
left together, and all but ourselves in bed ; he ceased to
visit me about a month before the child was born; I never
told my parents of the accident ; I swore the child to him
about a month after my accouchment.
Mr. BaouguAm said he had heard of a young and
beautiful girl of I'7 being seduced by a man in years, but
here the case is completely opposite ; here is an old
woman put into the box, who, he declared, at first
he thought had come to prove a notice. She said
she was only thirty-two years old, but the Jury, would
probably be of opinion that she would never see that
age again. It was clear the defendant was much Younger
than her, for he had not yet attained his 24th year. It was
most likely she took a fancy to, and courted him, for it
would not be thought that she at the ripe and mature age
of 32, was seduced by a young man of 24, nor was it likely
that much art had been used by the youth to seduce her,
who was much more likely to be the seducer than the se-
duced, the tempter than the tempted. Her parents certainly
did not take any very great care of her, they probably
thought that Ruth was able to take care of herself—that
she was old enough, and that she could not come to any
very great harm from a boy ; but they had no right to
complain of what the youngster did, under the temptation
he had experienced. At a certain age, women are very
apt to construe intentions into a promise of marriage, and
this promise rested intirely upon the statement of Old
Ruth, who never told it to her parents. At all events, the
plaintiff never heard of it, and never could have supposed
such a thing.—Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, 251.