Total width of the water way, 690 feet, length of the bridge including the abutments, 928 feet; length within the abutments, 782 feet; width of the bridge from outside to outside of the parapet, fifty-six feet; width of the carriage way, thirty-six feet; and of each foot-path, nine feet; and the total height of the bridge on the eastern side, from low water, sixty feet. Some historians have presumed that there was a bridge across the Thames near Westminster, previous to the year 994, as William of Malmesbury, speaking of the repulse of the Danes under Sweyn and Olauf, says that, part of them were drowned in the river, because, in their hasty rage, they took no heed of the bridge." 66 Iron Bridges are the exclusive invention of British artists; the first erected on a large scale was that over the Severn at Colebrooke Dale, by Darby, in 1779. The celebrated iron bridge at Bishop Wearmouth, near Sunderland, consisting of a single arch, whose span is 236 feet, was completed by Mr. Wilson on the 9th of August, 1796. Suspension or Hanging Bridges, which are sustained only at the two ends on abutments, have been used for many ages in China, some parts of India, and they are common in mountainous countries. The Spaniards made use of them in passing the torrents of Peru. The splendid example of the bridge of Wearmouth gave an impulse to public taste, which led to the suggestion of constructing suspension bridges. In December, 1796, James Jordan of Oakhill, near Shipton Mallet, procured a patent for his invention of a mode for constructing bridges which should not be affected by severe frosts or violent currents; his plan was to place two parallel elliptic curves across the intended site, formed of cast or wrought iron or wood, and springing from sufficient abutments, he then proposed, to attach the bridge to these curves by means of wrought iron suspending bars, at any height from the water that might be required. In the drawing accompanying his description, the appearance of the bridge is extremely picturesque, the road over it, as suspended by cast iron curves, forms a sort of chord to the curve line, and possesses the peculiar utility of being perfectly straight and void of that rise or crown to common bridges. Londoniana. QUEENHITHE.-This quay, as well as all others, was anciently in the occupation of the king, who, by the feudal law had the prerogative property of all ports and quays, both on the seashore and in navigable rivers. By virtue of that title, he assigned at discretion what particular spots should be used as ports and quays, and received his custom there, by way of compensation for his care in maintaining them. Henry the Third assigned this landing place to his queen, (whence the hithe* derived its name) and subsequently to several other grantees, before it finally came into the possession of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who granted it, with the king's consent, to the citizens of London. The petty port of Queenhithe was anciently much resorted to as a quay both from below and from above London Bridge, which formerly had a draw-bridge over the centre arch, for the purpose of giving passage to vessels. The citizens, who were themselves exempt from all duties and tolls, derived a very considerable income from the issues of Queenhithe. It appears that by ancient custom, all corn was, under penalties, to be landed there, whether it came from the east or the west, and also a proportion of vessels with fish ; but the resort to this quay had so much diminished, or the tolls were so remissly gathered, that in Henry the Eighth's reign, Fabian says, they amounted barely to £15 per annum. This may be attributed partly to the inconveniences in passing London Bridge from the eastward, and partly to the many more convenient wharfs, both private and public, (particularly that of Billingsgate,) which from time to time had been constructed in various situations on the river. * Hith (Sax.) signifies a small port or quay, such as are formed in rivers. Thus we find Rotherhithe, Queenhithe, Lambhithe, (Lambeth) and many others. The Note Book. I will make a prief of it in my Note-book. M.W. of Windsor. KING JAMES'S TIMIDITY.-The fears of James for his personal safety were often excited without serious grounds. On one occasion, having been induced to visit a coal-pit on the coast of Fife, he was conducted a little way under the sea, and brought to daylight again on a small island, or what was such at full tide, down which a shaft had been sunk. James, who conceived his life or liberty aimed at, when he found himself on an islet surrounded by the sea, instead of admiring, as his cicerone hoped, the unexpected change of scene, cried "Treason!" with all his might, and could not be pacified till he was rowed ashore. At Lochmaben, he took an equally causeless alarm from a still slighter circumstance. Some vendisses, a fish peculiar to the loch, were presented to the royal table as a delicacy; but the king, who was not familiar with their appearance, concluded they were poisoned, and broke up the banquet "with most admired disorder." DRUNKENNESS IN RUSSIA. Dr. Giles Fletcher, who went in a public character to Russia, towards the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, speaking of the many wicked and barbarous acts which were used by the Czars, to drain and oppress their people, says, "in every great town the emperor hath a drinking house, which he lets out for rent. Here labourers and artificers many times spend all from their wives and children. Some drink away every thing they wear about them, even to their very shirts inclusive, and then walked naked: all which is done for the honour of the emperor. Nor while they are thus drinking themselves naked, and starving their families, must any one call them away, because he would hurt the emperor's revenue."* LAWS FIT FOR A NATION.-When it was insinuated to Solon, that he had not given the Athenians so good laws as he might have done, he answered, "I have given them the best they were able to bear." Belle parolle! 66 A fine observation," says Montesquieu," and which ought to be perfectly understood by every legislator." "IMPUDENCE," says Osborne, " is no virtue, yet able to beggar them all; being for the most part in good plight, when the rest starve, and capable of carrying her followers up to the highest Of the Russe Commonwealth. London, 1592. preferments; as useful in a court, as armour in a camp. Scotchmen have ever made good the truth' of this, who will go farther with a shilling than an Englishman can ordinarily pass for a crown." On the summit of the Cross of Scone there is now the representation of a Scotsman clad in the Highland martial costume. The right hand of the kilted Highlandman is placed on the hilt of his sword, and, while inclining to empty the scabbard, he is pronouncing, with a menacing emphasis, "The whole Bill, OR-—. "" In Wilkins's Leges Saxon, as quoted by Dr. Henry, we have prices of various articles in England in the reign of Ethelred, about the year 997, which the learned doctor has calculated with great correctness in money of the present time-Price of a man or slave, 21. 16s. 3d. sterling; a horse, 11. 15s. 2d.; a mare or colt, 11. 3s. 5d.; an ass or mule, 14s. 1d.; an ox, 7s. 04d. ; a cow, 6s. 2d.; a swine, 1s. 104d.; a sheep, 1s. 2d.; a goat, 44d. RESPECTABILITY OF CHAPEL TRUSTEES.-Will it be believed in these enlightened days, when the March of Intellect is making such rapid strides, that the following worthies are the major part of the conductors and auditors of accounts for a congregation of primitive Methodists belonging to a chapel at Knockin Heath, in the parish of Kinnerley, in the township of Kynaston, Salop:- -Edward Jones, Labourer; Thomas Jones, Mole-catcher; Hugh Griffith, Rabbit-catcher; William Jones, Labourer; John Jones, La bourer; Joseph Pemberton, Labourer ; John Edwards, Labourer; and Thomas Edwards, Labourer :-among all these persons, only Edward Jones can write his name. J. R. GREAT TOM OF LINCOLN IN RUINS.-This bell exists no longer. A few days since, while some workmen were driving a wedge in progress of tracing a flaw, a large piece of the rim, or skirt, broke off, weighing 600 weight, and about eight feet long; the total weight broken off the bell is about 900. Tom, when entire, weighed about 9,894 lbs. Anecdotiana. WISDOM OF THE GREAT REFORMER. -Never was Luther wiser than when he threw the inkstand at the devil's head!-for the devil dreads nothing but ink, and betakes himself to his heels as soon as he noses it. THE SOBER TRUTH.-One hundred and one epigrams were written by Capt. Morris, on Mr. Pitt's coming to the House of Commons in that state in which "gentlemen wish to be who love their bottle." On which a Tory wit observed, that " he would undertake to write a thousand and one, if Mr. Fox should ever be detected in the opposite predicament!" H.B.A. RIGHT AND WRONG.-An ill-natured cynic said, that the charity of a beneficent neighbour was induced by a wish to be extolled. "C Ay, sir," replied the object of the charity, "if we see the hands of a clock gò right, we are sure that the mechanism inside cannot be going very wrong.' H.B.A. RIOTS IN 1780.-In the year 1780, an incident occurred, during the trials at the Old Bailey of the rioters in Lord George Gordon's mob, which left an indelible effect on Holcroft's mind. A young man was brought to the bar, the witness against whom swore that, as he was standing in a shop where he had taken refuge, he saw the prisoner coming down Holborn Hill, at the head of a body of rioters, flourishing a drawn sword. Holcroft, who was taking notes of the evidence, recollected the prisoner's face, and, when the evidence was over, he addressed the judge, and requested that he might be examined. Being admitted, he then declared that he had been present at the real transaction; that he was standing at the bottom of Holborn when the mob passed; that the prisoner was not among them, but that some time after they were gone by, he had seen the prisoner, who was walking quietly along the street, pick up a sword and carry it away with him. This, said he, was the whole transaction, and the circumstances of his marching at the head of the rioters, and brandishing the weapon, are utterly false. The prisoner was, in consequence, acquitted, NO JOKE. Upon the evening that the borough of Eye was struck out of the list of those places in England which, for the future, are to enjoy the privilege of sending Members to Parliament, just as Sir Edward Kerrison was leaving the House of Commons, a wag, who observed the worthy baronet as he was descending the steps from the Lobby to Palaceyard, bawled out, greatly to the amusement of the bystanders, who were in the secret-" Sir Edward Kerrison!There he goes with his Eye out!" CHATEAUBRIAND. The following anecdote of this eminent writer is re lated on the authority of his own publisher. Some time since, two or three Paris booksellers united to purchase the copyright of his works. They made him the liberal offer of half-a-million of francs (about twenty thousand guineas); it was accepted; and they gave him bills, at various dates, for the whole sum. When as many of these as amounted to three hundred thousand francs had been paid, the booksellers acknowledged that, instead of making a profit, they could not fail to lose by the speculation. A selfish man would have replied, "That is your affair, not mine." Chateaubriand, on the contrary, returned them the remaining bills, and thus sacrificed at once two hundred thousand francs. DR. JOHNSON.-Somebody observing of Lord Chesterfield's talents as a wit, in the company of the great lexicographer, "Ay," said the Doctor, "he is a wit among lords, and a lord among wits." QUINTESSENCE OF QUACKERY. — A person who, by this means, has attained great notoriety, declares his medicines will cure "hurries" and bashfulnesswill eradicate corns, and increase genius! HOLCROFT'S POVERTY. With Mr. Holcroft the mother and son went to Cambridge, and afterwards_traversed the neighbouring villages. In one, remarkable for its neatness, the name of which is not mentioned, their destitution amounted to that calamitous degree, that Holcroft says himself, "Here it was that I was either encouraged or commanded one day to go by myself from house to house and beg." In this humiliating condition his ingenuity and the various tales he told procured him much kindness; but when he returned to his parents and recited the falsehoods he had invented, his father became greatly agitated, and exclaimed to his wife, "This must not be; the poor child will become a common-place liar, a hedge-side rogue; he will learn to pilfer, turn a confirmed vagrant, go on the highway when he is older, and get hanged! He shall never go on such errands again!" EPIGRAM ON THE POWER OF LOVE. BY ABRAHAM COWLEY, [The following subject is traditionally handed down as the production of the above cele. brated poet, and is said to have been spoken at the Westminster School election.] Nullis amor est medicabilis herbis. Had any remedy for love been known, Diary and Chronology. Tuesday, August 2. St. Alfrida, Vir. A.D. 834. Sun rises 19m after 4-sets 40m after 7. August 2, 1788.-Died Thomas Gainsborough, the celebrated painter. "If ever this nation," said the late Sir Joshua Reynolds, "should produce genius sufficient to acquire to us the honourable distinction of an English School, the fame of Gainsborough will be transmitted to posterity, in the history of the art, among the very first of that rising name." Wednesday, August 3. St. Walthen, abb. A.D. 1160. High Water, 49m aft 7 Morn-22m after 8 Aftern. August 3, 1829.-Expired at Swan Hill, near Oswesby, ÆT. 85, General Despard. This meritorious veteran, during his military career, was in 24 engagements; had two horses shot under him; was shipwrecked three times; taken prisoner once; and had the standard of his regiment shot out of his hand, when an ensign at the age of fifteen years. The general filled, in the latter part of his life, the important station of Governor of Canada. Thursday, August 4. St. Dominic, founder of the order of St. Dominic, A. D. 1221. Sun rises 21m after 4-Sets 38m after 7. THE HARVEST MOON." The circumstance of this moon, says Howitt," rising several nights successively almost at the same time, immediately after sun-set, has given it an importance in the eyes of farmers; but it is not the less remarkable for its singular and splendid beauty. No moon during the year can bear any comparison with it. At its rising it has a character so peculiarly its own, that the more a person is accustomed to expect and to observe it, the more it strikes him with astonishment. I would advise every one who can go out in the country, to make a practice of watching for its rising. The warmth and the dryness of the earth, the clearness and balmy serenity of the atmosphere at that season, the sounds of voices borne from distant fields, the freshness which comes with the evening, combine to make the twilight walk delicious; and scarcely has the sun departed in the west, when the moon in the east rises from behind the dark foliage of trees, and sails up into the still and transparent air, in the full magnificence of a world. It comes not, as in common, a fair but flat disc on the face of the sky, --we behold it suspended in the crystal air, in its greatness and rotundity; we perceive the distance beyond it as sensibly as that before it; and its apparent size is magnificent. In a short time, however, it has acquired a considerable altitude-its apparent bulk has diminished-its majestic grandeur has waned, and it sails on its way calmly beautiful, but in nothing differing from its usual character." Friday, August 5. St. Memmius, bish. A.D. 290. High Water 11h 30m Morn.-Oh Om After. August 5, 1100.-The coronation of Henry I., surnamed Beauclerc, took place on this day at Westminster, the ceremony being performed by Maurice, Bishop of London. The prosperous for- Saturday, August 6. Sun rises 26m after 4-Sets 33m after 7. August 6, 1657-Family Longevity.--To-day were married at Haddington, in Scotland, Alexander Maitland and Catherine Cunningham. The ages of nine of their children amounted to 738 years. Sunday, August 7. TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Lessons for the Day. -1st book of Kings, 21 ch. Morn.-1st book of Kings, 22 ch. Evening. New Moon, 13m after 10 Morn. Except in showery and wet seasons, this time of The rich glow of the year is remarkably fine. Summer in this part of Europe is seldom in perfection till August. It is now that we enjoy settled hot weather; a glowing sky, with varied and beautiful, but not many clouds; and delightfully fragrant and cool evenings. The golden yellow of the ripe corn, the idea of plenty inspired by the commencing harvest of wheat, the full and mature appearance of the foliage,-in short, the tout ensemble of nature at this time is more pleasing than perhaps that of any of the other Summer months. Monday, August 8. Sts. Cyriacus and others, Mar. A.D. 303. High Water 45m aft 1 Morning-30m aft 1 After. Regarding the best way of conducting the business of harvest, Tusser gives to the farmer the following advice : "Give gloves to thy reapers, a largess to cry, Tuesday, August 9. St. Romanus, Mar. Sun rises 31m after 4-Sets 28m after 7. August 9, 1804.-Found dead in his bed, at his vicarage of Lowestoff, in Suffolk, Robert Potter, Prebendary of Norwich Cathedral. His translations into English of Eschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles, the three great writers of the Greek drama, are admired for their fidelity, as transfusing the loftiness, and yet preserving the simplicity of the originals. In our next:-The Coiners of Brackenbruff.—A Few Remarks on the Genius of Hogarth.- The belfry cloek hath boom'd the hour; Where no prating tongue can tell of his rest. The Brothers of Borrowby. FRANK BUSBY held by lease the little farm of Brackenbruff, near KirkbyWiske. He was an old and infirin widower, and had three sons: Oliver, the first, went to sea, and had remained out for some years. Henry, the second son, a youth of great ingenuity, had been apprenticed to an engraver in London, a situation procured for him by the influence of a distant relative, in which he became connected with some abandoned characters, and confirmed in habits of intemperance and debauchery. From having been suspected of being VOL. VIII. D one of the principal members of an organised gang of coiners, whose counterfeiting of the specie of George the Second was notorious, he decamped, and enlisted into a regiment ordered to march against the Scottish malcontents, from which his father, at a great sacrifice, procured his release, after which he returned home. Ploughwell, the third son, was attached to the farm, and was the chief support of his declining father, his brother living in reckless idleness. He Farmer Busby's infirmities had reduced him to a state of idiotic incapacity, and week after week contributed to the bodily and mental decay which was rapidly hurrying him to the grave. Henry saw this, and by his subtle devices wrought on the mind of Ploughwell to consent to his schemes. knew that the will of their father bequeathed to the three an equal interest in the leasehold farm of Brackenbruff, and that that will was deposited in the old man's escrutoire, from which he could easily abstract it, and substitute for it a forged one. Emboldened by 200 |