The Docks at Wapping. This important improvement is making in the angle formed by the Thames between Hermitage Dock and Shadwell Dock. One immense dock, to be called St. George's Dock, will cover the space extending from Virginia-street, almost to Old Gravel-lane in one direction, and in the other from Artichoke-lane to the south side of Pennington-street. This dock alone will be capable of holding 500 ships, with room for shifting. Another dock called Shadreell Dock, adjoining to the other, will hold about 50 ships. The entrance to the docks will be from the Thames by three basens, capable of containing an immense quantity of small craft, and the inlets from the Thames into the basons will be at the Old Hermitage Dock; ar Old Wapping Dock, and Old Shadwell Dock. The capital of the company is 1,200,000. but such has been the immense expence of purchasing the many hundred houses which stood on the space appropriated to these docks, that it is supposed application must be made to Parliament for powers to raise a further sum. The shares bear a premium. The ultimate profits upon the scheme are limited to ten per cent. an interest which it is sure to realize. On the 26th June, 1802, the foundation of the entrance bason was laid by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and the first stone of a tobacco warehouse, which will be the largest in the world, the roof of which will cover six acres of ground; and also the first stone of a range of warehouses for generat merchandize, were laid at the same time. It is expected that the Great Dock will be finished for use in about twelve months. The above works, in every stage of their progress, will highly gratify strangers; their magnitude, and the vigour with which they proceed, cannot fail to excite astonishment. The New River. This, in several points of view, is one of the most wonderful concerns in this metropolis! Notwithstanding there are one hundred and sixty thousand houses in London, yet by means of the New River and Londonbridge water-works, every house, and almost every room, is most abundantly supplied with water, which is conveyed into it by means of leaden pipes, with unfailing precision and regularity, for an expence to each house of only about twelve shillings per annum. The New River is a canal of nearly 39 miles in length, cut for the sole purpose of conveying a regular supply of water to the metropolis, by Sir Hugh Middleton, and first opened in 1608. Its termination, called the New River Head, adjoins to Sadler's Wells, and from hence the water is conveyed in every direction, by means of 58 main pipes of the bore of seven inches; these convey the water under-ground along the middle of the principal streets; and from them branch off to every house, leaden pipes of half an inch bore. From the property of water always to find again the level which any part of its body has attained, and as the New River-head is situated upon high ground, the water rises in most houses into the second floor, and in many into the third and fourth stories. By means of one water and two steam engines, it is however forced to a still higher level, and thus made to supply parts of the town which are situated as high or higher than the surface of the bason.* * We recommend the New River Company, which derives so great a revenue from the supply of London with water, to take effectual means to preserve its cleanliness and purity. Severe penalties ought to be inflicted on the many thoughtless and wanton persons who bathe and throw filth into the river, at Islington, and other places. The proprietors of this valuable concern should adopt some method for preventing the water from freezing in the small leaden pipes, branching from the main; and this might easily be effected, if they were laid The Grand Junction Canal. Notwithstanding the interior of the kingdom is almost wholly intersected by canals, this is the only one, which, for commercial purposes, has yet been extended to the metropolis. The reason may be found in the policy of government, which, to encourage the nursery of seamen in the Newcastle-trade, prohibits the introduction of coals into the metropolis by any other means, notwithstanding better coals could be delivered at a lower price by means of this canal. As however the tonnage upon coals is the staple article of profit to the undertakers of a canal, it is obvious the inducement is less strong to form new lines of inland navigation near the metropolis than in other parts of the kingdom, This Canal terminates in a bason at Paddington, after running nearly 100 miles, from the village of Braunston, in Northamptonshire, where it enters the Oxford Canal, and by which it is connected with the Coventry and Birmingham Canals, the Grand Trunk Canal, &c. thus forming a regular line of water-conveyance from London into Lancashire and Yorkshire. A passage-boat, or packet, sets out from Paddington to Uxbridge, every morning exactly at eight o'clock, and sets out from Uxbridge, on its return, precisely at four o'clock in the afternoon.-Another passage-boat sets out from Uxbridge to London every morning at seven o'clock, and sets out on its return from Paddington to Uxbridge, every afternoon at five o'clock precisely. Extra boats are also ready for select parties, fitted up with every possible convenience. Fares for the Packet or Passage-Boats. For the whole distance, or upwards of 15 miles, either way s. d. 2 6 2 Q I 6 I O deeper in the ground, and to branch from under the wooden pipes, instead of the sides, taking care as much as possible to preserve a perpendicular direction up the areas, by which means the pipes would drain themselves, and prevent the evil, Every accommodation has been made at the Canal Head, for the convenience of a weekly market held there for cattle, hay, &c. and we consider this new market as an improvement upon which the public ought to be congratulated, as tending to diminish THE DETESTABLE NUISANCE OF SMITHFIELD.* A plan' has been under consideration for opening a communication from this Canal to the New Docks, Wapping. Tunnel under the Thames at Gravesend. An attempt honorable to the enterprizing genius of Mr. Dodd, the engineer, has lately been undertaken to cut a Tunnel under the bed of the Thames, from Gravesend to Tilbury Fort; thus uniting the counties of Kent and Essex. Some works have commenced at * Smithfield Market, situated in the very centre of the metropolis, is a disgrace to the police, and to the corporation of London. Besides the nuisance of herds of cattle being exposed to sale in the heart of the town, scarcely a market-day passes on which more than one unfortunate person is not gored to death by the over-driven and ill-treated animals. What is still more disgraceful, slaughter-houses are permitted in every part of the metropolis; so that it is impossible for any one to avoid the danger to their persons, and the offence to their feelings, resulting from a public market for cattle existing in the centre of such a city as London; and from the brutalized practices of the brutes in the shape of men who drive the animals to the slaughter-houses. The obvious spot, in the present extended state of London, for such a market as that of Smithfield, is the vicinity of Islington; and the slaughter-houses ought to be immediately adjoined to the market; Fleet-market might then be removed to the present scite of Smithfield; or Smithfield itself might be converted into an elegant square. It may be proper to notice in this place, that by a late excellent regulation, the men who wantonly beat and ill-use cattle, sheep, &c. are rendered liable to fine and imprisonment; and it is consequently become an incumbent duty of humane persons to seize, or take the number of the drivers so offending, and bring them to punishment. Gravesend. A shaft or well is sunk 60 feet, and, if possible, will be carried to the depth of 140 feet. A steam engine is erected to carry off the immense body of water which flows in from the abundance of springs which surround the works; but the water pours in so fast, that they are obliged to barrel-curb as they go, and ram in, with tempered clay, &c. Altogether the difficulties to encounter are so powerful, that small progress has yet been made, though hopes are entertained of ultimate success in this novel and enterprizing project. London Stone. Perhaps the greatest piece of antiquity remaining in London, is this stone, which (in order to preserve it) is let into the south wall of St. Swithin's Church, Cannonstreet. It has been preserved with great care for centurics. It formerly stood opposite to its present situation, and was fastened deep in the ground with strong bars of iron. It is supposed to have been placed there by the Romans, as the point whence they measured the miles from London to their different stations through the kingdom. Simple as this stone is, yet from its antiquity, it cannot fail to excite attention. Statue at Charing Cross. The noble figure of King Charles on horseback, is by Hubert de Cœur. The commanding grace of the figure, and exquisite form of the horse, are striking to the most unpractised eye. This piece was cast in 1633, and not being erected before the civil war, it was sold by the parliament to John Rivet, a brazier, with strict orders to break it to pieces. But the man concealed the statue and horse under ground, till after the Restoration. |