from those plebeians by its price, which is exactly double. 3d. The Quid, a collection of original tales, published by an eccentric snuff-shopman in the neighbourhood of Sadler's Wells.

Were it our object to extend our notice to all the weekly publications which are within the reach of those likely to purchase the Mirror, &c. we should here enumerate The Poor Man's Guardian, The Political Prompter, The Slap at the Church, and some others of a similar description; but suffice it to say, that of this class of periodicals there are but too many in existence; they have no other aim than to excite the passions of the unreflecting, and hurry them into illegal violence. It is to be hoped that in a short time their cessation will give reason to believe that those to whom they are addressed are wiser and better than the authors of this kind of trash suppose them.

I will now, Mr. Urban, lay down the pen of the reviewer, with the hope that by assuming it I may have rendered a service, however triffing, to the annals of our periodical literature. These annals, which are still to be written, would form, if undertaken on a large scale, as entertaining a work as literary history, the most entertaining of all subjects, could produce; and I cannot, Mr. Urban, conclude this letter, in which I fear I have already exceeded your limits, without expressing a wish that it will ere long be undertaken. In the mean time, if any of your erudite Correspondents would furnish your pages with as accurate a list of the Periodicals of the seventeenth century as I have endeavoured to supply of our modern weeklies, he would confer a very great pleasure on Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

W. T.

Gosmore, Herts, March 6. WHEN from so many parts of the empire we hear such loud regrets at the dilapidation and sad state of the venerable Abbey of St. Alban, it surely behoves the inhabitants of this county not to be lukewarm in their attempts to do something towards preserving, as much as possible, this 'most interesting object of antiquity, perhaps the most ancient in the kingdom, and at the same time also so distinct a record of some of the great events that accompanied the introduction of Christianity into this country.

Impressed with this feeling, I trust no apology will be deemed necessary, for my humble attempt to call the serious attention of the nobility, clergy, and gentry, to a matter in which they are all equally involved, further than by begging leave to premise the few observations I am about to make, by pointing out the rapid effects of the weather upon any building when once an entrance is obtained, and that therefore no time should be lost.

The first question that naturally presents itself is as to what quarter we are to look for the funds adequate to its preservation, for as to the propriety of some steps being taken towards that end there can be none.

I imagine that Government are not in a situation to render assistance, unless we set a good example by putting our shoulders to the wheel; and therefore, that we may with the better grace go to that source for help, if necessary, I beg leave to submit that a County Meeting be called forthwith, through the High Sheriff, to take into consideration what steps are advisable, towards an attempt at raising a sum by subscription, that may at all events prevent further mischief to this most venerable pile.

I venture to predict, should this be done in the proper spirit, laying aside all political feeling, all old feuds, and such an example set by the leading gentlemen of the County, equally ambitious of preserving what has been our pride for so many centuries, the result will be as creditable to us, as gratifying to the feelings of every antiquary in the kingdom. Supposing this should be the case, and I feel very strongly assured upon it, knowing as I do the high feelings and good taste of so many amongst us, it will go far to make a national question of it, and the public will be forced, by so good an example, to follow up somewhat our exertions. Without some such measure from within, it will be idle to call for help from without; for he that will not aid himself, deserves no assistance from others.

As for external help, Mr. Urban, to you I mainly look, and therefore call upon you to exert yourself to rescue St. Alban's noble Abbey from neglect, with the same energy that you displayed on behalf of York Minster and the Lady Chapel of St. Mary Overies. Yours, &c.

C.

1832.3

201

DURING ITS DEMOLITION.

chitecture with the works of our rude ancestors, and as the site will soon be lost in empty space, we presume it will not be uninteresting to lay before our readers a short history of this. structure, with some remarks as to the mode of its construction, which has developed itself during the period of its removal.

The original structure had nineteen arches, together with a draw arch, making twenty openings, at the period

GENT. MAG. March, 1832.

In the middle of the years 1826 and 1827, it became necessary to remove two piers, one on each side of the river, north and south, for the purpose of clearing the water-way at the period the cofferdams were up for the construction of the new Bridge, and

1831.

there consequently then only remained seventeen openings, whose width of water-way above the starlings was 562 feet, and the space occupied by the piers 369 feet.

The water-way below the starlings at low water is 299 feet, and the space occupied by the starlings is 632 feet. The water-way at high water spring tides of the old Bridge was 485 feet.

The new Bridge has a water-way of 690 feet clear at all times of tide, and the piers occupy 92 feet. The annexed is a plan of the old and new Bridges.

It appears from historical documents, that the original London Bridge was of wood, and was erected in the place of a ferry which was under the care of the Priests of St. Mary Overies. The precise period when this Bridge was built remains in much ob-, scurity. The first mention of it is in the laws of Ethelred, which fixes the tolls of vessels coming to Billingsgate, or ad pontem. William of Malmsbury says it was standing at the time when Swayne King of Denmark besieged the city of London, anno 994. That a Bridge existed about 1008 is manifest, from the old Danish history, which states it to be composed of piles driven down into the bed of the river; and to have been wide enough for two carriages to drive past each other; and

on the sides of the Bridge which fronted the stream, were blockhouses on redoubts of wood, and parapets breast high. It is stated by Stow that this Bridge originated from the public, spirit of the College of Priests of St., Mary Overies; but this seems improbable, as from the very nature of the; work it must have been a very expen-, sive undertaking, and perfectly beyond the means of the revenue of a small, nunnery. It is the more probable to have been defrayed out of the public. purse, as we find in Henry the First's, time a grant of lands to have been appropriated for the repairs of London Bridge. In the reign of Stephen, in 1136, it was partly destroyed by fire, after which it was repaired; but in 1163, it was found so ruinous that it'