chapel. Such is a general account of this very ancient bridge, founded at first by the Romans, and repaired and rebuilt afterwards by the inhabitants on both fides of the river. We now go on to relate its final catastrophe. This memorable event happened on Saturday night, preceding the 17th of November, 1771. There had been a prodigious fall of rain, chiefly in the west, filling all the brooks, and rufhing from the higher grounds into the Tyne, so swelled the river, as to make it overflow its usual boundaries, and every where carrying destruction in its irrefistible progress. It was about eleven at night the water began to rife at Newcastle, and constantly encreased till seven the next morning. About three o'clock the arches of the bridge were filled up with floats of wood, fwept away by the flood from the adjacent banks; and between three and four in the morning, two of the arches on the fouth side were driven down, and one, which was the northernmost, adjoining to the toll-fhop, fell about four o'clock, burying the houses which had, for many years, been erected on them, together with several of their inhabitants, in the ruins. Imagination can more easily fancy, than words describe, the terror and amazement with which the people were feized, on feeing their friends and acquaintances, from the houses yet standing on the remaining arches, stretching out their hands, and with thouts of distress imploring afsistance, expecting every moment to be overwhelmed in the watery waste! The lives of Mr. Peter Weatherly, shoemaker, and his family, were fortunately saved by the humanity and intrepidity of two bricklayers from Gateshead, who, at the most imminent personal hazard, broke through the walls of fome buildings that hung hung together by the aid of the timbers after the arches had fallen, and fucceeded in rescuing them from their most perilous situation. The waters gradually fubfiding, other persons were providentially brought off in boats. It is worthy of remark, that a house built of wood, inhabited by a family named Patten, was carried down the impetuous stream to Jarrow-flake, a diftance of seven miles, in an entire state, with a dog and cat, both alive, in one of the rooms. The family had happily effected their escape previoufly to the arches falling. So general had this storm been in the northern and indeed in most parts, of the kingdom, that melancholy accounts of its ravages were published every where. Solway Moss, in Cumberland, was raised from its bed, and, by a prodigious fall of rain, was impetuously forced towards the fea, and covered several hundred acres of land about eighteen feet deep, to the ruin of many families. All the bridges upon the river Tyne (Corbridge excepted) were carried away. From Alfton-moor to Shields, scarcely a village escaped its fury. Prodigious was the loss to many individuals, in horfes, cows, sheep, corn, wood, &c. But in Newcastle, by the arches of the bridge being filled, the waters burst through the alleys into the Close, and, rushing down that narrow street, overflowed the Sand-hill for several feet deep, filling many cellars and shops, so that the lofs was eftimated at above two hundred thousand pounds. Such was the fate of the old bridge of Newcastle. Respecting the new erection, and the improvements now making, fee public buildings. The common-council of Newcastle, January 20th, 1772, framed a petition to parliament for leave to bring in a bill, for erecting a temporary bridge, and another of stone, over the river Tyne; as also for monies to be granted them, to defray the expences necessary for such a work. Another, similar to this, was agreed on February 6th, 1772, and presented to parliament. In the same year, an act of parliament passed to enable the lord bishop of Durham, and his successors, to raise a competent fum of money, to be applied to the repairing, rebuilding, and improving such part of Tyne bridge as belongs to the fee of Durham. This was to be done by raising twelve thousand pounds, to be fecured by granting annuities upon lives, not exceeding ten per cent. A committee of gentlemen, by the name of the bridge committee, entered upon terms with Mr. Stephenson, carpenter, to erect a temporary bridge, limiting the time for its execution to four months, to be reckoned from June 18th, 1772, under a heavy penalty. On the 17th of July following, the workmen began to drive the piles, and the bridge was opened October 27th, the same year. It answered almost every purpose of the inhabitants. Waggons, however, fully loaded, were not allowed to pafs over it. THE CLOSE. Pursuing our course of observations westward, and passing the bridge-end on the north, we arrive in a street called the Close. It probably had this name from its narrowness. At this day it presents us with nothing nothing striking, either as to its fituation or buildings: yet Mr. Bourne afsures us, that in former times it was the residence of several noble families, and opulent inhabitants. Sir John Marley, Sir William Blackett, Sir Mark Milbank, and the houses of many other gentlemen of distinction, he adds, are still remembered by the ancient inhabitants. The infides of the houses bespeak their former magnificence and grandeur; the rooms being very large and stately, and, for the most part, adorned with curious carvings. Of late, he observes, those houses have been forsaken, and their wealthier inhabitants have chosen the higher parts of the town. The houses of the earl of Northumberland stood on the fide of this street next the river, bounded on the east by Bower-chare, between Tyne bridge and the Javel Groop. Bourne says, even in his time it had a great gate at its entrance, with a large round ball of stone; and hence the entry has been vulgarly called the "Round Stone Entry;" and that in the lower part of the building, towards the water, were manifeft tokens of antiquity. In the year 1482, Henry earl of Northumberland demised it to his servant, George Bird, by the name of the Earl's Inn, under an annual rent of thirteen shillings and four-pence. As the Northumberland family have long poffefsed large demesnes on the river Tyne, it is poflible, that the cause of that noble family having a house in a ftrong situation in Newcastle might be, to be in readiness to defend, by collecting their tenants and vaffals, their collieries and lands, and other property, against the inroads of the moss-troopers, and other desperate marauders, very common in those days. The next opening to the river Tyne, from the street, is called the Javel Groop; where the street, of late years, has been greatly widened. The etymology of this word is, says Mr Brand, from groope, or grype, which fignifies a ditch; and Javel, is only a corruption of jail, or gaol. The old castle was, for ages, the common prison for the county of Northumberland, and here has probably been, anciently, the communication between the ditch or fofs of the caftle and the river Tyne. On the right hand, after passing along the Close, we observe a flight of stairs, called Castle-Stairs. On each fide, as we afcend, are shops, principally for old clothes, old shoes, boots, &c. and, after a tiresome afcent, by many a weary step, we arrive at a postern, where had been gates, and pieces of fortification, in defence of the castle. Another flight of stone steps, some paces further to the westward, is called the Long-Stairs; remarkable only for their gloominess and nuisances; but they terminate, on the upper end, with feveral good houses, handsomely built. Further along is another flight of stairs, exactly opposite the manfion-house, called the Tuthill-Stairs, terminating at the foot of Westgate-street. Bourne imagines it should be called Touthill, from the touting or winding a horn upon it, when an enemy was at hand. Mr Brand will have it, that it properly should be called Toothill, or Hill of Obfervation. One of the most early meeting-houses for worship in Newcastle, was half-way up these stairs, in which some baptists used to afssemble, with a well for immerfing adults. It is now a dwelling-house. And a little higher up the steps, a new baptist chapel, with a fine commanding prospect, was lately erected by that |