New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-09-06
Letters from Dir. Weed -. No. XVI.
.o.,..no,de,ce of t6e Albany Evening Journal

H., the Great Western Railway, and IN four hours
and half were set Gown at the ''Nhlte Lion
in this place The distance is lis miles. We
came some part Of the way, at the rate OF mile
IN a minute and sixteen seconds, and two mics
were whistled off, on descending grade, In two
minutes and twenty-iour seconds. travelling at
This top speed, could see but little and learn less
of the country through which we passed. Wind.
sor Castle doomed up with It's MASSIVE walls ana
towers as we passed within two miles OF TINS
ROYAL Fortress. The country for the first forty
miles, along the windlngs Of the rver Thames,
presents the same highly cultivated fields, verdant
lawns and beautiful landscapes that have spoken
of in former letters. Farther on it begins TO un-
dulate and becomes less extensively cultivated
Our route was through Slough, Maldenhead,
Reading, Thatcham, Newbury, Hungcriord,
Marlborough, Swin,on, Chippenham and Bath.
Chppenham has most imperturab!e appearance
of antiquity. Its buildings are III a cluster, APP
parenly for mutual support, for | can conceive OF
no other motive for such excessive nelghborhood
intimacy where there is ample "room and verge
enough: - ana altogether 1t IS an old, bald, gray
headed town.
B,ru. YOU know was once, and during the most
oay and dashinp reigns, the fashionable watering
place of England But here, fashion follows
ROYALTY. Every thing depends upon the patron
age OF princes. The smile or the irown OF ma
iesty makes or mars the fortunes OF those who re-
side in watering places. The glory of Bath was
first, believe, cclipsed by Brighton: and now,
though Brighton struggles hard to MAINTAIN It's
supremacy, the sun of fashicn shines brightest at
Cheltenhan..
In 1881 Bath had population Of $4,000, de-
nendino mainly upon visitors for their support
The batns are owned by the city corporation, and
have produced in the best years, from thousand
to fifteen hundred pounds sterling. The price Of
q bath is Is I'D. The baths are supplied by springs
which furnish some twenty gallons per minute at
a temperature of l14o. ne water from the Hot
Bath is at a temperature Of ll7o Fahrenheit.
Bath is very ancient. 1t has tradition which
claims Badud, King of Britain, $50 years b. c.
as its founder II, gratitude FOR his recovery. by It's
waters, from lcprosy. The healing virtues OF
Bath water were known to the Romans, and 1t
was the site of one of the carl monastcrles. The
CITY is situated in narrow valley upon the rlvcr
Avon, mot Shakspearc's AVON surrounded by an
amphitheatre of hills, which looking down upon
its bright terraces and dingy streets, presents a
scene of much beauty.
| have passed a dav ofmuch interest III Bristol,
a place which in its construction contains much
that is curious OF antiquity as there Is imposing
and beautiful in modern architecture Perhaps 1t
contains more of the blendngs of the past with
the present than any other town IN England. IL
is situated upon two rivers (the Avon and ronicl
and two counties, (Gloucestershirc and Somerset
shirc,) and CLAIMS territorial jurisdiction over re-
spcctiye parts of each. Its people, in 1881 nun.
bered lI7,0l6. Its public cdifces, (among
which are numerous free schools and charitable
institutions not less than its terraces of splendid
mansions are indications of wealth and mumtl-
cence. The Church of st. Mary, erected in l346
is n noble structure. Its tower contains some
good pictures by Hogarth and Tresham. There
is among the monuments OF this church, one to
the memory of Sir William Penn, the father OF
on, William Penn.
The Great Western Railway terminates at Bris-
toll There have been so many accounts of this
great work published recently IN America that
need not repeat them. It's tunnel through Box
hill, one mile and three quarters in length, and a
part of the way four hundred feet below the sur
face of the earth, was gigantic under taking
The train dashes through this dark, cold cavern.
way, without any abatement Of speed. There are
twelve regular passenger trans over this Railway
daily, between London and Bristol. The fare III
Isl class cars is two pounds six, (for lis miles
or Sll 80. In the I'd class, 1t is one pound one
The day that Prince Albert came down to see
the Great Britain launched, the receipts for pas
had heard much about the Railways in England
having increased their receipts by cheap fares
but find that these prices are only cheap III com
parison with their own more eNorbitant rates.
The cheapest fare here is higher than the largeS
sums fixed for passengers over American Rail
roads.
have been around, on board, and all through
the steamer GREAT BRITAIN now riding with hcl
six tall slender mastS, and her enormous hull, IN
the British Docks. She is indeed marine mon
ster. All descriptions fail to convey adequate
conceptions OF her vaStncSS. Prepare yourselves
therefore, If she reaches New ork for surprise
Her mode! is fine, and as far as l can Judge hel
proportions arc good. Ii a vessel can ride on two
waves instead OF one, she may answer, but 10 my
eve she seems too long, when her head goes down
with one wave, to recover before the next breaks
over her. But my judgment IN such matters /:
GOOD for nothing IN comparison with those who
ouyht to know | am told that Capt. HoSHEN
who is TO command her, has great confidence that
she will take to her element kindly. She IS to ot
be propelled bv an Archimedlan Screw attached
10 her stern This cont1vance looks wholly IN
adequate Tor moving such monster, and shall
certainly be disappointed if in this respect there
not signal failure. The Great Britain Is 2225
feet long, SO feet in breadth, 80 feet deep. She
has 90 State Rooms with Que bed, and l23 with
two beds; and has an engine of 1000 horse power
She is expected to leave for New York early IN
September.
You have commanding view OF Bristol from
Clifton Hill where the Aris,ocracy reside IN
much splendor. From this eminencc, too, you
overlook vast extent of highly cultivated rolling
country. We stopped, while here to see Flor
entine Anatomical preparation, in wax, which is
represented as being more perfect than any other
In existence. Here the mechanism of the human
system is wonderfully revealed Every formation