run,

For the same ardent sun

Whose beams had drawn up many an idle flower

To fence the lonely bower,
Had, by his powerful heat,
Matured the wheat,

And, chang'd of hue, it hung its heavy head,

While every rustling gale that blew along From neighbouring uplands brought the rustick song

Of harvest merriment: then full of dread,
Lest, not yet fully fledged, her race
The reaper's foot might crush, or reaper's
dog might trace,

Or village child, too young to reap or bind,
Loitering round, her hidden treasure find;
The mother bird was bent

To move them ere the sickle came more near;

And, therefore, when for food abroad she went

(For now her mate again was on the ramble)

They'll all

She bade her young report what they should hear: So the next hour they cried, " assemble The farmer's neighbours, with the dawn of light,

Therefore, dear mother, let us move tonight."

"Fear not, my loves," said she, "you need not tremble;

Trust me, if only neighbours are in question Eat what I bring, and spoil not your diges

tion

Or sleep for this." Next day, away she

flew, And that no neighbour came was very true; But her returning wings the larklings knew,

And, quivering round her, told, their landlord said

"Why, John, the reaping must not be delay'd,

By peep of day tomorrow we 'll begin
Since now so many of our kin

Have promis'd us their help to set about it."

E'en try what we can do with it ourselves." "Nay," quoth the lark, "tis time then to

be gone.

What a man undertakes himself is done."
Certes she was a bird of observation,
For very true it is, that none,
Whatever be his station,

Lord of a province, tenant of a mead,
Whether he fill a cottage or a throne,
Or guard a flock, or guide a nation
Is very likely to succeed

Who manages affairs by deputation.

For The Port Folio.

A Statistical Account of the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge.

(Extract concluded from page 204.) The grout is fluid, but composed of the like proportion of materials The mortar used in the foundation once intended for a pier, near the eastern toll house, but abandoned as a pier, and now usefully employed as the end of our wing walls, was covered. more than a year with water. We had oc casion to take part of it up. The mortar, having been improperly made rich, was fri, able, and had not the least tenacity or binding quality, The tarras mortar is composed of one part tarras, two parts lime, and. three parts sand."

"The western pier is now completed to the same height, and except in depth, of the same dimensions with the eastern pier. The span between these piers is 187 feet 6 inches, from the piers to each abutment the span will be 150 feet each. No formidable difficulties have occurred in the work of the present season; and every thing has been conducted to our satisfaction."

"We think it proper to give a short de. scription of this pier (the greater propor tion whereof is invisible) that its structure may be known; and its embarrassing, ex

pensive, and tedious progress may be accounted for. We confine ourselves to the masonry, a description of the dam will be hereafter presented that it may be of service to others who may have occasion to use such auxiliaries, in aquatick structures. The plan of the dam, and instructions for its establishment, do much honour to Mr. Weston who furnished them. Mr. Robinson our superintendant, has great merit in faithfully executing this plan. But many dangerous casualties and unforseen embarrassments baffled all previous arrangements; and required the immediate and unceasing efforts of the committee and the workmen to combat them. The members of the board, and others of our fellow citizens, who voluntarily assisted us in endeavours to evacuate the dam of the obstructions which prevented our totally baring the rock, have our thanks for their exertions. These have afforded conviction that the plan we adopted for the foundation, was indispensable. The result has undeniably proved its efficacy, competency, and permanence; and leaves no doubt of its being in contact with the rock; which, though some what irregular, rises at the interiour circumference of our dam and forms in the middle a tolerably regular cavity, well calculated to prevent (if the weight on it were not sufficient) any injury to, or movement of the foundation."

DESCRIPTION OF THE PIER. "Not being able to arrive nearer to the rock than three feet six inches, without the most imminent danger of ruin, and failure in our object, it was deemed (after every effort to evacuate the dam had been tried) most adviseable, and dictated by evident necessity to lay a rough foundation, before the masonry of cut stone commenced, about eight feet below the common bed of the river. This foundation was accordingly directed by the building committee; and on the 25th of December 1802 began to be formed. It consists of large foundation and smaller stone intermixed. Roach lime and sharp sand cover and fill the interstices of each layer of these stones; which are all well rammed; and reaching the rock, compose a solid mass, four feet thick, filling the whole interiour of the dam; the area whereof is 42 feet six inches in breadth, by 92 feet in length. On this foundation, the cut stone was laid, and the pier shaped to its proper dimensions; which are here 30 feet in breadth, by 71 feet 6 inches in its extreme length; the ends being semicircular. It continues of these dimensions to the first offset, about four feet from the foundation. There are six offsets to low water mark; each diminishing the pier about four inches; so that at that point it is twen ty-six feet eight inches in breadth and six

ty-seven feet two inches in length. There are from this point, to 18 inches above high water mark, three offsets, each diminishing the pier 10 inches. So that the dimensions, at this point, are twenty-one feet eight inches in breadth, and sixty three feet two inches in length; the whole continu. ing semicircular at the ends. From this point the pier begins to batter and the cut stone ceases. The hammered stone in range work, begins, and rising sixteen feet, lessens regularly to nineteen feet four inches in width, and in length sixty feet ten inches. When finished it will be in height fifty-five feet nine inches from the rock, and will be neatly surmounted with cut stone, at each end formed in the shape of a half dome. The cut stone are all clamped at every joint, with iron clamps, well secured. The outer ashlers are all laid in tarras mor. tar. There are a proper number of headers, dove-tailed in each course; running into the pier many feet. On these are laid vast rough stone, some whereof are twelve tons in weight. These large stones of various sizes, are common in the interiour of the pier, which is laid in a workmanlike manner, in common mortar, and properly filled with smaller stone; the whole being grouted and forming a solid mass. Six large and heavy chains, are worked into the masonry, cross wise of the pier, at the foundation; and a large curb of timber, hooped with iron, surrounds the cut stone at this point. Fifteen other massive chains, fastened at proper places, with perpendicu lar bolts, well wedged, are dispersed in various parts of the pier, crosswise thereof, as high as low water mark. The whole masonry of the pier, was performed (including the winter work with all its disadvantages) in seventy four working days, after we had been seven months preparing and fixing the dam. Two months of this period were employed in incessant pumping, clearing and combatting casualties and impediments the most embarrassing and expensive.— The courses of cut stone vary in depth, the least course being ten inches, and the larg est two feet eight inches in depth."

"The foundation is further secured by the embankment of stone, intermixed and embodied with sand, thrown around the dam, on the bed of the river, to the height of fourteen feet. The interiour piling will be cut off below low water mark, and connected with the pier by chains. Building stone are thrown in, between this piling and the masonry, about ten feet ligh, the whole forming a strong barrier against any attacks on the foundation."

"Had we foreseen that so many casualties, difficulties, and dangers would have attended our enterprise, we should probably not have hazarded the undertaking."

Vol. V.

For The Port Folio. TRAVELS.

No. 15.

spector of the works lives, and, draw. ing his resources from reservoirs at a distance, supplies either side of him with water, as he is informed it is required. The principal of these is, the reservoir of St. Feneol, which, to my very great regret, I had it not in my power to visit. This enormous basin is 160 feet deep, and 14,468 feet round; it is formed by a circle of mountains, and confined at the only outlet by a wall, which is 234 feet thick. The Inspector put me in mind of Virgil's Eolus, directing the fury of the winds, at pleasure, from the hollow mountain, which served him as a palace; he was civil to us, however, notwithstanding his empire over an element as formidable as the winds, and explained all the particulars of his employment, with great good nature. He then showed us his garden, in which were espaliers and dwarf apple trees: many of these last, though not a foot high, had several apples, which seemed out of all proportion large. We passed more quickly than I could have wished, by the ancient city of Carcassone, whose walls seemDd