Star.
London, England, 1827-07-26 00:00:00

THE NEW LONDON BRIDGE.

Monday afternoo-n the Corporation Committee for
superintending the building of the New London Bridges
attended Mr. R. L. Joess, their Chairman, to the spot,
for the purpose of putting in the keystone of the land
archon the Southwark side, which is the first arch
turned. Mr. JOHN RENNIE, the architect, Mr. KNIGHT,
and Mr. HOLLINGWORTH, directed the operations. The
key-stone was formed of a block of red Peterhead gra-
nite, four feet six inches deep by two feet three inches
wide, 18 inches thick, and in weight about two tons.
The Chairman, aided by other members of the Com-
mittee, gave the first blows ; the wot kmen were permit-
ted to conclude the operation, which they did in about
an hoar. The span of this first arch is 130 feet, with a
rise of 25 feet front the high-water line. The span of
each of the arches in Waterloo-to idge is 120 feet, with
a rise of 28 feet from the high water line. The centre
arch will be of 140 feet, with a rise of 30 feet from the
same line. The largest arch in England is the Pont.y-
Prydd, the glory of Glamorganshire, of 140 feet span.
The Pont de Neoilly, near Paris, is considered the eke-
ifteuvre of French bridge building. The chief pride of Lb,
continent is the celebrated Ponte del Tr innita, at Florence,
which consists of three arches of very nearly the same
proportions. The two arches on each side of the centre
arch of the new London Bridge will be each of 140
feet span. The construction of the key-stone of the new
arch was much discussed, and it is considered to excel
in science all which have preceded it. The foundations
of the piers are deeper than those of any known bridge
in burope. The Corporation Committee expressed much
satisfaction at the forward state of the works. All the
foundations are accomplished, except the foundation for
the abutment on the City side of the river. The con•
tractors are bound to have the bridge completed by
March, 1830. On Monday a plan for grand approaches
on the London side was laid before the Bridge Com-
mittee, by Mr. John Rennie. It is to form an open
square on the present site of Cr. oked lane, in the line
of. Monument-yard. The object of this square, in point
of utility, is to relieve Gracechurch-street of the im-
mense crowd of waggons and carriages by which the
road is obstructed and rendered dangerous during the
hoar:of-business. It is intended to throw open the Mo-
aument, and make the architecture of the house of a
corresponding magnificedce. The Committee entered
heartily into the plan.
The Fishmongers' Company, which is as liberal as it
is wealthy, has begun to act with spirit. They have
relinquished a plot of ground, twenty feet deep, to the
City, for 20,000/. to enable them to form the necessaty
approaches .to the new bridge in a better manner. This
ground they considered to be worth, at the full value,
about 30,0001. Their Hall is already dismantled in conse-
quence, and in another month it is expected it will have
disappeared. On the part of the City, arrangements
have been made for the Southwark side, to throw open
St. Saviour's church for the public view, as an edifice
worthy of the bridge and of the metropolis. But no
corresponding exertions seem likely to be made by the
parish of St. Saviour, which yet allows their church
(acknowledged by competent judges to be the next sa-
cred edifice in rank after Westminster Abbey and St.
Peel's) to remain partly rest red, and partly in ruins.
The sum requisite for the complete restoration of the
church is estimated to be about 20,0001. The re-
building of such a work would probably cost upwards
of 150,0001. The parish have productive estates and
other funds to complete the work. but a patty there
contend that it ought to be considered as a national
. work, And that the charge ought not to fall an the parish.

SUYINIER ASSIZEt

BUCeglgoliAbis JULY Kr. Suva Gitasow.

Gni! N. HARDING.
'Nis was an action of 'Pander, brought by the plains
tiff, who Is a surgeon and apothecary, residing at Penny
Stratford, against the defendant, a dre,s mAker. The
declaration stated that the defendant said of the plain.
tiff " He bad gone a courting to Mrs. Neile (his present
wife) before his former wife was dead—.that it was the
death of her—and that her son had come from Winslow
to mix up the medicines. because she would not take
any of Mr. Gent's mixing." Plea—a justificatipn.
Mr. Rostrisom (with whom was Mr. Minato) stated
the case for the plaintiff. •
• A witness proved the marriage of the plaintiff with
Mrs. Neile. He was present, and had given the bride
away, who is sister to his own wife,
Jambs Rogers deposed thAt he knew the • plaintiff
twenty-five years. He carries on the business of sutgeon
Ind man•miiwife. He attended his own wife nine

times—(A laugh).
Martha Ingram-i-Knows both plaintiff and defendant.
Was present at a conversation between Miss Harding
and a Mrs. Bliek, in January last. Heard Miss Hard-
ing say that Mr. Gent went a courting to Mrs. Neile
betiire his former wife was dead—that it was the• death

of her—and that her son came from Winslow to mix

op the medicines for her. Said her son came io mix up
the medicines,. because she would not tiske Mr. Gent

mixing. Told witness she was not to mention any
thing she said, because it might create a disturbance.
Cross-examined—Has been acquainted with Miss
Harding for some years. The conversation took place
in the nursery, where some of the children of Mrs. Buick
were. Miss Harding is about 30 years of age. Her
father is not alive. Witness did not put down the con-
•ersation in writing. Does not recollect whether Mrs.

Mick began the conversation by saying, " So the old
Doctor is going to be married again." ales rgeollett
now th4l she did. Has known Mrs: Neile four or So,
years. She is her grandpapa's wife's sister. Did not
know the late Mrs. Gent. Never saw her great aunt
before her marriage. Never visited Mrs. Neile until
she married Mr. Gent. Has seen Mr. Gent ofen since
the marriage. Believes he married her aunt about a
twelvemonth since. Does not know when his second
wife died.

Sarah Munday was servant to the late Mrs. Gent.
Was with her at the time of her death. is dead about
ten months. Was attending her a great deal. She took
medicines all the time. Mr. Gent made up the best
medicine. she took. and her son, Mr. John Gent, made
up the last. Mr. Gent did not continue to make up the
medicines for her long. Witness tired to assist him in
mixing the medicines. Some pills which Mr. Gent
made did not agree with Mrs. Gent. She did not like
to take any more, because she thought.she" was being
salivated." Mr. John Gent came sometimes to attend
her. It might be once a week or a fortnight. Mr.
Gent behaved as a very kind husband to her. Never
heard Mrs. Gent say anything against .him. Has a
sister at Fenny Stratford. She came to ice to see bet.
A Mrs. Bristow came several time* to see her. NJ other

acquaintance came.
Cross-examined Lived in the house as a servant, and
never went out a.l the time that Mrs. Gent was ill. Mr.
Gent used to be very much ab cut on his business. He
was at home at meal times and night.
Catherine Gent is a daughter of the plaintiff by his
first wife. Was at home daring the illness of the late
Mrs. Gent. Her father mixed up the medicines in ge-
neral, except now and then, when her brother mixed
them up. Dr. Robertson also attended Mts. Gent, by
the request of her father. The medicines were always
mixed up according to a pre.cription. When her father
was busy her brother used to mix up the medicines.
He lived about ten miles off, and assisted her father
generally. Her father was very kind to Mn. Gent, ind
she was very kind to him.
Cross-examined—Her brother used to clime over frogs
Fenny Stratford to visit her father. Dr. 'Robertson
came in about three weeks before Mrs. Gent's death.
Witness and the maid assisted to mix up the drugs, as
her father keeps no other assistant. Knew Mrs. Neils
for some time. She lived in a yard in fligh-street,
Fenny Stratford. Has seen Mrs. Nctle come for medi-
cines to her father's for one Abel.ho pe. She and her
sister left her father's house, and sere absent three or
four months after the marriage, and on that accuur.t.
They went first to a friend's nouse, and then left tt e
town. She never heard of any repotts et her linker
having courted the present Mrs. Gent before the death
of his former wife.

Re-examined—Hrs. Neile took in lodgers Witnesses
father attended some of them who were itl at her house.
Witness mixed up medicines for some of them.
By theJUDOIC —Mts. Gent died of water on the chest.
James Rogers recalled—Said his daughter had been
attended by plaintiff, but in her last illness she declined
being attended by him. His daughter had heard of
reports similar to the charge under consideration.-...
Witness had no other reason lot declining Mr. Gent's
service than that which his daughter gave him.
Cross-examined—His daughter's husband had been in
America seven years. She was at the time in question
living with the witness as a part of hh family.
Mr. Rosresow submitted that he might give in evi•
deuce reports subsequent to the slander, for which the
action was brought, and which had come to the ears of the
daughter, without proving the origin of these reports.
Mr. Baron GARROW ruled that such reports werenoa
evidence, as in the first place such reports might have
originated from other sources; and, secondly, that they
were mere hearsay.
. Mr. Sergeant STORKS (with whom was Mr. Bunn),
for the defence, applied for a nonsuit, on the ground
that the words which had been proved were not action-
able in themselves, and no special damage had been
proved.

Mr. Baron Gsaaow decided that although the words
were not actionable in themselves, yet as the objection
was on the record, be ought not to nonsuit, but to leave
the matter to the consideration of the Court above.
Mr. Sergeant STORKS tbeo addressed the Jury for the
defendant, and called the following witnesses :
Thomas Abelthorpe knew Mrs. Neile. She lived in
a little yard opposite witness's house; was ill, and Mr.
Goat attended him. Mrs. Neile came and brought him
tyiee and physic. Afterwards she often came. Gent
at♦et her at his house. He came two or three times a
day. Met at those times Mrs. Neile. When she was
not at witness's house Gent used to ask for her, and has
gone to her house. Gent has asked ss it ness to go through
his house to Mrs. Neile's. At the first part of the time
Mrs. Neile was living alone. Mrs. Taylor came after—
wards to live with her. Mrs. Gent war
but was very ill, and Gent said she would .
it.
.They would stop together.half an hour

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