Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

tory of Waterloo, afforded a fine opportunity for changing its appellation.

The banks of the Thames, from Blackfriars Bridge to Whitehall, were immoderately crowded by noon with all descriptions of persons. Colours were hoisted on the steeples of several churches, on the yards of wharfingers, and on many private boats. The navy standard waved on the centre of Somerset Place. A party of the horse-guards, who had been present at the battle of Waterloo, went upon the bridge about ten in the morning. A party of foot-guards also attended with their band; and a detachment of the royal horse artillery, with 20 field pieces. The bridge was decorated with 18 standards elevated. In the centre, and at each end, were two royal standards of Great Britain; there were between these, standards of Prussia and the Netherlands, and the Orange flag; thus representing the nations, the success of whose combined armies occasioned the appellation of Waterloo Bridge. The eastern side of the bridge was railed off, and temporary benches placed to accommodate the spectators.

Soon after three his present Majesty arrived at the Whitehall stairs, in his private carriage, whence he embarked on board the royal barge. This was followed by the Lord Mayor's barge, and a full company, to conduct the King to the bridge. Other barges belonging to the admiralty, and other public offices succeeded. The discharges of the artillery commenced on his Majesty's embarking, and continued till he landed at the bottom of the flight of steps on the south-east side of the bridge, which he ascended. He was received in the most respectful manner by the committee, and then walked along on the western side of the bridge, between the Duke of York and Duke of Wellington, followed by a number of military officers, officers of state, and persons of distinction, and attended by a military guard of honour. Arrived at the north end of the bridge, he descended by the northwest stairs to the royal barge. The firing then re-commenced, and did not terminate till his Majesty had landed at Whitehall watergate, and returned to Carlton House.

Having noticed the day's ceremony, it is an agreeable task to say something of the bridge itself, which we consider to be a very high testimony of the great ability of Mr. Rennie. We believe there is no bridge in any of the European capitals which is equal, as a great work, to either of the bridges of Westminster or Blackfriars; and Waterloo Bridge is superior to both of them. It is built of granite, and within the walls is filled up with an inferior stone. The departure from the old custom of curved bridges, and adopting the straight line, has removed many doubts which existed among lovers of the arts, as to the relative beauty of the different forms. A view of this new bridge, however, shows at once that the form is not only classical, but more simple and striking in its effect. The coupled Doric pillars on the piers have likewise been the subject of criticisms; if they were not introduced, some sort of buttress must have been constructed, or no projections at all. The iron turnstiles, which admit of only one passing at a time, touch some machinery which communicates with a clock locked up in an oak box in each toll-house, the index of which is thereby moved, so that on looking at it the numbers of those who have passed is directly seen. Some machinery for a similar object is to be applied to the horse and carriage gates. The bridge is lighted with gas.

Dimensions of the Bridge.

The length of the stone-bridge within the abutments

Feet.

1242

Length of the road supported on brick arches on the Surrey side of the river

[ocr errors]

Length of the road supported on brick arches on the London side Total length from the Strand, where the building begins, to the spot in Lambeth where it falls to the level of the road

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1250

400

2890

[blocks in formation]

Clear water-way under the nine arches, which are equal

1030

Number of brick arches on the Surrey side

46

Number of ditto on the London side

10

[blocks in formation]

The proprietors of Waterloo Bridge have determined to erect an obelisk on each side of the bridge, commemorative of its celebrated architect, Mr. Rennie. They might adopt as an inscription, with great propriety, the celebrated epitaph on Sir Christopher Wren in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Sic monumentum queris, circumspice.

Mr. Rennie, at the age of twenty-five, married a Miss Mackintosh, by whom he had nine children, six of whom are living; and it is supposed that two of his sons will succeed him in business; one as a general engineer, and the other as a millwright.

412

No. XII.

ALEXANDER STEPHENS, Esq.

THIS HIS gentleman, the author of several useful and agreeable volumes, and the late editor of the present work, was born at Elgin, in North Britain, about the year 1757. He was the son of the provost of that city, Thomas Stephens, Esq. by Miss Fordyce.

Alexander Stephens received his education at the university of Aberdeen, which he left at the age of eighteen years, for the purpose of proceeding to the West India islands, principally, it would seem, with a view to add to his stock of information, and to see the world. At Jamaica he became acquainted with John Miller, Esq., a man of considerable eminence, and member of the House of Assembly in that place, from whom he received much hospitable attention, and by whom he was introduced to some of the most respectable families on the island.

On his return to England, Mr. Stephens purchased a commission in the 84th regiment, but never joined, in consequence of that corps having been suddenly and unexpectedly reduced. At the age of twenty-one, he entered himself a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, where he continued in the pursuit of legal studies several years. He had repeated invitations to the bar, but constantly declined them, in order to follow the bent of his own inclinations, which led him to forego the dry and monotonous intricacies of the law in favour of the more agreeable and fruitful study of poetry, and the belles lettres.

His earliest production was "Jamaica," a descriptive poem ; and his next, published a few years afterwards, "The Templar," a law journal. But those of his works which have

been most popular, are the volumes of "Public Characters," edited by him several years ago, and published by Sir Richard Phillips; and a life of John Horne Tooke, in two volumes. The industry of Mr. Stephens, in the collection of materials for his biographical works, has not often been surpassed. Besides ensuring the authenticity of what he wrote by personal application to the relations and friends of those individuals whose memoirs he desired to introduce, he was accustomed to commit to paper the most trifling memoranda illustrative of the history of any eminent individual, the moment he was made acquainted with it. Thus a great deal of information was preserved, which would, in all probability, have never been remembered, but for the promptness and industry with which our biographer always recorded such incidents, however apparently insignificant, as were likely at any future time to assist him in his labours. The immense quantity of anecdotes which Mr. Stephens has left behind him of eminent living persons, is a striking proof how unremitting and indefatigable he must have been in the collection of them.

In 1792 Mr. Stephens married Miss Lewin, daughter of Samuel Lewin, Esq. of Broadfield House, Hertfordshire, a gentleman of considerable property, and commanding officer of a regiment of militia. By this lady, a woman of fascinating manners, and great mental endowments, he had three children, one of whom only survives, Thomas Algernon Stephens, Esq., late a lieutenant in the Royal Scots, with the third battalion of which regiment he served at the battle of Waterloo, and while carrying the colours of his troop, received a severe contusion from a grape shot, which carried away part of the staff.

This circumstance is alluded to in the following note from the Duke of Kent, which, with others equally gratifying, we happened to meet with among Mr. Stephens' papers.

"Kensington Palace, July 1. 1815.

"The Duke of Kent returns his best acknowledgments to Mr. Stephens for his interesting communication of yesterday,

« ПредишнаНапред »