160 Proposed Improvement of London Bridge. danger that would attend any such alteration. 3. The necessity of full compensation to the Water-work Company, or the great expense of supplying them with another motive power of equal efficacy. 4. The injury which the upper navigation of the Thames would sustain by letting off the head of water which is now kept up by the bridge, and also the probability of the various embankments above bridge being overflowed in high spring tides, which then will rise so much higher as the difference of flow between the two sides of the bridge. The reporters have purposely confined themselves to the evidence of practical men accustomed to the navigation of the river as to the advantages or disadvantages that may result to the navigation from the removal of the impediments which London Bridge causes to the flow and reflux of the tide; from which it appears, that even those who are apparently hostile to the removal of them have nothing essential to alledge in favor of their opinions. The whole of the evidence in favor of the utility of the dam to the upper navigation goes no farther than to prove their opinion that it gives more water in the latter part of the ebb and fore part of the flood than there would be without it, whilst at the same time they almost generally admit that it would be attended with some advantages. These arguments are taken into consideration by the reporters in their observations on the alterations proposed by them; and they emphatically remark that, under all the circumstances, they cannot feel themselves justified in recommending less efficacious measures than the following:- 1st, The substitution of four new arches in place of eight of the present ones, by the removal of the fourth, sixth, tenth, and twelfth piers and sterlings from the Surrey shore. 2dly, The lowering the height of the sterlings six feet, or as much more as circumstances may admit, and casing with a girdle of stone, properly cramped and supported, the pile-work sustaining the piers, so far as it might be exposed by the lowering of the sterlings, and also deepening the channels under the arches, so as to give free admission to the influx and efflux of the tide. By these alterations, they calculate upon gaining 100 feet additional archway by the removal of the piers, and 156 feet additional width between the sterlings; so that nearly 200,000,000 cubic feet of water more than at present [March 1, will pass through each way in spring tides. It is farther proposed that one of the new arches be inade six feet higher than the present centre arch, in which case more than nine-tenths of the coasting vessels trading to London, colliers excepted, might navigate to the wharfs above bridge, whence a large portion of the articles conveyed by these vessels are landed or shipped; and if they were provided with striking masts, their progress would not be impeded to such a distance as there would be a sufficient depth of water. This increased height of archway cannot be obtained without raising the roadway of the bridge, which, it is found, can be accomplished with great ease, and without any greater ascent than at present exists in a part of the bridge. The present water-way at mean sterling height is 2,760 feet, which is considerably less than two-thirds of the section of the river above bridge at low water; consequently whenever the tide lowers to that height, the current through the bridge must be impetuous, and the passage dangerous. Should the proposed improvements be adopted, the section in the bridge, at ordinary spring tides low water, will be 3,300 feet, or threefourths of what the low water section of the river is above bridge; and which, should it at this state of the tide, run there at the rate of 180 feet per minute, would, according to Dr. Hutton's table, occasion a fall of less than three inches through the bridge. In regard to the danger apprehended from the higher flow of the tide above bridge, in consequence of an increase in the water-way, the reporters are of opinion, that the additional rise of the river beyond its greatest rise in its present state cannot be much; because in great land floods the quantity of fresh water coming down will be so great as to make the current upwards in high spring tides very languid in the flood, so that, of course, there can be very little difference of level between the two sides of the bridge at these periods, when the water must be at the highest; and as the banks above bridge are made sufficient for these events, not much addition can be requisite, and whatever may be the extent of flow to be guarded against, it will show itself so progressively under the gradual enlargement of the waterway, that nothing can be apprehended but from remissness. It is admitted that the previous step 1815.] .. Digest of Political Events: to these improvements must be the removal of the water-works, for the sake of which the fall of water so destructive of life and property was formed, and has been hitherto maintained. The evidence of competent persons tends to prove that the city might be more regularly supplied with water by another steam-engine; so that this difficulty would be trivial in comparison to the advantage to be obtained. "Whenever," say the reporters, “any estimate shall be made of these projected improvements, which will cause London-bridge to cease to be a nuisance, and render it a permanent fabric, you will be able to judge whether it will be more eligible to carry these works into execution. or to construct a new bridge. One expense, that of giving a new motive power to the bridge waterworks, will be common to them; and to enable us to form some idea of what it would be, we were desirous of obtaining a knowledge of the quantity of water raised by the bridge machinery, and to what height, also the annual expense of repairing the water-wheels and all the locks and sterlings which are under the care of the Water-Work Company. We could obtain no information on these different points; therefore we are unacquainted with what the repairs amount to; but, judging from the expenses of the Bridge Committee in repairing the remainder, (amounting to 3,000l. or 4,000l. per annum,) we conceive they cannot fall much short of what would 101 maintain a steam engine or engines of equal power to the present water-works." We congratulate all those persons who are engaged in the navigation of the river Thames, and the public at large, to whom the loss or preservation of many valuable lives cannot be matter of indifference, on the presentation of this manly and sensible Report. It cannot fail, we should think, to stimulate the corporation of London to some decisive measure relative to a structure justly deemed a disgrace to the first commercial city in the world. When an estimate of the expense of the proposed alterations can be formed, it will appear, we have no doubt, the most eligible method not to continue to patch up an old faulty edifice, but to build a new bridge at once, on principles consonant with the modern improvements in the sciences. A more favourable opportu nity could not have presented itself to the corporation than that offered by the erection of the Southwark-bridge; the contract for which, as we are informed, stipulates for its completion within two years from the present time. At any rate, the accommodation which will be afforded by this new passage, and its contiguity to the old one, seem to point out the policy of postponing any alteration of the latter till the public shall be put in possession of so excellent a substitute or auxiliary, as it must be found during any temporary obstruction in the former. DIGEST OF POLITICAL EVENTS. GREAT BRITAIN. The two Houses of Parliament met, after a long recess, on the 9th of Febru ary; and though some interesting discussions have taken place, it seems unlikely that business will be seriously proceeded with till the return of Lord Castlereagh, who will doubtless have arrived before the present number of our work shall meet the public eye. The state of the agricultural interest, depressed by the recent reduction in the price of corn, has forcibly obtruded itself on the attention of the legislature. In the House of Commons, on the 17th, the Honourable F. Robinson brought forward a series of resolutions, preparatory to an alteration in the existing corn laws. As these resolutions are of general interest at the present moment, we shall give them entire : RESOLUTIONS Reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the state of the corn laws; and to whom the several Reports made to this House, in the two last sessions of Parliament, relative to the corn trade; and also, the Reports from the Committee of the House of Lords, on the same subject, which, upon the 23d day of November last, were communicated by their Lordships to this House was referred. 1. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meal, or flour, which may by law be imCommittee, that any sort of foreign corn, ported into the United Kingdom, shall at all times be allowed to be brought to the United Kingdom, and to be warehoused there, without payment of any duty what ever. 2. That such corn, meal, and flour, so 162 Resolutions on the Importation of Corn. warehoused, may at all times be taken out of the warehouse, and be exported, without payment of any duty whatever. 3. That such corn, meal, or flour, so warehoused, may be taken out of the warehouse, and be entered for home consumption, in the United Kingdom, without payment of any duty whatever, whenever, foreign corn, meal, or flour, of the same sort, shall by law be admissible into the United Kingdom for home consumption. 4. That such foreign corn, meal, or flour, shall be permitted to be imported into the United Kingdom for home consumption, without payment of any duty, whenever the average prices of the several sorts of British corn, made up and published in the manner now by law required, shall be at or above the prices hereafter specified, viz. 80s. per Qr. 53 40 26 Wheat Rye, Peas, and Beans Barley, Beer, or Bigg Oats But that, whenever the average prices of British corn shall respectively be below the prices above stated, no foreign corn, meal, or flour, made from any of the respective sorts of corn above enumerated, shall be allowed to be imported, or taken out of warehouse for home consumption; nor shall any foreign flour be at any time imported into Ireland. 5. That the average prices of the several sorts of British corn, by which the importation of foreign corn, meal, or flour, into the United Kingdom, is to be regulated and governed, shall continue to be made up and published in the manner now required by law; but that if it shall hereafter at any time appear that the average prices of British corn, in the six weeks immediately succeeding the 15th of February, 15th of May, 15th of August, and 15th of November, in each year, shall have fallen below the prices at which foreign corn, meal, or flour are by law allowed to be imported into the United Kingdom for home consumption, no such foreign corn, meal, or flour shall be allowed to be imported from any place between the rivers Eyder and Garonne, both inclusive, until a new average shall be made up and published in the London Gazette, for regulating the importation into the United Kingdom for the succeeding quarter. 6. That such corn, meal, or flour, being the produce of any British colony or plantation in North America, may hereafter be imported for home consumption, without payment of any duty, whenever the average prices of British corn, made up and published as by law required, shall be at or above the prices hereafter specified, viz. Wheat 67s. per Qr. Rye, Peas, and Beans Barley, Beer, or Bigg 33 44 [March 1, respectively, shall be below the prices above specified, corn, meal, or flour, made from any of he respective sorts of corn above enumerated, the produce of any British colony or plantation in North America, shall no longer be allowed to be imported into the United Kingdom for home consumption. 7. That such corn, meal, or flour, the produce of any British colony or plantation in North America, as may now by law be imported into the United Kingdom, shall at all times be permitted to be brought there, and warehoused, without payment of any duty whatever. 8. That such corn, meal, or flour, so warehoused, may at all times be taken out of the warehouse, and exported, without payment of any duty whatever. 9. That such corn, meal, or flour, so warehoused, may be taken out of warehouse, and entered for home consumption in the United Kingdom, whenever corn, meal, or flour, of the like description, imported direct from any such colony or plantation, shall be admissible for home consumption; but not otherwise. These resolutions were adopted after an adjourned discussion, on the 23d. On the 20th, the House having resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, to take into consideration the Supplies to be granted to his Majesty, the chancellor of the exchequer reininded the committee, that, on the 5th of April next, the property tax would expire, that other war taxes would cease on the 5th of July, and it was therefore important for the house to consider, as early as possible, whether those taxes should be renewed, or the sum required for the public service should be raised in some other manuer. It was not his intention to propose a continuance of the property tax, but he could not forbear calling the attention of the House to the very great public benefits derived from it. By means of this tax a funded debt of 330 millions had been saved to the country, which was thus relieved from a yearly charge of 14 millions. It had raised 150 millions; an additional charge of 180 millions had been provided for by it, and 9 millions of permanent taxes had in consequence been avoided. Such was the additional burden to which we should be at this moment liable, but for the operation of a tax which had been so loudly reprobated. The right honourable gentleman then proceeded to take a view of the financial situation of the country, of which he gave a very flattering statement. The taxes composing the consolidated fund amounted, up to the with of January last, to 38,266,000l., which, with the sum appropriated from the war-taxes to make good the charge on the loan, formed a total of 40,972,000l. The surplus of this amount beyond the gross charge is 3,525,000l. which, with the land and malt tax, produces a disposeable sum of 6,617,000, whereas at the prosperous period of 1791, it did not exceed 4,709,0001. The sinking fund, also, which at that time yielded only 1,300,000l., now produces eleven millions and a half. It is true, we have now a debt of 650 instead of 230 millions; but comparing the sinking fund 163 with this debt, it will appear that we have augmented our means of meeting it in a fourfold proportion. Considering the necessity of keeping up a respectable naval and military establishment, he did not conceive it possible to reduce the annual expenditure for the four next years below 19 millions, which would render the imposition of new taxes, to the amount of 5 millions, absolutely necessary. He then entered into a detailed statement of the sources from which he proposed to derive these new taxes, of which the following is a summary: Rate. 23. per lb. 3d. ditto Customs Produce. L.150,000 L.150,00 300,000 Wine, 201. per tun 500,000 950,000 ASSESSED TAXES, viz. Bachelors, 50 per cent. additional on Servants, Carriages, and Horses 120,000 2,503,000 Post Office. 1d. on each Newspaper East India and Foreign Postage Regulation. 50,000 75,000 125,000 L.3,728,000 To the above he had to add an increase of from 7 to 800,000l. on the stamp duties, and about 600,0001. by regulations on drawbacks and bounties, making a total of five millions The right honourable gentleman then proposed that the charge of the loan for this and next year should be defrayed from the unfunded debt, and that the sinking fund should remain untouched for four years, at the end of which it would amount, at compound interest, to 150 millions, and it would then be capable of redeeming the whole of the unredeemed national debt in 45 years, and that, too, at simple interest. By this method, also, the country would be placed in possession of a resource of six or seven millions annually for any extraordinary public emergency. He then adverted to the increase in the revenue, which, exclusive of the property tax, amounted, in the year ending April 5, 164 Court-Martial on Sir J. Murray-Capture of the President. [March 1, bart. who was arraigned upon the undermentioned charges, viz. 1st, "For landing, or continuing on shore when landed, between the 7th and the 12th of June, 1813, near Tarragona, a large quantity of heavy artillery, ammunition, and stores, when he had good reason to believe that no real benefit could be derived for ten or twelve days, as to producing the fall of Tarragona by these means; and when he received information, which he believed, that long before that time a superior force of the enemy would be near him, and was aware that the siege must then be abandoned, knowing at the same time the great difficulties and dangers attending a sudden re-embarkation on that coast: such conduct being highly unmilitary, and against the spirit of his instructions. 2d," For neglect of duty, and disobedience of the express written order of his Excellency Field Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, the commander of his Majesty's forces in the Peninsula, by not immediately re-embarking the whole of the forces under his command, after he had determined to raise, and had actually raised, the siege of Tarragona, and returning to Valencia, in order to assist the Spanish armies in that province, in securing the positions which they might have acquired there. 3d, "For neglect of duty in hastily reembarking the forces under his command, without any previous preparations or arrangements, and thus precipitately and unnecessarily abandoning a considerable quantity of artillery, stores, and ammunition, about the 12th of June, 1813, near Tarragona, when he was so far from being compelled to this degrading measure by the immediate approach of any superior force, or by any other sufficient cause, that by due zeal, firmness, and exertion, the greater part, if not the whole, might have been embarked in safety; Admiral Hallowell, who was at the time on duty on the station, engaging to effect the same: such conduct being highly to the prejudice of the service, and detrimental to the British military character."” Upon which charges the court came to the following decision: "The court, having maturely weighed and considered the whole of the evidence which has been adduced before it, is of opinion, "With respect to the first charge, that Lieut. gen. Sir John Murray, bart. is-Not Guilty. "With respect to the second charge, that Lieut.-gen. Sir John Murray, bart. is-Not Guilty. "With respect to the third charge, that Lieut.-gen. Sir John Murray, bart. is guilty only of so much of that charge as states, "That he unnecessarily abandoned a considerable quantity of artillery and stores, which he might have embarked in safety; such conduct being highly detrimental to the service." "And the court does, therefore, find him guilty of such part, but does acquit him of the remainder of that charge. "And the court, under all the circumstances of the case, considering the conduct. of Sir John Murray to have proceeded from a mere error in judgment, is of opinion and does adjudge that for the part of the third charge of which Lieut. gen. Sir John Murray has been so found guilty, he be admonished in such manner as H. R. H. the Commander-in-Chief may think proper." Iam to acquaint you, that his Royal Highness was pleased, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, to approve and confirm the finding and sentence of the court. But his Royal Highness remarked, that as the Court only attribute to Sir John Murray a mere error in judgment, the case did not appear to his Royal Highness to call for any further observation. I am, &c. The Adjutant-General, &c. &c. The Gazette of Feb. 18 contains the welcome account of the capture of the American ship President, commanded by Commodore Decatur. He had sailed the Macedonian brig, from New York, ou the 15th of January, in company with but was intercepted by our squadron collected off the Bar, under Capt Hayes. The chase continued from the dawn of the following day till about half-past five in the evening, when the exertions of Capt. Hope, of the Endymion, enabled him to get his ship alongside of the enemy. Notwithstanding the very superior force of his antagonist, Capt. Hope maintained a close action for two hours and a half, when the damage which the Endymion had sustained in her sails and rigging permitted the President to shoot a-head. Of this opportunity the British captain availed himself to bend new. sails, with the intention of renewing the action; but, on the Pomone coming up about midnight, the enemy surrendered, The masterly manner in which the Endymion was conducted, and the gallantry with which she was fought, left no room to doubt that she would have singly succeeded in taking or sinking her adversary. The latter suffered very severely; her crew consisted of 490 men, and she had 59 guns, including 6 in her tops. The Endymion had 11 killed and 14 wounded. FRANCE. The calm which begins to pervade this country after the long political stort by |