مدة

the old bridge which had been mostly construct ed of wood, had the misfortune to be destroyed by fire 33d Henry III. It was rebuilt partly by fubscriptions from the inhabitants of Newcastle and Gatefhead; but the principal part of the money neceffary for the undertaking, arose from indulgencies granted by Sewald archbishop of York, Walter bishop of Durham, and Walter bishop of Rochester. By indulgencies, we are not to suppose that the church of Rome was then so criminally presumptuous as to pretend, for money, to give indulgence to fin. They tell us it was only that the church of which the Pope was the lead, bad, from her plenary power, and as having the keys of the kingdom of heaven, authority to relax penances imposed for real and fupposed violations of her impious laws. This bridge had at fift (fays Wallis) twelve bold arches, afterwards only nine, the three on the Newcastle fid e were converted into cellars or store-rooms; and as it conftituted a part of the fortifications of Newcastle, it was strongly secured by towers, gates, &c. All of which were destroyed either by the great inundation in 1771, or in consequence

of it.

Upon this catastrophe happening, the magistrates Immediately fet about taking proper steps for having the passage open by a new bridge. But as the communication by the fall of the old was entirely cut off, a temporary new one was abfolutely neceffary. And to conduct matters with the greatest regularity and dispatch, a committee of gentlemen was chofen for these purposes, entrusted with full powers, named the Bridge Committee. A temporary

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one strongly constructed, was built by Mr John Stephenson, carpenter, which gave very general fatisfaction. Thus far we proceeded (page 66) in our account of this useful public building.

Early in 1774, the Bridge Committee advertised for masons to undertake the rebuilding of such part of a new intended stone bridge over the river Tyne, as belonged to the town of Newcastle; having, from a quarry at Elswick, provided a great quantity of large blocks of stone for that purpose, which were then lying on Felling and Elfwick quays.

A work of such confequence, thus publicly advertised, drew the attention of fome of the first architects and engineers in the kingdom; and Messrs Smeaton, Wooler, and Mylne, gave in their respective reports. These gentlemen were all men of the first abilities, and well known; the laft had his architectural education at the most eminent academy in Rome, and although a youth, was chosen by the magistrates of London, to build that light and magnificent structure, Blackfriars Bridge.

The bishop of Durham obtained likewise an act of Parliament" to enable him and his successors to raise a competent sum of money, to be applied to repairing, rebuilding, and improving such part of Tynebridge as belongs to the fee of Durham. This to be done by raising 12,0001, to be secured by granting annuities upon lives, not exceeding ten per cent."

But it happened, as is reported, that in framing the outlines of the act to be procured, the magiftrates had secretly instructed their members to enforce an alteration, which they intended, respecting the site of the

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the propofed new bridge. As this was a matter of public notoriety at that time, we shall give the account of it as left by the deceased gentleman, for whose informing notes we owe such obligations.

"The bridge over Tyne at Newcastle, being a party concern, between the corporation of Newcastle and the bishop of Durham, was likely to be the subject of much altercation. It being rumoured abroad that the corporation of Newcastle had an intention of having the site of the intended new bridge removed from that on which the old one stood, running the north end from the Javel-Group, to about the middle of Pipewellgate, in Gateshead. This projected plan would have been not only very inconvenient for all the inhabitants of the most populous parts of New. castle, but, on the south fide, it would carry the end of the bridge to the bottom of a vast hill, and from thence, by a steep ascent, the passage would be carried westward, quite without Gateshead altogether."

What gave weight to this suspicion was, that, upon a deputation being sent to enquire if this alteration was intended, the corporation refused to give any information on that head. As this project would, if carried into effect, materially injure the property of many individuals, on both fides of the river, a general meeting was called, on Sunday afternoon, the 31ft of January, 1772, at the Three Kings tavern, Quayfide, to confider what steps were to be taken on fo interesting an occasion. The result of the meeting was an unanimous resolution to use every effort to oppose the intended bill being smuggled into Parliament. Dr. Hall had been chosen to the chair, and presided in this important discussion; and fifty pounds pounds were immediately subscribed, to answer contingencies.

On the intention of this meeting being made public, and the resolutions they had formed of oppofing a measure, so arbitrary in itself, so injurious to many, and so inconvenient to all; they were not only joined by the people of Gateshead in general, but alfo by many gentlemen of the counties of Durham and Northumberland. This opposition soon became fo very formidable, as to induce the corporation to abandon their favourite plan, and to call a general meeting of the inhabitants of Newcastle, Gateshead, and vicinity. A vast number of respectable persons met accordingly, in Mr. Parker's long room, Turk's-head inn, Newcastle; when William Lowes, Esq. of Ridley-hall, was unanimously called to the chair. At this meeting it was agreed upon, without one dissenting voice, "That the best and most equitable situation for a new bridge was the site of the former one ; and that any material deviation therefrom would be highly injurious to the property of numbers of individuals." The bishop of Durham adopting these resolutions, the corporation coincided also with them, and joined with the bishop and inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood in a general application to Parliament.

We have given an account of this transaction, as we find it accurately written down in the notes of a gentleman well informed on the subject; who, if our recollection does not mislead us, officiated as clerk at this very general meeting. We record it in the History of Newcastle, as it was viewed, at that time, consequential, in the highest degree, to the liberties and property of very many concerned, and a daring infringeinfringement on the rights of the burgesses, that they were not consulted on matters that so deeply interested them and their posterity. The public spirit then ran high, and was not to be intimidated by the "insolence of office;" nor were they to observe, with a paffive filence, their dearest rights and most valuable interests sacrificed, by any description of men whatever. We have recorded it, because Mr. Brand is either too courtly or too ill-informed, respecting these important transactions, to take any further notice of them, than in a flight manner, inserted in a small note of his history, vol. i. p. 52.

To proceed. An act of Parliament, for a matter of such general concern, was easily obtained; but with the express injunction, to erect no houses, shops, or buildings of any kind, on the new bridge; nor were the commiffioners to take tollage from foot people, on the temporary one, but for a limited time.

In consequence of which, the foundation-ftone of the bishop of Durham's part of Tyne-bridge was laid on Friday, October 14. 1774. And on the 8th July, 1775, his first arch was closed in.

Tuesday evening, April 25, 1775, the first stone on the Newcastle side was laid by Sir Matthew White Ridley, bart. mayor, amidst a great concourse of people, who ardently wished prosperity and permanency to the undertaking.

July 8th, 1776, a medal was deposited in the first new pier, and the boundary of that part of the bridge that belongs to the corporation southward, by the mayor and sheriff of this town. Over the device which exhibited the Newcastle Exchange, with the genius of commerce sitting by it, supporting the arms of the corporation, and presenting a purse to a figure