THE THAMES TUNNEL.

THE DRAWING.

No. 1 shows a transverse section of the Thames, and beneath it a longitudinal section of the Tunnel, as it will be when completed, with the ascents in the inclinations in which they will be finished.

No. 2 shows the two arched entrances of the Tunnel from the shaft.

No. 3 is a representation of the iron shield, and shows a workman in each of the compartments.

Fig. 3.

LONDON, MAY 26, 1828.

THE Tunnel was commenced on the 3rd March, 1825, when the Chairman, William Smith, Esq. M. P. deposited in a stone, embedded in the brick-work, a brass plate with appropriate inscription, coins, &c. &c. and it has been continued with much assiduity, and is now carried to the length of 600 feet, in a perfectly sound manner. Two irruptions of the river have occurred to delay the progress of the work, but they have been both conquered by the judicious measures of the celebrated Engineer to whom the Subscribers have entrusted the management. Notwithstanding the immense force of the influx of the water, the arches, the foundation, the brick-work, have sustained no injury; and this is the best proof which can be given, or can be desired, of the confidence to which the work is entitled for permanent durability. There remain now only 350 feet more to complete the work to the low-water mark on the opposite (the North) side of the river; and with the experience which has been gained, and by the facility acquired in overcoming accidents which at the first appeared so alarming, there can be, now, no reasonable doubt of final success.

The amount already expended in carrying the works to their present state (excluding disbursements for parliamentary expenses, purchases of property, machinery, &c.) is about, in round numbers, £130,000, and this is thought a small sum for the work done, and for the expensive purchases necessarily made. The prospectus was to the extent of £166,000, but from what has occurred, it is manifest that the undertaking cannot be completed without a larger expenditure; and it is calculated that a further sum of £150,000 will be necessary: even with that sum the undertaking is, by good judges, expected to pay a fair remuneration to the Shareholders.

By accounts laid before the House of Commons it appears that the receipts for one day, from the traffic over London Bridge, if liable to the following tolls, would have been

<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>s. d.</th><th>£. s. d.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>For Foot Passengers</td><td>89,640</td><td>0 1 each 373 10 0</td></tr><tr><td>Waggons</td><td>769</td><td>1 0 38 9 0</td></tr><tr><td>Carts</td><td>2924</td><td>0 8 97 4 7</td></tr><tr><td>Coaches</td><td>1240</td><td>1 0 62 0 0</td></tr><tr><td>Gigs and Taxed Carts</td><td>485</td><td>0 6 12 2 6</td></tr><tr><td>Horses</td><td>764</td><td>0 3 9 11 0</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td>Daily revenue</td><td>£ 593</td><td>1 10</td></tr><tr><td>Annually</td><td>£216,460</td><td>3 0</td></tr></tfoot></table>

AND FROM BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.

<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>s. d.</th><th>£. s. d.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Foot Passengers</td><td>61,069</td><td>0 1</td><td>254 8 4</td></tr><tr><td>Waggons</td><td>533</td><td>0 8</td><td>17 15 4</td></tr><tr><td>Carts and Drays</td><td>1502</td><td>0 4</td><td>25 0 8</td></tr><tr><td>Coaches</td><td>990</td><td>0 6</td><td>24 15 0</td></tr><tr><td>Gigs and Taxed Carts</td><td>485</td><td>0 4</td><td>8 6 8</td></tr><tr><td>Horses</td><td>764</td><td>0 1 1</td><td>5 2 9</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>335 8 9</td></tr><tr><td>Deduct Returns</td><td></td><td></td><td>40 10 3</td></tr><tr><td>Daily</td><td>£</td><td></td><td>294 18 6</td></tr><tr><td>Annually</td><td>£107,675</td><td>0 0</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

WATERLOO BRIDGE.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Annually</td><td>Foot Passengers</td><td>£10,789 13 6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Horses and Carriages</td><td>2,899 5 9</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td></td><td></td><td>£13,688 19 3</td></tr></tfoot></table>

SOUTHWARK BRIDGE.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Annually</td><td>Foot Passengers</td><td>£ 5,389 2 5</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Horses and Carriages</td><td>1,347 5 7</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td></td><td></td><td>£ 6,736 8 0</td></tr></tfoot></table>

VAUXHALL BRIDGE.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Annually</td><td>about</td><td>£ 8,500</td><td>0 0</td></tr></tbody></table>

These bridges are not very far distant from each other, and London and Blackfriars bridges are free from toll, while the Tunnel (which is as an inverted subaqueous bridge) is two miles from London Bridge, which is to the westward, and on the eastern side there is no way for carriage-passage but by inconvenient ferries, which, at times, have been proved to be dangerous.

The traffic is, on this account, expected to be large; as the Tunnel will connect the shores either in, or bordering on, four extensive counties; where there is a large and increasing population, and whence roads are diverging to the high roads in Essex, Kent, Surry, Sussex, and Hampshire, towards the nearest parts of the European continent.

The money received from persons who visit the works while in progress will go some way in payment of the ordinary charges, for on this account the sum of £2,000 has been received, during the short time while the Tunnel was open to Visitors, and much will continue to arise from this source.

The donations presented by public-spirited individuals have not yet been taken by the Directors from the Bankers to whom they were paid; and the Directors have agreed that all sums of £5 and upwards shall be returned on demand, if they shall not be enabled to pursue the works with a reasonable hope of obtaining means for their completion. It is hoped that this latter will not be the case, but that on the contrary, as the late accident is so thoroughly repaired, the donations will be hereafter greatly increased.

The sum of £150,000 to be raised, may, by the expected Act of Parliament, be entitled to a priority of dividend over the old shares. On this sum a dividend of £2 per cent. would be but £3,000;—of £4 per cent. £6,000;—of £5 per cent. £7,500 while the tolls of the bridge at Vauxhall, on which there appears to be so little doing, has a receipt of upwards of £8,000; and it is not an unreasonable expectation, that the Tunnel, two miles from a bridge to the westward, and having none to the eastward, must begin with as much traffic as at Vauxhall, and, on account of the demands of trade, and the neighbourhood of large docks, and the convenience of roads, be annually increasing.

The Tunnel has created an intense degree of interest both at home and in foreign countries. On the continent it is a constant subject of inquiry of persons arriving there from London; and foreigners who come to London, especially those of science and of rank, make a great point of visiting the works.

The entrance to the Tunnel is near to Rotherhithe Church, and opposite to the London Docks. The nearest landing-place from the river is Church Stairs. The Greenwich and Deptford coaches, which go the lower road, start hourly from Claring-cross, and Gracechurch-street, and pass close by the works at Rotherhithe.

Persons are admitted into the Tunnel every day (Sundays excepted) from Eight o'Clock in the Morning till Eight o'Clock in the Evening, at One Shilling each person. Books relative to the Tunnel may be had at the works.

B1977.14.15313 ba-obj-32332 .0002

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Yale Center for British Art, 2015