Star.
London, England, 1824-07-20 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT OF THE THAMES.

Saturday, a Meeting of Noblemen and Gentlemen
from the City and the West-end of the town, met on
board the state barge of the Merchant Tailors' Com-
pany, for the purpose of taking into consideration a
plan for forming a quay to extend from London-bridge
to Scotland-yard, and amongst the company on board
were—the Duke and Duchess of RUTLAND, the Earl of
ROSSLYN, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Lord
PALMERSTON, the Earl of CA RYSFORT, the Honourable
AGAR FLUB, the Right Honourable Wm. HUSKISSON,
the LORD MAYOR, Mr. Alderman WOOD, Mr. Alder-
man GARRATT, Mr. Alderman Lucas, Mr. FAVELL,
Mr. SLADE, Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH, the Marquis of
LONDOJDERRY, S. LUSIIINGTON, Esq. M.P. J. laviso,
Esq.M.P.— GRANT, Esq. M.P. WM. LEAKE, Esq. M.P.
J. litoes and WM. SAUNDERS, Esquires.
About three o'clock, his Royal Highness the Duke of
Yortic came on board, and took the Chair.

Lieutenant. Colonel Ta E Non, Member for Cambridge,
then addressed the Meeting, and said, that the general
outline of the project was to make a magnificent quay
of communication from New London-bridgeto Scotland-
yard, thus connecting Chating•cross and Whitehall with
the heart of the City, and affording to the inhabitants
of both extremities, as well as those along the whole
line, a healthful and beautiful promenade and carriage-
road on the banks of the river. The quay to be eighty
feet wide, with a footpath on each side, to be separated
by rows of trees and lamps from the carriage-road in
the centre ; and in cases where commercial convenience
required the accommodation of wharfage, a proper
portion of the terrace to be railed off for that purpose,
securing access for unloading without interfering Kith
the communication. Though eighty feet were stated
generally as a breadth desirable for so magnificent a ter-
race, yet both the breadth and height might vary ac-
cording to circumstances; it being desirable, that in car-
rying this great work into effect,public advantage should
interfere as little as possible with private convenience.
The whole of the. quay to be supported upon arches,
with a bold projecting cornice and a simple balustrade.
In pursuing this plan of explanation, Colonel Trench
thought it best to refer in the first place to that part of
it which was at this moment under the observation of
the meeting. (The barge was moored half way between
Scotland-yard and Waterloo-bridge.) He proposed to
project a pier into the river from Scotland-yard, and
from its extremity to carry a terrace on arches to the
extremity of Waterloo-bridge, where there were now
three arches of a store belonging to the Duchy of Lin •
caster. This terrace would stand on arches twenty-five
feet high, and be 110 feet broad, for the purpose of
erecting houses, to combine profit with amusement. In
fact,* would be a new street, of 2,000 feet in length,
70 feet in breadth in front of houses, which would be
40 feet, and of any extent of front that might suit the
individuals 'proposing to build. The façade to be di-
vided into three buildings, with two intervals, on each
of which might be placed a handsome fountain, and by
using tide-mills to command a supply of water, they
might be formed into jets Beau fifty or 60 feet high.
For this and many valuable suggestions Colonel Trench
was indebted to a distinguished Lady who sat on his
Itcyal Highness's right hand (the Duchess of Rutland).
He proposed to place in the centre an equestrian statue
of the King; but he was aware that these ornamental
circumstances were of minor importance, and he would
hasten to state his views with regard to the first division
of the projected measure. This terrace would be a fiat
crescent. In executing Colonel Trench's directions, Mr.
Philip Wyatt had a little exceeded them ; and it was
but just and fair to point out the extreme importance
of that operation which he (Colonel Trench) had at first
been displeased with, as intolving an interference with
private rights, and therefore likely to throiv obstacles in
the way of a project which he had so much at heart.
Mr. Wyatt took the Coburg Theatre as a centre, and
with a radius of a thousand yards described an arch of
a circle, which coincides generally with the banks of the
river as proposed, but accurately with that part of it
which is now under consideration—namely, the front of
die proposed terrace crescent. This terrace would form
one side of a basin or wet dock, containing eight or
nine acres of water ; and if die mud were dredged out,
and where gravel was riot now found, a good bottom
should be made. The benefit conferred on the inhabitants
of the present bank of the river was, that they might
have any depth of water most convenient to them; at
all times their property would be protected from
rivet plunderers, and the barges be always at their own
doors • they would get rid of fetid unwholesome mud
whichannoyed them nine hours out of twelve, and by a
simple police regulation, directing empty barges to
move outside, three times the number of full ones might
be accommodated. The curve established by this ter-
race would make the tide in this part of the liver %%bat
Mr. Rennie called a perfect scouring machine. Colonel
Trench then entered into further explanations of the
nature of the plan—CA Gentleman wished to know
from whom consent was necessary ?J—Colonel TRENCH
replied, that they had to gain the consent of two impel-
_