PRINTED FOR RICHARD PHILLIPS, By whom Communications (Post-paid) are thankfully received, (Price Sixteen Shillings half-bound.) J. ADLARD, Printer, 23, Bartholomew-Close, and 39. Duke street, Smithfield. THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE. No. 251.] FEBRUARY 1, 1814. [1 of Vol. 37. As long as those who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum of Influence and Celebrity, the most extensively circulated Miscellany will repay with the greatest Effect the Curiosity of those who read, whether it be for Amusement or for Instruction.-JOHNSON, Air Joshua Reynolds, on being questioned in regard to the cause of the inferiority of counterfeits and imitators, answered that their being copyists was of itself a proof of the inferiority of their power, and that while they continued to be so, it was impossible for them to attain superiority. "It was like a man's reso ving to go behind another, and whilst that resolution lasted, it would be impossible he should ever be on a par with him."NORTHCOTE. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. For the Monthly Magazine. DESCRIPTION of the STRUCTURES for PUBLIC OBJECTS, now BUILDING, or POLIS. IT T merits notice among the Phenomena of these times, that during a long, bloody, and expensive contest, the internal improvements of Great Britain have not apparently been interrupted; and that renown in the atchievements of war, and glory in the arts usually appertaining to peace, have in an equal degree characterised this empire, during the last twenty years. Anxious to gratify the just pride of our country, and to exhibit its Trophies on subjects which create no suffering and admit of no equivocation, we have determined to display, in this Magazine, the several magnificent public buildings in progress, or recently finished, within the metropolis. In performing this pleasing duty, we shall, without doubt, excite much surprise in foreigners who were unaware of the energy of our national character, and much proper exultation in British patriots, who will see in these great works the germ of many others, and the pledge of their country's continued prosperity. We have, therefore, in this number drawn a rich harvest of interesting novelties, from the recent undertakings in London only; but it should be understood that the country at large keeps pace with the metropolis, aed that, in new bridges, churches, hospitals, courts of justice, im proved prisons, exchanges, public works, manufactories, and mansions of nobility, several hundred recent erections, hitherto undepicted, will in like manner claim our early publication. We therefore invite the attention of architects, artists, proprietors, and committees, to our design; and earnestly request them to assist us in paying this tribute to the genius, industry, public spirit, and glory of the country, and to transmit to us sketches of their new erections and improvements, with such brief descriptions as may inform and graMONTHLY MAG, No. 251. tify the public. The object speaks for itself so emphatically and perspicuously, that we presume we need add no persuasion to stimulate those to whom this invitation is given, to perform a duty which they will perhaps feel to be obligatory on them, not less as Britons, than from sentiments of local attachment. THE THREE NEW BRIDGES. taken. London bridge remained the only one from 1000 till 1750, when Westminster bridge was finished, and, in ten years, that of Blackfriars was called for and undered communications, the marshes of Lam, In consequence of these improvbeth and St. George's Fields have been covered with houses within the memory of man, and this suburb now merits from its size and population, to have its ancient name of South-work, changed into the more appropriate one of SOUTH LONDON. The vast increase of this division of further enlargement, have recently led the metropolis, and its capabilities of to the projection of other bridges; and the inducements which lead to the forma tion of joint-stock companies, under the sanction of an Act of Parliament, have occasioned no less than three new bridges to be projected within these seven years. In justification, it is stated, as the result of observation, that there pass, every day, over each bridge, as under: This bridge is to extend from Millbank to Smith's Tea-gardens, which nearly adjoin Vauxhall Gardens, and is in tended to connect the roads branching from that spot to Hyde Park Corner, by a straight road and street across Tothill Fields to Eaton-street, Pimlico, and Grosvenor-place. The architect is Mr. J. WALKER. It is to consist of nine arches of equal span in squares of cast-iron, on piers of rusticated stone, formed of fragments, united by means of Parker's cement. The total width will be 809 feet, the span of the arches 78 feet, the height 29 feet, and the clear breadth of the road-way 36 feet. The small crosses represent the triple lamps. The estimated cost is above 300,0001. THE SOUTHWARK, OR NEW LONDON BRIDGE. 1814.] ( 3 ) The Custom House which was erected in 1718 being altogether inadequate to the increased trade of the Port of London, the wharfs and warehouses to the westward of it, between Thames-street and the Thames, have been purchased and pulled down, and the building, of which we here present the design of the principal front, is to be erected on the scite. The architect is Mr. DAVID LAING, and this front possesses a degree of taste too evident to require our praise. The builder is Mr. PETO. The length will be nearly double that of the old Custom Ilouse, being 490 feet, and the width 108 feet. It is calculated to admit the disposition of 650 officers and clerks, and the employment, without confusion, of 1050 tidewaiters, and other assistants. The ground floor and cellars are to consist of THE DEBTORS' PRISON, CRIPPLEGATE. This prison, which is built for the purpose of distinguishing the confinement of debtors from that of criminals, in the crowded criminal prisons of Newgate and the Compters, had its origin in the observations published by Sir Richard Phillips in his Letter to the Livery of London, (pp. 90-92,) which were ably and honestly supported by a committee of the corporation of London, appointed to report on them. The first stone was laid by Ald. Wood in July 1813, and the part intended for city debtors is nearly finished for their reception. It is to be regretted that the high price of ground has too much limited the areas for exer cise, and that there is at present no entrance from Red-Cross-street for the city side, which is kept distinct from the county side, the only entrance being a common and remote one from WhiteCross-street. The accommodations will however far exceed those hitherto possessed by this unhappy class of persons, while the scite, being little more than a quarter of a mile from St. Paul's, does not remove the incarcerated from the vortex of humanity, and the attention of their friends. The architect is Mr. MONTAGUE, the city surveyor, and the building and ground will cost not less than 80,0001. |